Holiday Gift Guide 2016
Best In-Ear Headphones
For listening during sweaty workouts or on the go with minimal footprint.
Nothing pleased our ears more than the Jaybird Freedoms this year. These high-quality earbuds are attractive, compact, comfortable, and deliver great sound. The Freedoms include a huge number of eartips for securing the best-possible fit and a mobile charger for power-ups on the go. Did we mention that they look good and travel easily thanks to the included bag? These are easily worth the $150 price point.
The Jabra Sport Pulse are a less-comfortable alternative with almost-as-good sound and better battery life at a slightly lower price point ($130).
Our Review (Editor's Choice award winner)
Best Over-Ear Audio
When noise-isolation and high-quality sound production are a premium.
Over-the-ear cans deliver audio quality that's unmatched by even the best in-ear buds. In this category, we recommend the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 headphones over models from Bose and Beats. They aren't the absolute pinnacle of sound reproduction, but they deliver the best combination of style, comfort, noise-cancellation, sound, and value. What's more, the $200 price point won't break the bank.
If you want the best-of-the-best, the Bose Quiet Comfort 35s are hard to beat, but pricey at $350.
Best Mobile Speaker
Provides the most well-rounded listening experience across environments.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 2 is our top pick for Bluetooth speakers this year. The Boom 2 is fully rugged and waterproof, provides excellent sound, and — thanks to its round design — is easy to bring just about anywhere. We liked the long battery life, high output, and fun colors, too. With the app, you can share the fun with crowd-sourced tunes and even connect multiple sets of speakers. Whether it's a sandy beach, a mountain chalet, or a hotel room in a popular metropolis, the Boom 2 is a space-filling speaker for the masses at just $199.
If you want most of these same features is a more compact and less-expensive option, check out Ultimate Ears Roll 2 instead for $99.
Best VR Headset
The easiest to use, least-expensive option that works for most people.
Google's Cardboard is still the best deal in town for bringing virtual reality into the home. Sure, the Daydream is more comfortable, but it only works with a couple of high-end phones. The same is true of the Gear VR from Samsung and other options from OEMs such as Alcatel and OnePlus. You can buy Google Cardboard online for as little as $15. The foldable cardboard viewer is a cinch to get in working order for some basic VR. There are also a number of third-party Cardboard viewers that are more durable, colorful, or comfortable. It's a great stocking stuffer and works with most any phone that has a high-definition screen.
If your gift recipient has a Pixel XL or other top-level handset (Moto Z, Z Force, LG V20), Google's Daydream is a great and more full-featured option at $80. It includes a handheld controller that opens up more interactive options, particularly gaming.
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