The 2013 NJTechReviews Holiday Gift Guide

Posted By on November 24, 2013 8:30 pm


The holiday season is upon us as black friday is less than a week away! This means that it is time for the NJTechReviews Holiday Gift Guide, the 2013 version! We will show you the perfect gifts for smartphone lovers, laptop wanter’s, and everything in between! Keep reading to see this years latest picks!

 

Smartphones

-From The Top Of the Line Too The First Time Starter Devices

  • Moto X(AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, And T-Mobile)
    • The Moto X was announced in August of 2013 and hit the market soon after. One of its biggest feature being Moto Maker, the online tool that allows you to customize your device to your heart’s content. Not only does it have an awesome device, but it already has Android 4.4 KitKat. Yes, it did get the update before some Google Nexus devices, like the Nexus 4. It has the power to handle Android 4.4 with a Motorola X8 Mobile Computing System. That is built from a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (1.7GHz Dual-Core Krait CPU, a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU), a natural language processor and a contextual computing processor. A smaller 4.7-inch 720p display and a nice 8 megapixel back camera. It is available on all of the major carriers AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile. At only $99.99 with a 2-year contract it would make for a great gift this holiday season!
  • LG G2(AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, And T-Mobile)
    • The LG G2 is the latest flagship device from LG Mobile, it brings a very unique design. It moves the buttons to the back and puts the focus on the index finger. While it does take some time to get used too, it is an interesting perspective on a smartphone design. Plus, you can knock on the home screen to unlock the device if you choose to do so. The LG G2 has speed from a super fast 2.26-Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Processor and 4G LTE from your carrier. The LG G2 is available on AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and Sprint. AT&T currently has it for $49.99 with a 2-year contract and Verizon is offering it for $149.99 with a 2-year contract. However, certain carriers might be doing some sales on black friday!
  • Galaxy S 4 Active(AT&T)
    • The S 4 Active is meant for someone who has an active life style. It is built up more than the Galaxy S 4 and have still has some good hardware. You will find an 8 megapixel camera that works under water, a 1.9GHz processor, 5-inch LCD display, and more. In the US it is available exclusively on AT&T and that means you get access to their 4G LTE network, plus it comes in at only $99 with contract.
  • Nokia Lumia 925-An Windows Phone On AT&T And T-Mobile
    • Windows Phone has been growing and they have been expanding in the market, from the 1020 with a 41 megapixel camera to a more mid range device like the 925. This device is an all around good smartphone and if you are looking for a  Windows Phone device, it is one of the best on the market. At around only $50 on contract, it has a great design and some real nice features. For starters the application store is growing, for instance Instagram is finally on Windows Phone now. Plus, a Nokia device means you get great extra features like Nokia Music and many others. 4G LTE service, an 8.7 megapixel camera, 1.5GHz dual core processor, a 4.5-inch display, and much more!

Tablets

A Few Sizes To Choose From

  • Nexus 7
    • The Google official tablet, the original was a game changer and the newer one continues with the legacy. It’s 7-inch size makes it very portable and it became the everyday device of choice for many. It has the world’s sharpest display and this makes it great for viewing images, reading a book, and really everything else. A fast Snapdragon S4 processor with 2GB of RAM powers the device. It is one of the first devices to get the latest Android upgrades, this means you are always up to date. Plus, it starts at only $229.99 and is available from many different sources.
  • Lenovo Yoga Tablet’s
    • Back in late October Lenovo let out it’s next big thing and it was their latest product family; The Yoga Tablet! Available in an 8-inch or 10-inch size, it is doing Android in a new way. Both software wise and design wise, by including a kickstand on the back of the device plus a cylindrical handle. Not only does the handle make it really comfortable to hold, but it packs a huge battery. Either of the Yoga Tablets will last the entire day and when in reading mode you get 18 hours of battery life. It has an interesting user interface, that makes it very easy to use, yet it still lets you use Android to the fullest. A fast quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM keep the device moving. Plus, they only cost $249.99 for the Yoga Tablet 8 and $299.99 for the Yoga Tablet 10!

Speakers

Listen To The Tunes, That Your Hearts Desire

  • Jabra Solemate
    • Portable speakers that pack a punch are gaining popularity and the market is getting packed. The Solemate from Jabra is the original of their portable speaker family, they have also announced the Mini and Max. Both of these are coming soon, but the regular Solemate is available now. It comes in at $199.99 is on par with other portable speakers. This device has an awesome design, inspired the by a shoe. It takes some elements from a shoe and puts it on the speaker, they add unique tools to the device. It has a powerful speaker setup inside and many ways to connect. In fact we called in the best wireless speaker on the market and it will make for a great gift.
  • Slingshot Wireless Water Resistant Speaker.
    • Who doesn’t sing in the shower, the issue is having away for the music to be loud enough for you to sing along with. The Slingshot comes in to solve this problem and it works great. Coming in at around $99.99, it can handle water and still pump the tones. It has a unique case that will let you hang it from the shower head or really put it where you would like. It has a great battery and it sounds really good, you can use it outside of the shower as well.

