Our holiday gift guide presents the perfect opportunity to make a snide observation about how rampant commercialization has stripped much of the meaning from the season. But whatever. We all like getting presents, right? And, more importantly, we want to find just the right item for the loved ones on our list.
Tech-savvy types tend to be especially discerning, making them somewhat difficult subjects during the gift-giving season—especially for shoppers who aren’t as technically inclined. Worry not, though. Our staff is surrounded by the latest and greatest PC hardware, mobile devices, and other gadgets. We’ve compiled our favorites for this year’s edition of the TR Christmas gift guide.
Scott Wasson
Asus’ ROG Swift PG278Q G-Sync monitor
The arrival of variable-refresh displays is one of the biggest things to happen to PC gaming not just this year, but in the past decade or so. We aren’t using cathode ray tubes in our monitors anymore, and G-Sync finally frees us from the refresh rate limitations imposed by that legacy tech. Instead, G-Sync monitors display new frames as soon as the GPU has finished rendering them. The result is buttery smooth animation like nothing you’ve seen before.
The folks at Asus built one of the first G-Sync displays, and they nailed it. The ROG Swift PG278Q combines variable refresh rates with a 27″ corner-to-corner LCD featuring a resolution of 2560×1440. The monitor’s peak refresh rate is 144Hz, over twice what you’ll find in any 4K display. Although the panel is based on TN technology, you might be hard pressed to notice. Its color contrast and fidelity rival mid-range IPS displays, and even the viewing angles are decent. See my full review for the details.
The end result is the best gaming display I’ve ever seen. The PG278Q is pricey, and you’ll need a GeForce graphics card in order to drive it properly. But you’re buying awesomeness.
MSI’s GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 4G
If you need a graphics card to pair with a G-Sync monitor, or if you just want a GPU upgrade, now is a great time for it. Cards based on Nvidia’s GM204 GPU have changed the math in the graphics card market. You can get more graphics horsepower for less money—and with lower power consumption—than ever before.
My pick among GM204 graphics cards is the GeForce GTX 970, which offers slightly lower performance than the 980 at considerably reduced prices. Among GTX 970 cards, I was hoping to pick the MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 4G, which took home an Editor’s Choice award not long ago. Unfortunately, those cards are now listed as “no longer available,” and in their place, MSI is offering a slightly tweaked version that’s $50 more expensive. That’s not gonna fly.
Instead, I’m recommending Gigabyte’s G1 Gaming edition of the GTX 970, which is the little brother to the Gigabyte GTX 980 card that aced our recent comparison test. This card offers triple DisplayPort outputs and a slim triple-fan cooler. Right now, it also comes with one free game. (You can choose from Assassin’s Creed Unity, Far Cry 4, and The Crew.) Just be aware that this card is relatively long, so it’s probably not the best for installation in smaller cases.
Google Nexus 7 2013 by Asus
I bought my Nexus 7 on a whim in the middle of last year just so I could get a sense of what an inexpensive Android slate has to offer. Since then, I’ve used the thing virtually every single day, way too many hours to count—and I’ve barely touched my iPad. When I’m not working, the Nexus 7 is my constant couch-surfing, book-reading, mail-checking companion.
I know there are newer tablets available, but the baseline set by the Nexus 7 remains excellent. The 1920×1200 IPS display is one of the best you’ll find, and the quad-core Qualcomm SoC delivers consistently smooth, snappy performance. With 2GB of RAM and an unadulterated version of Android, the Nexus 7 flips between the seven or eight apps I have active at once without delay. And the thing is a featherweight. Here’s a dirty secret: although I have a Shield Tablet with a larger screen and better specs, I prefer the N7 for regular use.
Now that the price on the 16GB Wi-Fi version has dropped to $169.99, I see little reason to resist this thing’s charms—or to settle for a cheaper Android slate with compromised quality.
Geoff Gasior
Nvidia’s Shield Tablet
Tablets are a popular gift, and there are a bunch of nice options right now. For me, the best one is easily Nvidia’s Shield. This versatile slate has been my go-to Android device since our initial review, and the more I use it, the more I find myself recommending it.
Thanks to a quad-core Tegra K1 processor and 2GB of memory, the Shield Tablet delivers snappy performance even during heavy multitasking. Android 5.0 Lollipop screams on the thing. More importantly, the new OS was pushed out to the Shield Tablet promptly and largely without modifications. Nvidia has a history of keeping its mobile devices on the leading edge of Android updates—and for only embellishing the stock OS with a handful of unobtrusive customizations.
Unlike most premium tablets, the Shield lets users add up to 128GB of storage via Micro SD. The 8″ display isn’t the best in its class, but the color reproduction looks good to my eyes, and the 1920×1200 resolution delivers crisp visuals. There’s also an integrated stylus with a slick painting app.
Gaming? Check. The Tegra K1’s Kepler-based GPU has ample horsepower for local games, and Nvidia’s software enables streaming from GeForce-equipped PCs and from the company’s cloud-based Grid service. The optional gamepad is also excellent—and well worth the $59.99 asking price for serious gamers.
At $299.99 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version, the Shield Tablet isn’t exactly a stocking stuffer. Still, it’s well-priced given its feature set. If you’re feeling even more generous, another $100 buys the 32GB variant, which comes with an unlocked 4G LTE modem and Android ports of Portal, Half-Life 2, and HL2: Episode One.
Any Corsair K70 keyboard
Anyone who spends a lot of time typing deserves a keyboard with quality key switches. The market is flooded with options based on Cherry MX mechanical units, and Corsair’s K70 is easily one of the best. I like it so much that actually I bought one as a gift for myself.
Validating that indulgence starts with praising the distinctive industrial design. Corsair mounts the keys to an exposed metal base with a beautiful brushed finish. The key caps appear to float above the surface, and the open layout makes it much easier to clean up accumulated dust, crumbs, and pet hair.
Dedicated media controls complement the mechanical key array. The adjustable backlighting has per-key customization, and there’s an RGB version that basically turns the keyboard into a programmable Lite-Brite with a 24-bit palette.
Corsair offers multiple options in the switch department, too. The standard and RGB versions are both available with a choice of MX red switches, which have a light touch and linear stroke; MX browns, which introduce a tactile “bump” at the actuation point; and MX blues, which add an audible click along with the bump. The browns are probably the best all-around choice for PC enthusiasts who split their time between typing and gaming.
Standard versions of the K70 sell for $129.99, and the RGB variants are $40 more. I’d stick with the regular models, whose simpler backlighting can be controlled without the complicated CUE software that comes with the RGB. The RGB also adds support for programmable macros, so it might be a better choice for hard-core gamers.
Google’s Chromecast dongle
If I had a dime for every time someone tried to show me a video on their tiny smartphone screen, I’d have enough money to buy them a Chromecast. This affordable, thumb-drive-sized wonder makes it easy to beam music, pictures, videos, and even the entire Android interface to big-screen TVs and pretty much anything else with an HDMI input. The Chromecast accepts feeds from Google’s Chrome browser in addition to a growing number of mobile apps and streaming services. iOS devices can participate, too.
Unlike some other techie items, the Chromecast requires minimal support. If Grandma can use a smartphone and television remote, she’ll be able to broadcast her Netflix stories. The setup’s dead simple, too.
A Chromecast has been my home-theater PC’s sidekick for almost a year now. It gets used regularly, and it’s quickly become my go-to option for quick hits. Newegg sells the device for just $35, compared to $39 from Google Play.
Cyril Kowaliski
Cooler Master’s NovaTouch TKL keyboard
I do a lot of typing in this line of work, so what better way to start with than with my new keyboard of choice?
