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Electronics Gift Guide for 2017

The holiday shopping season is upon us and some of the best gifts to give are electronics. Most people love getting something in this category and you can find such a wide range of items – including accessories.

You can find something for everyone on your shopping list all at the same time. Electronics are the category of gift that is popular, often because of the technological advances made each and every year – so people want the latest and greatest gadgets.

TVs and Accessories

TVs and accessories are always a big hit. You’ll find something that will fit both large and small budgets. One of the popular televisions is the Sony XBR55A1E 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart BRAVIA OLED TV (2017 Model)

This makes a great gift for those you’re shopping for who enjoy watching sports or movies. This is an OLED TV and that stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. The difference between this kind of television and an LED one is that the OLED uses organic molecules.

The pixels in the TV are self-illuminating unlike the LCD which use LED for the backlight. Both ULTRA and OLED TVs are the hottest items among televisions and at the top of peoples’ wish list and with the Sony, you get both wishes in one.

The popularity stems from the fact that it gives one of the best picture images you can buy. But LED TVS are still popular, especially if they’re a smart TV like the TCL 55P607 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2017 Model)

For those on your list who already have a great television, you’ll want to look at accessories. Projectors are one of the hottest selling items in electronics.

You can find gaming projectors for use with home theaters, portable projectors for business or education, and more. Projectors can be used by people who like to share photos or for playing games, as well as for people who enjoy showing films and more.

You can give these projectors as gifts to teachers, to gamers, for business colleagues or for family and friends. One of the hottest right now is the iCODIS G1 Mini Projector, iCODIS G1 Mini Projector, DLP Support Full HD 1080P, HDMI & WIFI Wireless Connectivity, Portable Size & 120″ Display, 30,000 Hour LED, Pico Video Projector(Black) which is so small it can fit in your pocket and it works with your smart phone.

Of course whatever kind of projector you buy, you’ll want to get a screen to use and the most popular screens are those that you use outdoors like the 100″D Portable Tripod Projector 16:9 Screen Projection 87×49 Inch Stand Wall Outdoor Motorized Fold-able Stand.

Projector screens make great gifts for people who like a better viewing experience or for those who like to entertain – like getting together with friends to watch a movie or the latest game.

One of the accessories that you may want to get for those you plan to buy electronics for could be a Blu-Ray or a DVD player. Sony DVPSR510H DVD Player (Upscaling) These are perfect gifts for people who enjoy watching things that you can’t get on cable or Netflix.

The hottest selling players are the ones that can play the 4K Ultra movies. Sony UBP-X800 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player (2017 Model) Streaming media players are pretty awesome right now like the Roku Express – HD Streaming Player. It’s a great gift for those who don’t want to pay a monthly fee for a streaming device.

Home Audio and Theater

A popular category in electronics is home audio and theater. These gadgets have changed the way families get their entertainment. Now, you can stream music and entertainment faster than ever before and for a much lower price than when home theaters first hit the market.

In this category, you’ll find items like the system bundle, stereo and turntables, speakers, wireless and streaming audio, radios, headphones and more. These items are great gifts for people who like equipment that gives them a better sound and higher quality.

Home audio is popular because it can make listeners feel like they’re in the middle of the concert or in the center of the scene. Many of the home audio and theater systems will have a couple of different choices when it comes to speakers.

You can purchase them with surround sound or with the front speakers. The difference is found in the amount of speakers that you get as well as sound quality. Surround sound is more like the theater speaker experience than front speakers are.

You can get both audio and theater systems bundled or buy them as separate pieces and build a good theater or sound system over time. Topping many wish lists this year is the AXESS Bluetooth Mini System 2.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System. AXESS Bluetooth Mini System 2.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System Red (MSBT3901RD)

This is the perfect gift for any of the music lovers that you know who like to listen to radio stations and enjoy wireless streaming. What people like about this system is that you can use it with the Bluetooth to control the system.

You can enrich the home theater and audio experience by adding one of the many sound bars. These can have an optical or analog connection and they can also have a wireless subwoofer.

With speakers, you’ll want to look at different types. You can get small speakers that will fit on a bookshelf for people who live in apartments or maybe a college dorm.

You can get the floor-standing speakers or those that mount in a ceiling or in the wall. For those who are new to home theaters, you may want to buy the whole system that includes speakers rather than giving something like a sound bar or separate speakers so they won’t need to build their system from scratch.

They can upgrade speakers and other accessories later as they become more familiar with the technology and what they prefer. Headphones are one of the hottest items you can buy in home audio and theater and it’s high on many wish lists – because not only are these used for movies and gaming, but they’re also used for music and streaming content.

