Five brilliant tech gifts that will make any man smile this Christmas
It’s the time of year when we men love to (over)indulge – in more ways than one. As such, I couldn’t withstand the urge to compile a list of strictly luxury tech gadgets. Resist temptation, if you can …
Beoplay E8 wireless headphones
£259.99
The glowing early reviews are justified: these Bang & Olufsen beauties are worth the hype (and expense). The E8 wireless, in-ear headphones are stylish, as one would expect from the Danish design maestros – though it’s a bit of a push to agree with the marketing guff that they resemble “a piece of jewellery” – and certainly deliver when it comes sound quality.
The touch controls don’t take long to master, and it’s straightforward to connect to any device with Bluetooth. Before long you’ll be fiddling about with the ‘transparency’ settings and graphic equaliser to personalise your experience. And why not?
Should you wish to use them in the gym, or when out for a run in the wet, the E8 headphones are dust and splash proof.
You are unlikely to have any charging issues, either: when fully charged they will give you four hours of playtime. Plus the lush, leather carry case smartly doubles as an on-the-go charging station. It can boost battery life by up to 12 hours.
AK70 MKII
£599
South Korean electronic giants Astell & Kern have delivered a wonderful new device for mobile audiophiles: the second iteration of the fabled AK70. Essentially, it’s a pocket-sized top-end hifi system.
The MKII is the first A&K model under £1,000 to be kitted out with dual DAC technology, which splits the left and right audio channels from input to output. The AK Connect application makes it easy to stream your favourite tunes wirelessly, or you can load them onto a mini SD card. And switch on Bluetooth to pair the AK70 MKII with your favourite headphones (see above entry).
So many men have become used to using a smartphone as a portable music player; more fool them. If you desire high-quality sound any place, anytime, do not compromise.
The Frame
£1,999
This 55-inch certified Ultra-HD Samsung television boasts ‘4K resolution’ (4,000 pixels), making it ideal for either watching the big match or gaming with your pals. But there is more: The Frame has an art mode so that when it is on standby it becomes an artistic feature to brighten up any room. It has a vast inbuilt library of images, and you can upload any of your own, too.
Additionally, you can tap into a torrent of online entertainment and channels through Samsung’s Smart Hub, and control all compatible devices via one remote control.
A modern masterpiece of home entertainment.
Brydge 10.5
£139.99
Hands up who doesn’t have a connected tablet? If you are reading this the chances are you have – after all, the average number of connected devices people own in the United Kingdom reached a record high of 3.5 this last quarter, according to GlobalData.
The Brydge 10.5 is the perfect buddy for an iPad Pro if – like me – you find touchscreen typing a faff. This detachable keyboard, with a row of iOS special functions, has been precision engineered from a single piece of aluminium to match the Apple tablet for fit and finish.
With LED backlit keys you can tap away in the dark, and the Brydge 10.5’s robust hinge allows you to adjust it to any viewing angle up to 180°. Finally, you need have no qualms about charging: the wireless keyboard – available in rose gold, space grey, silver and gold and a range of sizes to suit other tablets – has a three-month battery life.
Fitbit Ionic
£299.99
In our age of excess, this smartwatch has entered the market at just the right time. The Ionic is Fitbit’s answer to the Apple Watch, and while it may not offer a comparable suite of applications – for the time being, at least – it is just the job for those of us who are athletically inclined, or just in need of some motivation to move.
Take it from me: the Ionic, tooled up with GPS, a heart monitor, and more, is weirdly addictive. You’ll want to keep checking your pulse, the number of calories you have burnt, and kilometres you have (surprisingly) managed. By setting yourself daily challenges – 10,000 steps, say – the Ionic will spur you into action. And by using the inbuilt Fitbit Coach the watch becomes a cut-price personal trainer and guides you through workouts.
It also monitors your sleep, among other functions, but most importantly it is almost guaranteed to keep you moving.
