The best technology gifts for men
GoPro Hero4 Session camera
Welcome to the first new camera body GoPro's released since the Digital Hero arrived in 2006. Compared to the old model it's 50 per cent smaller, 40 per cent lighter and can be set, suctioned, attached or bolted to places its predecessor couldn't. And it's just as powerful (1080p60 video and 8MP photos), just as waterproof and and as easy to use. You need this in your life immediately.
£159.99 via GoPro
ORP bike horn and light
A gentleman never shouts obscenities at bus drivers, taxis, vans, cars or whatever else is trying to mow him down when he's commuting to the office by bike. Especially now ORP, a discreet LED light and horn will do the job for you. It produces two sounds - a "friendly" 76db toot and a "loud" stop-f******-texting-and-look-where-you're-going-you-f******-idiot 96db warning.
£49.99 via ORP
Leica Q
Capture those special moments in style with the latest offering from the revered Leica brand. Billed as the "compact camera redefined" the Leica Q comes with a full-frame sensor and a fixed 28mm focal length perfect for street, architectural and landscape photography. The lens is the fastest in its class so you shouldn't miss a thing. Visually it's a picture, all black and sleekness.Snap it up.
£2,900 via Leica
Bamboo Spark Pen
Now this is clever. Smart pens that save handwritten copy digitally require special paper - but not the Bamboo Spark.Rather you just need the customised folio which tracks the pen's pressure and converts your work onto your smartphone or tablet.
Take note.
£119.99 via Wacom
Electrochoc by Laurent Garnier
Penned by electronic music royalty, Larent Garnier, this is as close as anybody's got to filing a comprehensive history of dance music. Tracing the genre to its roots, you're taken on a world tour through the legendary clubs and key moments of musical history, from the early Eighties at London's Mud Club, through Manchester's Hacienda, and onto Paris, Detroit, New York and Chicago. Reach for the lasers, gentlemen.
£30 via Laurent Garnier
Vans Nixon Mini Blaster Bluetooth speaker
We like the Vans waffle sole. We like the Nixon Mini Blaster Bluetooth speaker. We love this combination of the two. You get all the Mini Blaster features - up to eight hours play on a single charge and wireless pairing so you can link two Mini Blasters up for stereo sound - but the robust silicone body's bookended by the Vans trademark.
£99 via Nixon
Ricoh NV-10A military binoculars
The Ricoh NV-10A Enhanced Binoculars are military grade digital binoculars which can see through fog and darkness, tag your location using GPS, and even tell you which way you were facing with a built-in compass. You can record everything with still and video modes, and your shots will come out blur-free thanks to an effect physical image stabiliser. A perfect gift for the professional assassin or bounty hunter.
£2,700 via Ricoh
BB-8 Droid by Sphero
BB-8 - basically a ball with a head - looks set to be the star of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And now Sphero has produced a miniature model that looks set to be on every child's (and possibly adult's) Christmas list. Just watch that little guy roll.
£129.99 via Firebox
Polaroid Snap Instant
Who doesn't like a bit of retro now and then?Preferably with a modern tweak... The Snap Instant prints out your photos like a classic Polaroid but doesn't require any ink thanks to digital imaging. And it looks very sleek - the Mini Cooper of cameras.
£64 via Polaroid
Master & Dynamic ME05 brass headphones
Precision-machined from solid brass and then finished by hand, these are not only some of the most attractive in-ear headphones we've ever seen, but they're also some of the most sonically pleasing: brass is widely recognised for being a great sound transmitter. The ME05's design also features custom drivers and balanced weight distribution to ensure a snug fit, meaning one of the buds isn't going to pop out if you suddenly have to sprint to catch the train.
£159 via Master & Dynamic
Pie chart coffee table
A coffee table that's certainly divisive. The table is comprised of four different units: a quarter circle, a half circle, a three-quarter circle and a full circle. Mix and match to your heart's content, creating the ideal shape for your guests or your own aesthetic tastes. So diverting by the time you've stopped playing with it, the coffee will have gone cold.
£254 via hfurniture
Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless
Shame on you - you thought wireless speakers were tinny little boxes that fall over when you put a proper bassline through them. Not any more. The Zeppelin Wireless from audio kings Bowers and Wilkins has two 25mm double dome tweeters, two 90mm midrange speakers and a 150mm subwoofer (each with their own dedicated amp) so it stands up the weightiest drops. It's also fully compatible with Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth and Spotify Connect, opening the Zeppelin experience to Android users for the first time. You need this in your life.
£499 via Bowers & Wilkins
Otone Audio BluWall Direct
Enjoy home quality audio on the go with these portable speakers. BluWall Direct produces limitless streaming opportunities by connecting multiple speakers over a Wi-Fi network. You can also connect multiple devices wirelessly without the internet through its built-in Wi-Fi Direct technology. Very nice (and they look it too).
£179.95 via Otone
Oculus Rift Development Kit 2
The last time we were this excited about a piece of technology we had just picked up an Apple iPhone for the first time. The Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 is the first virtual reality kit that actually works. You really have to try one to believe it. The perfect gift for impressing family and friends this Christmas.
£223. oculus.com
Porsche Sounds
If a Porsche for a present is a little steep, get him the official Porsche book. From the 356 Roadster to the striking 550 A Spyder, from the sought-after 911 Carrera RS to the 911 Targa, even including the latest 919 Hybrid, Porsche Sounds is a painstaking history of the storied brand. And yes, it includes a CD of 30 different Porsche sounds.
£36 via Amazon
BH9540 9.1-channel system by LG
The sound from its nine separate channels is so hefty that when we played our control DVD (Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes) it was like sitting in the multiplex. The downside is that entails a hefty amount of hardware. Just make sure the recipient has a substantial living room.
£850. lg.com
ClamCase Pro
Snap a tablet into the back of this shell setup and you have what looks like a mini MacBook Pro. The illusion is so good that they'll keep reaching for the (nonexistent) trackpad.
£100. clamcase.com
iMac with Retina 5k display
Apple's Retina 5k iMac is one of the best desktop computers money can buy, combining workstation-level performance with a beautiful 27-inch screen (which offers almost the same pixel density as your smartphone).
From £1,849. apple.com
Bowers and Wilkins T7 Bluetooth speaker
The bandwidth of portable Bluetooth speakers has finally grown to include premium audio manufacturers, and the latest to join the fray is Bowers & Wilkins with the incredible T7. It only weights 950g, it's simple to pair your device (just hit the Bluetooth button and wait for an audio notification), and the sound quality's stunningly detailed. Perfect for the most stylish of shelves.
£299.99. bowers-wilkins.co.uk
Monkeylectric bike light
Who knew bike lights could be exciting? These LED bike lights fill your bike's wheel with bright patterns (once you get up to speed.) If your friend is the patient type, pre-order the Monkey Light Pro which allows you to edit the graphics using your smartphone. If not, get them two M232 models, one for each wheel.
£39.90 (per wheel) for the M232 model. amazon.co.uk
Phantom 2 Vision Plus by DJI drone
The ultimate photography drone for the layman, the Phantom 2 has great range (800 metres) and a long lasting battery (25 minutes).To control it effectively at that distance, your iPhone can clip to the controller giving you a pilot's (or, indeed, cameraman's) point of view. A cinch to control, it also has a brilliant stabilising connection, which buffers any blade judder from the camera, giving the smoothest footage. This is no toy drone.
£849.99. dji.com
Nest Protect fire alarm
This very smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector will text you if it sniffs out anything untoward and even tell you in advance when its battery's running low. Ideal for the nervous homeowner.
£88.33. amazon.co.uk
Hudl 2
The Hudl 2 is a staggeringly cheap, tough do-it-all machine that's actually (borderline) desirable. The perfect surprise stocking filler.
£129. tesco.com
People People transparent speaker
This absolutely gorgeous powered speaker box is completely transparent. The minimalist design is its USP, but you'll be surprised by the quality of sound it produces.
£555. peopleproducts.co
MiCoach Fit Smart by Adidas
The old MiCoach was a clunky affair, but the brand's latest offering is a retro-digital band that we love. The functions include a heart-rate monitor and pedometer. You'll have to link up to your phone for more complicated exercise programmes, but with simple coaching delivered by visual messages, you'll find you rarely need to.
£110. adidas.co.uk
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