Christmas presents for Apple lovers
The holiday season is approaching fast and with Black Friday right around the corner, this is the perfect time to find presents for your favourite Apple lovers. Whether you’re looking for a gift for someone who just into Apple, or is a longtime Apple lover, there is something for everyone on this list.
The first stores are already playing Maria Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you.”, the neighbours are bringing out their Christmas decorations and soon the sweet smell of Christmas cookies will fill the homes. And while Christmas looks different everyone, there are some presents that could be just the right thing for many people, especially if they like Apple.
The gift to rule them all, AirPods Pro
In my opinion, AirPods Pro are the ultimate gift for Apple lovers this year. Even if they have a pair of headphones, AirPods Pro are a notable addition to everyone’s portfolio of headphone.
The small earbuds from Apple provide enormous utility in a small package that comfortably fits into every pocket. The active noise cancelling (ANC) is great and works amazingly well for their size. The battery life is decent with 4.5 hours and should be enough for almost most use cases and the integration into the Apple ecosystem is simply stunning.
“AirPods Pro are the gift that rules them all”
Personally, I use my AirPods Pro every day and if I could have only one pair of headphones, these would be my choice. They do well in every situation I throw them in, from running to the gym and the university.
If you have the budget for the AirPods Pro, I can only recommend getting them for your favourite Apple lover.
Another one for music fans, Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
While the AirPods Pro are amazing, they certainly hurt the wallet. The next present on this list, however, does not.
The UE Wonderboom 2 can be found for as low as $50. The portable speaker from Ultimate Ears is a really neat present for the music-loving Apple fan. It pairs fast and produces great sound for its size. Furthermore, it is as portable as it gets and even is rated IP67 for water and dust, which allows it to swim along with you.
Another great feature of the Wonderboom 2 is the possibility to pair it with another one, so they can produce stereo sound. All of this can be done via the App which also includes a basic equaliser and some sound profiles.
“Good sound, great battery life, that’s the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2”
The only real downside this speaker has that it charges via micro USB which isn’t quite modern anymore. However, its battery life is long enough that you don’t have to worry about that too often.
So if you have someone looking for a speaker or want to hear the Christmas songs in great quality, the UE Wonderboom 2 is great for under the tree.
Protection is important, Apple Clear Case
A gift that also does not hurt the wallet extremely is a phone case. There are a ton of options, even some that can be customised. My recommendation is to go for the one the recipient will love.
However, if you are not sure, a fine choice is Apple’s clear case. It is sleek and still provides some protection, most importantly for the screen. Furthermore, the fact that it is clear, highlights the industrial design of the iPhone which most Apple geeks like to show off.
“Everyone needs protection, even your iPhone”
Even though several reviews online aren’t content with Apple’s clear case, I am pleased with mine. Over the course of about three months, it hasn’t yellowed and it protects my phone well.
A case is a gift for the one that always has a cracked screen or the person constantly wanting to show off the design of their iPhone. While there is a plethora of options and prices, Apple’s clear case costs $49 and is a good choice.
For the one with the new iPad, Apple Magic Keyboard
Another gift right from Apple that will be the cause for a lot of joy and later on productivity is Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro. The case with the integrated keyboard and trackpad has been the perfect addition to any iPad that connects with it.
First of all, the looks of the iPad attached to the case are fantastic. The way it “floats” over the keyboard looks amazing. However, not only does the magic keyboard make the iPad look amazing, but it also provides a superb typing experience and a great trackpad.
“Fantastic aesthetics, great functionality”
What is also amazing about the case is that it frees up the USB-C port of the iPad, as it allows for passthrough charging which provides iPad users with the option to use the built-in USB-C as data transfer.
However, what isn’t really amazing is the price. The magic keyboard is expensive. It starts from $299 and is even more expensive if you need the 12.9 inch version. Yet, if you can afford to shell out about $300 for this gift, in my opinion, it is the best keyboard and trackpad case for the iPad.
For the one sentenced into Home-office, the Logitech MX Keys
Another great keyboard is the Logitech MX Keys (for Mac). While this keyboard can be paired to an iPad, it’s intended use is as a stationary keyboard on your desk, connected to your workstation.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of us were asked to work from home. While there are many opinions on the home office, one thing most people can agree that a good keyboard can have a huge impact on your home office setup.
“Superb typing for a fair price”
The MX Keys are available in two versions, one universal and one with the Mac keys (command etc.) It has a full numerical pad and is a delight to type on. Furthermore, it is backlit and has customisable keys. It is a competitor to Apple’s magic keyboard for PC's but in my opinion, it is way better.
The backlight makes it aesthetically pleasing, the keys have great travel and the possibility to pair it to up to three devices and switch between them with a button is amazing. Furthermore, once you’ve gotten used to the indent on the keys, you’ll never wanna go back to something else.
Also, battery life is quite solid, with me getting about 2 and a half weeks of use with the backlight on.
You find the MX Keys for $99 on the Logitech website. If your Apple geek needs a new typing tool, then the MX Keys are the way to go.
For the one that has it all, Phillips Hue starter kit
If the recipient to your gift seems to be perfectly integrated in the Apple ecosystem, with all the accessories, the whole nine yards you may think, there isn’t a present for him on this list. Yet, there is. What better way to expand your Apple ecosystem than to integrate your home?
The Phillips hue starter kits, there are different kinds with different kinds of lightbulbs, are the entry into the smartphone world.
Included in a set are some lightbulbs and the hue bridge that you have to connect to your router. From there you just screw in the bulbs where you want them and add them to the home app on your phone. From now on out, the recipient of your gift will be able to control the lights from his phone.
I like the Phillips hue lights because they are long-lasting and provide a nice warm light. However, there are other options on the market and in my opinion any of these make a great gift for the one that seems to have it all.
Just one heads-up though, you have to be sure that you can connect the bridge (the hardware that connects the lights to your network) to your router. Otherwise, you’ll have to use the included controller, which is a lot less cool.
The Phillips hue starter kits are available at different price points, however, they are around the $120-$150 mark.
I use or have used all the products on this list and can recommend them fully. They are great presents for that likes Apple. Furthermore, they aren’t gags, but products you can actually use after the holiday season.
Stay safe and happy holidays
Raffael
