iDB holiday gift guide: Oliver’s picks

Holiday Gift Guide

Now I’m not sure if you folks have noticed, but we’re currently hurtling towards Christmas. It’s not so much crept up on us as jumped out from behind a pillar, pulled a funny face and shouted “oogabooga” at the top of its lungs. Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s time to get those gifts sorted out.

If you’re much more organized than my good self, then you’re probably reading this with a decidedly smug grin on your face sipping on some egg nog, but if like me you just can’t bring yourself to do Christmas shopping until the week in which the day actually occurs then you may just be sat panicking at the thought of coming up with some gift ideas.

And that’s where we come in.

The iPad Air 2

iPad Air 2 silver flat

Anyone who read my gift guide from last year will know that I suggested the iPad mini with Retina was the best tablet to buy and, even if I do say so myself, I was spot on. This year though Apple hasn’t given the iPad mini the love it deserves and beyond a Touch ID sensor, nothing is new. The same can’t be said for the iPad Air.

Faster than any other Apple tablet, impossibly thin and lighter than, well, air, the new iPad Air 2 is without a doubt Apple’s best iPad yet. If you’ve got the money burning a hole in your pocket and have a special someone in need of a new tablet then you really owe it to them, and to yourself, to do the right thing.

No, it’s not cheap. But quality rarely is. Starting at $499, I’d say it’s worth every last cent.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch sport home screen apps

Yes I’m cheating here, and no, I don’t care one bit. We don’t know when it will be on sale, and we don’t know how much it will cost. What I do know is that any self respecting fan of technology would appreciate a war chest for when the Apple Watch is released. That’s what Apple gift cards, or indeed cash, is for!

Remember though, give what you can afford. Nobody is expecting you to fund one of those 18 carat gold beauties.

Spigen Air Skin iPhone 6/6 Plus case

Spigen iPhone 6 air skin

If like me you just need an iPhone case to stop the thing from getting scuffed when placed on a desk, or as happens far too often your toddler drops it, then you probably don’t need something bomb-proof. iPhone cases come in all shapes and sizes, but the Spigen Air Skin is just 0.4mm thick and feels lovely when on. In fact, I can barely tell that my iPhone 6 isn’t naked beyond the change in texture. It might not protect your phone from abuse, but it looks lovely in its range of colors and feels great in the hand. Highly, highly recommended. And starting at $13 it’s not expensive, either.

TwelveSouth HiRise iPhone/iPad stand

Twelve South HiRise featured

At $35 it’s not the cheapest iPhone or iPad stand around, but it’s probably the best. If you lust after the stands that Apple uses in its stores, then this is the closest you’ll find. A Deluxe version is also available for $60.

The joy of apps

iTunes Gift Cards (teaser 001)

I’ve already suggested Apple gift cards but buying iTunes gift cards means people can buy whatever apps, or games, they like. With so many wonderful choices in just about any category you can think of, iTunes gift cards are never a bad idea.

Kenu AirFrame

Kenu Airframe

The only car mount that has ever worked for me, the AirFrame recently received a new model that supports larger handsets in the AirFrame+. Starting at $25, the AirFrame is a must-have for anyone who drives.

Wrap-up

Choosing gifts for the discerning Apple fan is never easy, if only because the choice is so plentiful. With our 2014 gift guides in hand though you need not struggle for inspiration. Any of the products above or indeed those suggested by my colleagues will do the trick come Christmas morning but just remember folks, Christmas isn’t just about the perfect gift. It’s about eating too much and falling to sleep at 3pm too.

Gift guides from other iDB editors: