Must-have gadgets tech lovers actually want this Christmas

1 Apple Watch

If you really want to score points this holiday season, this is the ultimate tech gift to give! The Apple Watch is truly a thing of beauty but besides its obvious aesthetic appeal, it’s loaded with capabilities that will revolutionize the way users interact with technology. Providing ‘glanceable’ information so you’re always connected without having to pick up your iPhone, the Apple Watch comes with lots of built-in apps as well as plenty more you can download from the App Store. From making calls, sending text messages and listening to music to checking in for a flight, tracking daily activity and even remotely unlocking your car door, this handsomely designed device does it all! Apple Watch, Apple Store, starting at $449.

2 Poki Portable Charger

Technology is all about making life simpler but, more and more, we’re seeing a focus not just on function but on form as well. Something as practical as a portable phone charger doesn’t have to be uninteresting. That’s why we love the sleek Poki portable phone charger from Lepow. Its slim design and fun colour options make it something you’ll actually want to carry around. Plus, it’s 30% lighter than batteries of the same power capacity. The smartphone addict on your Christmas shopping list will be thrilled to find this under the tree! Poki Portable Phone Charger, Lepow, $24.99.

3 Garmin Vivofit Bands

Wearable tech is all the rage and she’s going to love these chic bands. Part of an exclusive collaboration between designer Jonathan Adler and Garmin, these punchy, colourful bands, which come in a set of three, will seriously up the style factor on her Vivofit activity monitor. Getting fit was never so much fun! Garmin Vivofit 2-Band Trio, Palm Beach, Jonathan Adler, $40.

4 Bose SoundTouch 10

Filling your home with music has never been easier than with the new Bose SoundTouch 10. With Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities, this small, sleek and simple-to-use speaker easily connects to your home, allowing you to play music from your own personal collection, as well as from Internet streaming services and radio stations. Better yet, have a Spotify Premium account? Their new partnership with Bose means you can instantly access your favourite playlists to play throughout your home, right from your phone and tablet. By downloading the free SoundTouch app, your device becomes an easy-to-use remote to wirelessly control each Bose speaker, from room to room. So turn it on, turn it up and enjoy – without even getting up! And, just in time for the holidays, Bose's new ReadySet program allows you to customize your new speaker upon purchasing. Pre-load the presets with favourite Spotify playlists, podcasts or artists for yourself or as an added thoughtful touch to your gifting. Bose SoundTouch 10, Bose, $219.99.

5 Tile

This tiny little gadget is going to change everything. Tile is a Bluetooth tracker that, when paired with a smartphone app, can help you locate things you’ve lost. Simply add Tile to your wallet, affix to your laptop, attach it to your key ring, throw it into your purse or stick it onto your bike and if any of these items go missing, you’ll be able to locate them quick and easily, using the Tile app on your phone. Conversely, if you lose your phone, Tile can call it so you can hear it ringing under that pile of pillows on your bed! Tile, Tile Store, $25.

6 Frends Headphones

These headphones are as much a fashion statement as they are a tool for listening to music. More streamlined than many other headphones on the market, this particular pair places a premium on style as much as substance. But besides their striking good looks, they’ll deliver crystal clear sound and keep you connected to the music you love. You can also buy interchangeable caps that come in different colours and patterns to keep the look of these headphones ever-changing and on trend. Frends With Benefits Layla, Indigo, $150.

7 iPhone 6S

This incredible new phone may look like its predecessor, the iPhone 6, but the iPhone 6S comes with new functionality that take it leaps and bounds beyond anything that’s come before it. First, there’s the technology that’s so powerful, it was once only found in desktop computers, but now users can hold that power right in their hands. The 3D Touch function means that the phone knows how hard you’re pressing and offers quicker and easier ways to do things by popping content up and out. And Live Photos is an amazing new capability that captures the second just before and just after a photo is snapped, bringing that moment to life in ways we’ve never seen before. Oh, and did we mention that it also comes in rose gold? iPhone 6S, Apple Store, starting at $899.

8 Fujifilm X-T10

Just when it seems that tech gadgets are getting more and more futuristic looking, along comes something that is decidedly retro and definitely charming. The Fujifilm X-T10 camera aims to take the uncertainty out of photography by simplifying the process and eliminating confusing scroll menus. Delivering the high quality of photos you’d expect from a DSLR, this camera delivers comparable results and best of all, comes with wireless connectivity so you can easily send your snaps to your smartphone for instant sharing! Fujifilm X-T10, see fujifilm.ca for retailers, starting at $899.