Our 2022 Christmas List – and all under £100
What's on our Christmas wish list this year? Spoiler: a lot of gadgets.
If you don't happen to work in an office that's had a large “xx Sleeps to Christmas” countdown since early October, eagerly updated daily by any one of a number of very pro-all-things-sparkly colleagues, you may not have yet started to think about what you might buy for your loved ones, as well as your own wish list.
Working in a techy environment, we are all a bit partial to a nice new gadget, that not only looks the part but also serves a function we want, need, or, ideally, both. This year, most people are watching the pennies considerably more, and understandably so. Luxuries have taken a very back seat and we are all re-evaluating our spending habits.
But it is Christmas. And so, we have been digging around a bit to explore some very cool options, that won't do as much damage to our finances as other items we may have drooled over for a few seconds (and when we say “may have”, we mean we absolutely did). In fact, they all come in at under £100 - most are even under £60!
And before you wonder, we will not do that really cheesy corporate manoeuvre of putting one of our own products on that list, because, however great they are (and they are) we sure don't want to find RFID key fobs or a fingerprint scanner under the tree this or any other year on Christmas Day, and we kind of guessed that neither do you.
On the other hand, we would be more than happy to discover any one of these beauties, in no particular order:
Roberts Revival Petite
Available in 7 colours, this hand-sized Roberts Revival Petite is the newest member of the family, offering all the retro style we have come to know and love from Roberts, with great sound and the option to switch between DAB/DAB+/FM radio and Bluetooth streaming.
Backbone One Mobile Gaming Controller
Smartphone gaming has really levelled up with this ultimate gaming console. Just click in your phone and you're ready to start playing any game that supports controllers or you can just stream directly from your PlayStation, Xbox or PC. Suitable for Android and iPhone. No setup, no waiting for updates, just pure fun.
Blink Video Doorbell
For less than £50, this is a great purchase that allows you to answer your door, no matter where you are, from your smartphone, with 1080p HD day and infrared night video as well as two-way audio. Receive alerts when any motion is detected or someone directly presses the bell. Choose from black or white and either connect to your existing doorbell or use batteries and the Blink app.
Philips Wake-up Light
Yes, there are better, more complete variants, but they come at considerably higher price points. In terms of value for money, this is a fantastic deal. Wake up naturally and feel more refreshed with a sunrise simulation that has been scientifically proven to work. It’s dark and miserable out there, but your bedroom needn’t be!
LEGO Christmas Tree
Ahh, what's Christmas without Lego? In this collection you'll find a wreath, Santa's sleigh and this eye-catching Christmas tree building kit. Once built, adorn the tree with colourful ornaments and candles and don't forget the yellow star for the perfect finishing touch. With this 2-in-1 model, you can choose to build 1 tree or 2 smaller trees. Perfect for the whole family.
SnoozeBand Deluxe Sleep Mask
If you have trouble sleeping, or maybe even need some help with meditation, take note: this is the most luxurious sleep mask we've ever seen and it also comes with built-in headphones. Made from a soft and super comfortable fabric, ultra-thin speakers are covered in soft foam for unparalleled sleep comfort, even for side-sleepers! With improved sound quality & up to 15 hours play time from one charge, there's even a zip section for a heat or ice pack.
Echo Dot for Kids
Choose either an owl or a dragon and make your child very happy this Christmas with this new and improved special version of the smart speaker with Alexa, made exclusively with kids in mind, who will love asking Alexa to play music, read a bedtime story, help with their homework and more. It comes with easy-to-use parental controls, meaning that Alexa will automatically give child-friendly responses.
Ember Cup
Keep your hot drink at the perfect temperature all day long with the stunning cups and mugs from the people at Ember. Ideal for espresso-based drinks such as cappuccinos and flat whites, this new Ember smart cup allows you to set your preferred drinking temperature, so you can enjoy it at your leisure. They come with a built-in battery and a charging coaster. No more tepid cuppas lying around!