With Christmas hovering in the corner, many of us are scrounging for gadget gifts that offer value for money. Here are a few suggestions for gadgets under P5,000:
ES Classic Mini (P3,995). If you grew up in the late ‘80s or the early ‘90s, you’ll certainly want to own this NES Classic Edition. This recently released model pays homage to the original one with a slightly miniaturized version. It also comes pre-installed with 30 of the greatest games like Super Mario Brothers 3, Mega Man 2, and The Legend of Zelda. Don’t worry – it comes with an HDMI port so it is fully compatible with most modern-day TV sets.
Google Chromecast 2 (P2,199). This should be the first on your list if the person you want to give it to loves watching YouTube and Netflix. It basically turns any TV into a Smart TV and allows you to stream videos and music. It’s simple, efficient, and works flawlessly. Any TV in your home should not be without a Chromecast. Just make sure you have good WiFi internet at home.
Fitbit Flex (P4,599) or Sony Smartband 2 (P4,799). These two are among the nicest and feature-packed fitness bands we can find that’s under P5,000. They also come in various colors and sizes to fit the style of the user. They track almost everything – steps, distance, calories, active time and even monitors your sleep pattern and act as an alarm. It’s also water-resistant and batteries can last up to a week before needing another recharge.
Asus Zenpower Ultra (P2,495). Heavy smartphone users will certainly love this – a 20,100mAh powerbank from Asus. This is one of the more capable powerbanks in the market today – high capacity, dual charging ports and fast charging capability. Never go out without a powerbank in hand.
Amazon Echo Dot ($49.99 or P2,500). Your geeky friend will definitely love the Amazon Echo Dot. Turn your simple abode into a smart home with the Amazon Echo. This device accepts voice commands and can control your appliances at home (lights, TV, sound system and more). It provides tons of information, sets your alarm and even reads the news for you. Other skills include hailing an Uber and playing your favorite songs on Spotify.
Sony SRS-X11 Portable Wireless Speakers (P4,999). This small and compact wireless speakers from Sony is big in sound (10W output). It comes with wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and one-tap pairing via NFC. A single charge can last you an entire day of music playback (12 hours). You can even pair two of these and have them play the same sound simultaneously for wider coverage.
Xiaomi Yi Car WiFi DVR (P3,800). Having a dash camera nowadays is becoming very common and important. If your friend has a car, then the Xiaomi Yi Car WiFi DVR should be on top of your gift list. This compact dash cam has a very wide 165-degree field of view and an f1.8 aperture that should be good enough to record videos even if the roads aren’t that well-lit. We think dash cams should be a standard in all cars these days.