Some of the most sought after headphones are the Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones – Gloss Black brand because they offer superior quality. They’re also very comfortable for long term use. The Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones come in a variety of colors.

People love that these because they can pair them with an iPhone or a TV or other device.

For the person who’s heavily into music, look for stereo systems as well as turntables.
Turntables are enjoying a comeback in popularity and many stores now carry both records and CDs. People who enjoy turntables say these stereos have a more pure sound quality. Audio Technica AT-LP60BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black

Cameras and Accessories

With cameras and accessories, you’ll find an assortment of cameras from digital and video cameras to spy cameras, security cameras and even those that will give you Instax film with the instant cameras like the Polaroids, Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera (White) with ZINK Zero Ink Printing Technology which were so popular back in the 70s and again today.

The point and shoot cameras are easy for kids to use. You can buy mirrorless cameras which are light weight cameras and  give you a better contrast and focus. You’ll find an assortment of gift ideas from cameras to tripods to shotgun mics and even underwater cameras and gear.

Even with the introduction of cameras on smart phones and cell phone camera lenses, digital cameras continue to be one of the hottest items to buy in electronics. That’s because cameras suit a wide variety of people and you can get more features with a digital camera than you can with a smart phone camera.

You don’t get features like quality zoom lens in anything but top of the line cameras like the Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital SLR Camera. Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm EF-S f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens + 58mm Wide Angle Lens + 2x Telephoto Lens + Flash + 48GB SD Memory Card + UV Filter Kit + Tripod + Full Accessory Bundle When you’re looking at digital cameras, you can find ones like rechargeable HDs or kits.

You can also find MP digitals Sony DSCW830 20.1 MP Digital Camera with 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver) or SLR cameras Canon EOS Rebel G Film SLR Camera Kit with 35-80mm Lens. Each camera will vary in features like the wide range of zoom they offer. Cameras and the related accessories make the perfect gifts for almost anyone.

Kids and college students love the nod to the past with the instant film style cameras while moms love the digital cameras. Men usually prefer the video cameras or the cameras that are made to fit with drones.

They love the idea of being able to play and shoot. Look for cameras that say photography drones to match the camera. They also like the sports and action cameras. If you’re planning to give a camera as a gift for someone who loves photography or they’d like to pursue it as a serious endeavor, you may want to go top of the line and look for something in the Nikon brand that’s suggested by most professionals.

But keep in mind that these cameras aren’t exactly budget friendly for most people – and many of them have hefty price tags of $1,000 to $3,000 or more. This will be in the FX series.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find one that’s suitable like the Nikon COOLPIX L340 Digital Camera with 28x Zoom & Full HD Video (Black) International Version + 4 AA Batteries & Charger + 32GB Dlx Accessory Kit w/HeroFiber Cleaning Cloth and best of all, it comes with a nice accessory kit.

You can find binoculars and scopes as well as flashes, lenses and lightning gear to make sure the photos turn out great. If someone that you’re buying the gift for doesn’t plan to take pictures professionally, then you probably don’t need the lighting gear, which consists of items like background screens and light stands.

But odds are, you might want to give a tripod to someone who’s a camera enthusiast. Most people who love photography enjoy camera lenses and you can find a variety of these and most of them are budget friendly.

Car Electronics

In this category, you’ll find many amazing items that you can buy for gifts that are not only fun but can also make driving safer and easier. You can find things like portable wireless speakers, backup cameras, car diagnostic devices and cables for things like iPods, phones, tablets and laptops to use in the car.

You can also get some great gifts like smart phone holders and mounts. These make a phone easily accessible while allowing the driver to keep his or her hands free. It’s the perfect gift for someone who travels a lot, has a busy lifestyle, and is often in the car like commuters.

Dash cameras are a great gift idea for any driver. Not only can these handy devices record the local or long distance drive, but can also will record in the event of a car accident. It is a beneficial way to establish fault.

If you’re looking to give someone the gift of peace of mind, you can get them a GPS tracker. It can be used to keep track of young drivers, but it can also help recover the vehicle if an unauthorized driver or thief takes it.

One gift that fits almost everyone is a mobile WI-FI hotspot device. This helps people not only stay connected, but it can be used as a safety feature as well when someone is traveling in an area where they can’t get coverage.

Young drivers should always have access to either cell phones or other devices, so they can reach a family member or friend in the event of an emergency. They can’t do that if their cell phone is dead, so for this purpose, you may want to give them a USB car charger. Another gift that you can give is a radar detector. This may help the driver be more aware of their speed and that there are police watching.

Of course, there are some items that are the most popular and on many Christmas lists. The two items topping the list this year are GPS systems and subwoofer packages.

The good thing about a GPS system is that it’s a great gift for any driver, especially for drivers who do a lot of traveling in foreign countries. The Garmin DriveSmart 60 NA LMT GPS Navigator System with Lifetime Maps and Traffic, Smart Notifications, Voice Activation, and Driver Alerts  This is one of the best in GPS gadgets as well as one of the most reliable in giving directions. You can find others in the same line but you may want to get one that offers lifetime maps.

Speakers for cars are another hot item on everyone’s list, but not just any speakers. Consider those that offer surround sound like the AOMAIS Ball Bluetooth Speakers,Wireless Portable Bluetooth 4.2 ,15W Superior Sound with DSP,Stereo Pairing for Surround Sound,Waterproof Rating IPX7,For Sports,Travel,Shower,Beach,Party(Black)

Laptops and PCs

Laptops and PCs are high on everyone’s want-list because they can be used for work, school, play, gaming, video making and an endless list of ideas and activities. You can find laptops that are lower cost that make great first gadgets for younger kids.

These can perform simple tasks all the way up to complex commands. When it comes to technology, you’ll find that there’s a good portion of the demographics that prefer laptops over desktops.

However, desktops are still just as popular but you don’t hear about them as often as you do laptops. Desktops are particularly popular and high on the wish list among those who are older.

But they’re also still hugely popular among gamers. Many people who work from home prefer desktops in addition to laptops. So they love both.

Tablets are also very popular. One of these tablets is the All-New Fire HD 8 Tablet with Alexa, 8″ HD Display, 16 GB, Marine Blue – with Special Offers This is high on the wish list for everything it has to offer, but also because of Alexa. With that, people can not only ask questions, but they can instruct the device to play music or do tasks like check to see what the weather is like.

You will want to do the person on your list a huge favor if you do buy that tablet or any other tablet. You may want to be sure to purchase one of the many cases that the person can use to protect the device.

If you’re buying a tablet for a child, then you’ll want to look for a case that is shock proof. These are usually the toughest cases that you can buy.

In laptops, there are plenty of choices that you can choose from – but if you’re looking for both the hottest as well as the newest, then you’ll want to check out the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302CA-DHM4 12.5-Inch Touchscreen Intel Core m3 with 64GB storage and 4GB RAM

This one is very popular and loaded with plenty of ram. What users love the most it is the 360 degree hinge and the touchscreen. Both of these make it high on college students’ wish lists. They like the versatility of it plus it’s pretty sturdy.

With desktops, the kind that you want to get depends on its main purpose. So if you were buying a desktop for someone who is really into gaming, especially live action virtual reality, then you’d look for a desktop that is known for VR play.

Many of these types of desktops can also be used for graphic design or different types of computer art. You can also get an all-in-one which are great space savers.

These computers can have the larger screens – including the popular and trendy curved monitors. They offer a lot of power, storage and function in touch screens – including the 4K models.

Cell Phones and Accessories

Cell phones can do so much more today than they did even a year ago. Today, a good cell phone with a decent operating system can do what a tablet can do and then some. Anyone can use a cell phone. Many people on your list might want to upgrade, but can’t necessarily afford to do that.

A cell phone would make a great gift for teens, college students, moms, dads, and friends. When you’re looking at cell phones, you will want to pay attention to whether or not the cell phone is locked or unlocked.

You will want to purchase an unlocked phone. If you get one that’s locked, it means that it can only be used with a certain carrier. So if you buy it for someone and they can’t use it with their carrier, then they’ll either have to switch cell phone providers or return the gift.

The iPhones that have been released recently are the iPhone 8, the 7S and the 7S Plus. The most popular phones today are the iPhone 6 as well as the iPhone 6 Plus.

The Galaxy S5 is on the top of the wish lists as is the Galaxy Note 3 and 4. The Blackberry KEYone is an unlocked phone that uses the android system that’s also done fairly well as far as features and satisfaction.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Unlocked 64GB continues to be a top seller for its high customer approval thanks to its performance. With cell phones, there are plenty of accessories to go along with them.

Some of these are considered extras while some of them are must haves like screen protectors. You don’t want to buy an expensive phone for someone only to have them drop it and shatter the screen.

You will want to buy the screen protector or case that’s specific for the type of phone that you bought.  Most of them can not be used with the different brands. One of these, which is for the iPhone 6, is the  OtterBox COMMUTER SERIES Case for iPhone 6/6s – Frustration Free Packaging – BLACK

While this is not compatible for the plus version of the iPhone, it is known as one of the toughest cases that you can buy. When you’re buying cases, many of them will already come with the protective screens – but you can buy these separately as well.

Look for screens that say they are shatter proof.  Tempered glass and anti scratch are your the best bet. You’ll want to also consider accessories like a selfie stick, headsets, and chargers.