I reviewed the NovaTouch TKL almost two months ago now, and it’s pretty much the best keyboard I’ve tested this year. The tenkeyless layout makes mousing more comfortable than with a full-width unit, the Topre electrostatic capacitive switches feel terrific for both touch typing and gaming. I actually prefer this Cherry MX-style design to that of Topre’s own Type Heaven. The Cherry MX-style key caps can be switched out with custom caps, too, if you’re into that sort of thing. The NovaTouch TKL even features handy function-key shortcuts for media controls and disabling the Start key.
My only qualm about the NovaTouch TKL was its price, but that’s now come down from $199 to $180.99. Sure, this thing still costs almost as much as two Cherry MX keyboards based on the same design, but you know what? I still really like it, and I expect anyone as picky as I am to feel the same way. Besides, aren’t the holidays all about indulging?
A Spotify Premium subscription
I’m sure plenty of you are already familiar with Spotify. Because I live in the Great White North, however, I’ve only been able to enjoy it for the past couple of months. Prior to that, I grabbed music from iTunes, artists’ websites, and some, uh, unofficial sources from time to time.
Compared to the traditional means of acquiring music, Spotify really is a game changer. For $9.99 a month, the service offers unfettered access to a seemingly limitless library of music, which covers almost everything I listen to. Spotify is available on all of my devices and computers, and there’s no need to worry about downloading or syncing songs. Not only that, but the “radio” stations are an awesome way to discover new artists, especially if you fire up an “album radio” based on your existing favorites.
Spotify doesn’t have absolutely everything, but it has a lot. The ability to explore all of an artist’s songs without having to purchase them is particularly liberating. Spotify just introduced family discounts, too, which make it an even sweeter deal. The best part is that, unlike with previous subscription-based music streaming services, my music won’t disappear if I stop paying. The service will simply revert to its default ad-supported mode, which peppers the listening experience with radio-style ads. A fair compromise, I would say.
A few days with Sony’s PlayStation 4 console
Carl Jung once said, “The word ‘happiness’ would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.” That’s why my last holiday gift recommendation is a few days spent with Sony’s PlayStation 4 console.
It’s easy to get hung up on the downsides of PC gaming: comparatively pricey hardware, occasionally rushed cross-platform releases, and all of the variables one must juggle to get games running (and looking) right. Without spending a little time with this generation’s best console, the PlayStation 4, we PC gamers may not fully realize how good we have it.
With a PlayStation 4, you’ll get to enjoy the clunky PlayStation Store—which, when it doesn’t refuse to load altogether, presents players with a depressing dearth of games compared to the Steam catalog. You’ll get to enjoy jagged polygons and 30-FPS caps in supposedly state-of-the-art games. You’ll squint while trying to read mission screens from half-way across your living room, and you’ll wince at the noisy cooler the in-game sounds don’t always cover up.
Finally, if you persevere, you’ll get to enjoy console exclusives such as Destiny, which has been hailed as a mediocre substitute for Borderlands without any of the humor, and The Last Of Us, a cover shooter about an unlikable psychopath with a broken moral compass. And remember: a $50-a-year PSN subscription is required to play multiplayer games online.
Buying a new graphics card or processor might make your gaming PC objectively better. But nothing will make you subjectively happier with it than a little time spent with a PlayStation 4.
Jeffrey Kampman
High-quality photographic tools are a great gift. As TR’s resident photo nerd, I’ve picked out a couple of cameras that should make for great step-ups from a smartphone or point-and-shoot without breaking the bank.
Nikon’s D3300 DSLR
While mirrorless cameras are the hot thing in photography right now, the wizened old DSLR still has a few things to recommend it. Maybe you want a dedicated viewfinder, which most cheaper mirrorless cameras lack. Maybe you want an abundance of control buttons and dials. Perhaps you just enjoy the feeling of a bigger camera in your hands.
Nikon’s D3300 is my DSLR pick. The D3300 has a 24MP APS-C (read: big) sensor that appears to be better than that of any other DSLR in this price range. Its 18-55mm VR II lens is perfect for shutterbugs that are just starting out, and when it comes time to buy a second lens, Nikon makes great, cheap step-up lenses like the 35mm f/1.8 DX.