Computers

From The Latest Multimode Devices, To A More Budget Friendly Option

  • Lenovo IdeaPad U Series
    • Lenovo is known for their awesome devices, specifically the IdeaPad lineup. One of my favorites models under this brand are the U Series devices. They are very portable devices, specifically laptops or ultrabooks, but design is not only their strong point. They make two 14-inch models, the U410 Touch and the U430p. The U410 Touch is a 14-inch ultrabook that is touchscreen, but you still get a 3rd Generation Intel Core™ i7 processor, NVIDIA GEFORCE graphics, Windows 8, and more. The U410 Touch starts at around $829.90, but you might be able to get it for cheaper during the holidays. The U430P is their 14-inch laptop and feature a 4th Generation Intel Core™ i7 processor, Windows 8.1, 10-hours of battery, and much more. It comes in a little cheaper at $799.99 and does not feature the touchscreen. They also make two 15-inch models, those being the U510 and U530 Touch.
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga Series
    • Lenovo started the multimode craze with the Yoga device and since then it has grown quite large. They even expanded it to their Android offerings with the Yoga Tablet 8 and Yoga Tablet 10. They currently offer a few Yoga device, those being the Yoga 11, Yoga 11 S, Yoga 13, and Yoga 2 Pro. These systems start at around $649.99 and go up too $929.99. They feature a unique hinge that allows you to use the device in many different modes, from tent to stand, they will let you be more productive. You still get the latest technology like a sleek design, the latest Intel processors, SSD storage, Windows RT or Windows Pro, great battery life, and much more!
  • Google’s Chromebooks
    • Chrome first started off as just a web browser, now we have full-blown operating system. This OS will never stop growing, it will keep expanding with new features that will make your experience even better. I feel in love with the original Samsung Chromebook and I still think it is one of the best on the market. It comes in at $249.99 for the WiFi model or $329.99 for the 3G model. It combines a portable design with a 11.6-inch display, plus you get 100GB in Google Drive free for 2 years. It will boot up in less than 10 seconds and it works great if you need a computer for school or if you are commuting.

Gaming

Games For All Ages, Along With A Console Or Two

  • Grand Theft Auto V
    • This is the game for the bigger kids, more specifically those over 18. Rockstar Games has been working on this title for many years. It combines three playable characters and huge in-depth map. You can fly planes, explore mountain tops, and even go deep-sea diving. Of course the missions are still there, a campaign that starts off on the other side of the world, brings you in to Los Santos. You can fly airplanes, drive a tank, and much more. There are many different cars to choose from, including some high-speed electric vehicles. At around $60 this is an amazing title that will make a great addition to anyone’s collection, it is currently available for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
  • Disney Infinity
    • This one is for all ages, as everyone has a place in their heart for Disney. This is a very unique game that will let your imagination run wild. Similar to Skylanders, but it lets you build and customize to your liking. You get the figures and place them on base, you can get Buzz Lightyear, Mickey Mouse, The Incredibles, and many more! Each unlocks their character in the game and you get new features with each of them. Then there are play sets which give you a new world, like the Toy Story one or Monsters University one. Disney Infinity will require the starter pack and this retails for $64.99, it comes with the play base, the game, a few characters, a play set, and some power ups. It is currently out for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, and the 3DS. The power disk packs go for around $5.00, a 3 pack of characters for around $30, and one character for around $13.00.
  • Just Dance 2014
    • I’ve personally tested this one out on the Xbox One, but it is out for a plethora of consoles, from the Xbox 360, to the Wii’s, and even the PS3. It will give you hours of fun and work out time, maybe don’t tell the kids the later part, as new music gets added daily. From Avicci’s “Wake Me Up” to Katy Perry’s “Roar” and even the YMCA, they have tune that will make you wan to groove. And on the Xbox One with the new Kinect, the tracking is very precise. Just Dance 2014 is available now and will make a great holiday gift!
  • Xbox One
    • The all in one machine, not just a gaming console, but your entertainment system. Our full review is coming soon and this will certainly be one of the hottest gifts of the year. From the Kinect which can track even better and that enhances your gaming experience. To much faster experience with voice controls, they worked really week and make it easier to control. A good amount of launch titles are already out like Just Dance 2014, Call Of Duty Ghosts, and many more. Plus, next year we expect to see Destiny, the new Halo, Watch Dogs, and many other titles. The Xbox One retails for $499.99 and they are very hard to get, but Microsoft is working as hard as they can to get them into the customers hands. Keep in mind the Xbox 360 is still on the market as well and many titles are coming out for both devices.

Be sure to let us know what gifts you end up giving or getting in the comments below! Have a happy and a health holiday season from your friends at NJTechReviews!

Screen Shot 2013-11-24 at 4.54.45 PM

Author: Jacob Krol

I created NJTechReviews in June of 2010. Gave it a huge revamp in December of 2010.

Share This Post On
%d bloggers like this: