GadgetGuy 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Budget buys

Our final gift guide for 2015 is all about budgets, because you’ve been tightening the belt in all regions this year, so why not have a cost-cutting celebration also.

Nokia Lumia 530

Price: Seen as low as $40, normally $150

Without a doubt, one of the most budget friendly phones of the year, Nokia’s Lumia 530 delivers 3G connectivity, a 4 inch screen, 4GB internal memory, and a 5 megapixel camera to a price point that this year at the holiday season sits below $50. Nuts.

Read more…

Google Chromecast

Price: $49

Not quite an Apple TV, but something close to it, the Chromecast is Google’s answer to making stuff from your phone and tablet appear on the big screen, or at least the big screen in the living room.

It’s not much bigger than a USB key and plugs right in with HDMI, taking power from either the wall or a TV’s USB port, and can accept feeds from any iOS (iPhone, iPad) product, or an Android phone or tablet if you have one, meaning movies you rent or capture, photos you take, and even a few games can be played on the telly easily.

Read more…

Kambrook Blitz2Go Blender

Price: $50

One of the new crazes hitting the kitchen world is a blender built into a sports bottle, and that’s what Kambrook’s Blitz2Go falls under.

It’s not technically a blender in a bottle, but rather a sports bottle system that can be easily plugged into a small blender to make smoothies and juices quickly so that you can take the blended drinks that are good for you with you without thinking.

Logitech X100 speaker

Price: $60

Bluetooth speakers are everywhere, and they’re great if you like turning up the volume from your phone when you want to listen to music at a park or out with friends.

But while some speakers can cost serious dosh, the Logitech X100 is a budget speaker that can go in a backpack or small bag, charge over microUSB, and stay alive for around five hours.

Read more…

Kobo eReader Touch

Price: $99

If you know someone who loves to read but hasn’t yet caught up with the electronic world, Kobo’s eReader should start them on the right track.

The small slate includes a 6 inch electronic ink screen for viewing in most places and an experience like that of the printed page, 2GB RAM for supporting up to 1000 books with more available if you throw in a microSD card, WiFi, USB, and a touch panel making it easy to turn the page just by touching the screen.

Vodafone 4G $99 pack with Huawei’s Ascend Y550

Price: $99

Easily one of the best value packs for phones this year, if not the best, Vodafone’s just under a hundred pack includes a 4G phone with a 4.5 inch screen, 4G access, and three months of Spotify included.

Android is also here, and it’s relatively up-to-date, while also packing a 5 megapixel rear camera with flash and a 2 megapixel selfie camera.

If you know someone who really wants a phone and you’re stuck for ideas, this is about as value packed as you can find.

Read more…

PendoPad 8

Price: Seen as low as $100, normally $199

Pendo’s 8 inch Windows tablet is about the most budget Windows tablet you can get, and with specs that rival many of the other small Windows tablets, this could be that portable PC and tablet hybrid you’ve been needing to buy the kids anyway, or even some of the relatives.

Read more…

iTunes, Google Play card

Price: from $25

If all else fails, an iTunes or Google Play card is a good suggestion as it lets the person being gifted to buy themselves an album, a movie, and possibly an app or two without risk of being seen for the horrible taste they don’t want the world to know they have.

Check with them ahead of time to see what they have, Android or iPhone, because depending on what they use, they’ll be able to buy something nice from the card straight from their phone, and you can pick these up from the supermarket.