What don’t you get in an entry-level DSLR like this? The D3300 is a relatively primitive device when viewed next to smartphones and some mirrorless cameras. It has no Wi-Fi or GPS capability built-in. it lacks an articulated touch screen, and it’s pretty impractical for video. You’ll have to decide whether those shortcomings matter to you.
Limitations aside, the Internet is nearly unanimous in its praise of this camera. The Wirecutter hails the D3300 as its “best entry-level DSLR.” DPReview gives the D3300 its Silver Award, and a 77% rating. Ken Rockwell, love him or hate him, says the D3300 is the camera he’d recommend for most people, too. At $500 new after an instant rebate, or about $475 refurbished, I think the D3300 is a great value.
For context, I shoot all of the pictures you see in my reviews with Nikon’s older, mid-range D5100. While the D5100 is an “amateur” camera, its images hold up just fine to the demanding standards we have for photos at TR. The D3300 has an autofocus system similar to that of the D5100, plus a much newer sensor, so I would expect similar—if not better— performance despite the D3300’s more entry-level focus.
Sony’s a5100 mirrorless camera
Want a camera that’s smaller and lighter than a DSLR? Sony’s Alpha a5100 mirrorless camera looks like a good bet to me. It packs the 24MP APS-C sensor of its bigger brother, the a6000, into a slightly more amateur-oriented body.
The A5100 has a lot of the latest tech built into its wafer-thin confines, too. It has Wi-Fi and NFC, an articulated touch screen for high-quality selfies, and remote-control options for iOS and Android devices. Its on-sensor, phase- and contrast-detection autofocus system should allow for fast, sure autofocus in still shots and videos alike.
The a5100 falls short in a couple of areas, though. It lacks a dedicated viewfinder and any provision to add one, so you have to look at the screen to compose pictures. Amazon reviewers complain that the screen may not be bright enough for use in direct, intense sunlight. The lack of any hot shoe or expansion ports limits the a5100 to its puny built-in flash, too. If an electronic viewfinder or a hot shoe for flashes are essentials for you, you’ll need to step up to the a6000.
There aren’t many reviews of the a5100 out yet, but the few that are look promising. PhotographyBlog is effervescent with its praise, giving the a5100 a five-star rating, and their sample images look great. Imaging Resource and DPReview also seem pleased with their a5100s. For only $50 more than the D3300 kit at $598, with a 16-50-mm lens, the a5100 looks like a solid mirrorless contender to me.
Brian Peterson’s Understanding Exposure
There’s no point in spending a ton of money on an advanced camera if you’re just going to leave it in automatic mode all of the time. You’ll still reap the image quality benefits of the large sensor and better lenses, but these cameras are at their best when you take control of aperture, shutter speed, or ISO as needed. Unfortunately, the average camera manual is an arcane, paperback-length thing that explains all of the whiz-bang features without touching too well on the basics.
Enter Understanding Exposure, a slim, concise volume that’s written for the person picking up an advanced camera for the first time. Bryan Peterson explains how to use the complex settings of your fancy new shooter to maximum creative effect, all while maintaining a friendly, avuncular tone. If you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a camera for your lucky recipient, drop $20 on this excellent book, too. Your budding photographer will thank you.
Bruno Ferreira
Mionix’s Naos 8200 mouse
I’ve never been lucky with the electronic species of rodents, Rodentia Electronicus Gamingus. My first mouse started malfunctioning, the second one had its scroll wheel and a button go south, the third arrived with a busted wheel, and the fourth made my hand hurt. (And no, animal abuse was not involved.) When the time came to seek out a new one, I kept my eyes peeled for a long, palm-friendly shape devoid of shiny surfaces.
After much browsing, the ample size, sleek curves, and matte surfaces of the Mionix Naos caught my eye. According to reviewers, the Naos is one of the most comfortable mice out there, with uniquely sculpted divots not just for the ring and pinky fingers, but also for the main ones. I picked up the Naos 8200 for myself, and I agree—the shape is nearly perfect for me. I actually had to learn to relax my hand to let it fall into the Naos’ contours naturally. The mouse now hugs my hand comfortably, and my RSI-addled shoulder seems to like the more relaxed position.
The Noas’s tracking has been smooth since I removed the sticker on the bottom of the mouse (it kept getting caught on my mouse pad). All the buttons have a satisfying click, and the software is actually useful, allowing adjustment of things like the lift-off distance and per-axis sensitivity. As an added bonus, profiles are saved to the mouse’s EEPROM, so there’s no need for the software after the initial setup. For me, the Naos 8200 is pretty much flawless for $83. A less sensitive version with a 3200-DPI sensor is also available for $50.
Morotola’s Moto G with LTE smartphone
I’m a frequent but not truly intensive smartphone user, so my needs are few: timely software updates, a high-PPI screen, and a manageable size (5″ is close to my absolute limit). Motorola’s Moto G fits those requirements, and the 4G version comes fully unlocked for only $200. That variant also has a microSD card slot, allowing the default 8GB of storage to be expanded on the cheap.
The screen is very vibrant, with better color reproduction than my old iPhone 4. Although the display isn’t quite as sharp as the Retina unit, the battery life is just as good—if not better—than that of the Apple handset. Everything runs pretty smoothly on the Moto G’s quad-core CPU, and having proper 4G connectivity is something else entirely.
The one sore point is the 1GB of RAM, which isn’t ideal for heavier multitasking. Android is nowhere near as efficient with memory as iOS. That said, the Moto G’s asking price is also well below the going rate for unlocked 4G devices.
Adam Eiberger
If this were my personal wish list, it would include a new laptop—possibly the Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus or maybe a MacBook Pro Retina. Although I’ve only played with either of these briefly, I defer to our editorial staff, who saw fit to recommend both in our mobile staff picks. Unfortunately, nobody’s spending anywhere near a grand on yours truly this year, so my Toshiba R700 will have to make do for another year or two.
Cree’s TW Series LED light bulbs
If you, too, are working with a budget well south of four figures, I’d recommend the bright idea of LED lighting. I can’t recommend LED lighting—specifically Cree TW bulbs—any more eloquently than Scott, so go read this article or some of his other lighting coverage, and start making the switch yourself.
I’ve been transitioning our home to LEDs over the past year. We have numerous recessed can lights; some odd task and directional fixtures with unique bulb shapes, bases, and limitations; and of course plenty of lamps and standard fixtures that take traditional bulbs. I’m not getting crazy and throwing away still-functional incandescents or CFLs, but as those fail, I’m replacing every one with a quality LED solution.
Cooler Master’s Mizar mouse
Staying in the small and affordable realm, I’d like to add a hearty, unqualified recommendation for Cooler Master’s Mizar mouse. Geoff found the Mizar to be a little small for an IntelliMouse clone, but either because my digits are slimmer than his, or because my grip is different, I think this rodent is a perfect alternative to the tried-and-true Microsoft original. Furthermore, it’s only $49.99 at Newegg right now—or just $29.99 after a $20 with a mail-in-rebate. Totally worth it.
A good SSD
Anybody who’s reading The Tech Report but not using an SSD as their system drive should stop what they’re doing, go to Newegg, TigerDirect, or wherever they normally shop, and order one right now. I’m hoping this statement only applies to a tiny fraction of our readership.
Our SSD Endurance Experiment should put to rest concerns about reliability, and our recent reviews should demonstrate that there are many excellent drives from which to choose. It’s almost to the point where the cost per gigabyte should be the determining factor, at least among drives from reputable vendors.
I have OCZ and Samsung SSDs in my systems; the models I’d recommend from those brands would be the Arc 100 and the 840 EVO, respectively. There are other good options, like the Crucial MX100, which is the favorite budget SSD of our resident storage specialist. Whichever drive you choose, just get one. Only DJs should be stuck with spinning media as their primary source.