If you, like us, often leave the buying of presents for the festive season to the very last moment, this roundup of tech-focused or adjacent gift ideas is well worth considering.

Below we run through a fairly wide gamut, selecting 10 different items that appeal to those with a penchant for photography, content creation, smart homes, retro gaming, sound on the go, and everyday carry (EDC).

So if you are still racking your brain for a present for someone special, scroll down further to see the 10 products we’ve curated in this list of gift ideas.

Instax Mini Link 2 | R2 050 Takealot

We start things off with Fujifilm’s Instax range, which is always a worthwhile option to consider for those who enjoy photography. Having reviewed many products from the Japanese company in recent years, the Instax Mini Link 2 is easily the best offering available.

Being able to print images in the retro instant camera format is great, but thankfully this device does not require you to lug around an additional camera too, with it pairing nicely over Bluetooth with your smartphone. It also carries the advantage of being able to snap pictures and then print them any time later, provided thay remain in your camera roll.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Clock | R1 599 Takealot

Next is a device for those wanting to upgrade the home with smart devices. While many can be quite expensive, this Mi Smart Clock from Xiaomi is on the more affordable side, along with being a practical addition to the smart home.

Supporting Google for operation via an app or voice, the Mi Smart Clock is not just for setting alarms, but can also be used to control other Mi-specific smart devices around the home. As a jumping off point in creating a smart home environment then, this is a great place to start.

Amazon Fire Stick Lite (2nd Generation) | R949 Takealot

Sticking with the smart home trend, instead of buying an expensive smart TV, savvy consumers should look at picking up a USB dongle to imbue an older TV or simple desktop display with some smart features.

We’re fans of the Amazon Fire Stick Lite (2nd Generation), which is not the most powerful that Amazon sells, but is certainly in a more affordable price category to make it a great stocking stuffer.

Supporting the usual bevy of streaming platforms available in South Africa, along with Amazon Prime Video, the portability of this USB stick is also great for those who will be travelling over the festive period and beyond.

Google Nest Mini (2nd Generation) | R895 Leroy Merlin

Our final selection for the smart home obsessed is the Google Nest Mini (2nd Generation). If you want to get someone into smart homes, this is yet another great starting point, with the added advantage of serving up fairly solid sound given its rather small dimensions.

If you use Google nearly every day, and favour Android over iOS, this is the smart speaker you should be getting.

While Google hardware is not officially available in South Africa, many parallel imports are sold locally, and depending on where you look, the pricing is favourable too.

Romoss Sense 4 Mini 10 000mAh power bank | R450 Takealot

Yes, a power bank may seem a little impersonal in terms of a gift, but given the fact that loadshedding shows no signs of abating in South Africa, having one close at hand has become a necessity these days.

This small 10 000mAh option from Romoss is great in terms of its portability at 202g, and is perfectly suited for those who want to keep their smartphone or tablet powered on while a four-hour long loadshedding block hits as it supports charging of multiple devices at once.

Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag2 | R899

Much has been made of smart tags in recent years, especially as the Apple AirTag has been used for nefarious tracking and stalking of people, but these little devices are great when it comes to adding a layer of security for your most previous possessions.

We particularly find them useful for travel, throwing them into our checked-in luggage to track in case they get “lost” along the way to the same destination as us.

These devices do not come cheap, but their myriad applications and use cases make them very handy indeed.

GoPro Hero11 Black Mini action camera | R5 495 Outdoor Photo

Now we get into the really expensive stuff on this gift ideas list, selecting a miniature version of the GoPro Hero11 Black.

While we may have opted for a slightly more trendy brand at the moment like Insta360, the pricing on this Hero11 Black Mini is far more palatable. It also boasts all the same features, functions, and recording quality of the regular Hero 11 Black, with the only difference being size of the form factor and front facing screen.

If you’re a serious content creator, or know a budding one, this is well worth considering as a present.

Sony PlayStation Classic | R1 249 Loot.co.za

Want to give someone the joy of retro gaming?

Why not consider the PlayStation Classic. Sure you cannot play old disc-based games from the original PlayStation console on this product, but it comes pre-loaded with 20 iconic titles for you to enjoy.

These include Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Tekken 3, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, and plenty more.

Costing as much as many AAA titles do, this piece of retro gaming will serve up plenty of nostalgia and hours of fun for fans of the original console.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom portable speaker | R1 799 Takealot

The festive season in South Africa likely means you’ll be spending time near the water, whether that be at the beach or at a pool. As such, you’ll need a soundtrack to pair with the Summer festivities, which is why a portable speaker is essential.

We’re fans of the Ultimate Ears brand, which is owned by Logitech, and the booming sound its relatively small speakers can muster.

It means the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 comes highly recommended, serving up to 14 hours of music playback from a single full charge, as well as 360-degree sound, and boasting a IP67-rated water and dust proofness.

Victorinox Swisscard Lite | R874 Sharp Edge

Never heard of everyday carry (EDC) before? Prepare to go down quite the rabbit hole.

If you have a loved one who is a hobbyist or DIYer, this product is perfect, especially as it takes many of the components found in the regular Swiss Army Knife and puts them into a far slimmer form factor.

This Lite version of the Victorinox Swisscard is transparent and comes in three colour options – Red, Blue, and Black. It also features a small knife, scissors, pen, pin, tweezers, magnifying glass, and mini screwdriver tool.

[Image – Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash]