Holiday Gift Guide 2016
Nov 23, 2016, 2:07 PM by Rich Brome
updated Nov 23, 2016, 2:07 PM
The giving season is upon us, and that means the next few weeks will be awash in the sights, sounds, and smells of myriad holiday celebrations across cultures. Nothing quite warms the soul like gathering with loved ones and friends to share the holiday spirit. We often celebrate the holidays by exchanging gifts with one another, which means we all have an opportunity to show how much we care.
Intro
Technology gifts are always great to receive, but perhaps aren't the easiest to pick out. Smartphones have begun to level off a bit in terms of technological advancements. Many of the headline features of 2015's flagships (quad HD screens, fast processors, impressive cameras) remain largely unchanged in 2016. Entry-level and mid-range devices made bigger strides this year and are no longer junk. In fact, they often include flagship features, even if they can't match flagship performance.
In years past we've concentrated wholly on suggesting mobile phones as gifts. But giving family and friends a pricey smartphone isn't always practical for a variety of reasons. So, for the first time, our Holiday Gift Guide includes recommendations for phone-centric accessories.
A few pointers. Black Friday will surely offer plenty of deals, but companies typically offer sales throughout the holiday season. In fact, T-Mobile is already running some promotions. Be on the lookout for attractive pricing online via Cyber Monday sales, and keep in mind that carriers may roll out changing sales on a weekly basis.
No matter which holiday you're celebrating, here are phones and other items we think will make the special people in your lives happy.
Phones
Best Flagship
Flagships offer leading specs and the best all-around performance in top-notch hardware.
Our recommendation this year for the best all-around flagship smartphone is the Apple iPhone 7. Apple did a great job pushing this phone to the forefront of the industry with its attractive metal-and-glass design, waterproof enclosure, and excellent camera performance. The iPhone 7 is comfortably sized, offers good-enough battery life, and is compatible with perhaps more accessories than any other phone in the market. For many people, this is simply the best phone to get, even at $650.
If you want slightly better camera and battery performance, and don't mind the larger size, check out the iPhone 7 Plus for $780.
Best Camera
Exhibits the absolute best camera performance, even among other flagships.
There's no denying that the Galaxy S7 has the best camera available from a current smartphone. The Galaxy S7 is Samsung's powerful flagship for 2016 and it produces amazing photos thanks to its 12-megapixel sensor, large pixel size, and low-light sensitivity. Toss in the high-quality hardware, luscious screen, and Gear VR compatibility, and you have a well-rounded winner at $650.
Looking for something with more personality? Try the Galaxy S7 Edge, which has the same camera plus a curved screen, for $770.
Our Review (Editor's Choice award winner)
Best Battery Life
The absolute longest-lasting smartphone at any price.
Motorola's Moto Z Play is one of the company's most capable products, and, thanks to the 3,510 mAh battery, one of its longest-lasting, too. The Z Play is a $400 sub-premium Android smartphone that delivers close to two full days of battery life. It's wrapped in a slick package and is compatible with Motorola's Moto Mods modular accessories. We like Motorola's thinking here, and the Z Play delivers the best battery life of the year. The Z Play is sold by Verizon, but is also available unlocked from Motorola.
Sprint customers might want to check out the HTC Bolt. This fresh handset from HTC crushed our battery life tests and offers lots of other exciting features for about $600.
Our Review (Editor's Choice award winner)
Best For Virtual Reality
Includes the specs and performance needed to push users into the virtual realm.
Google's Pixel XL was built with VR in mind. It is one of a very few handsets that support Google's brand-spanking-new Daydream virtual reality push. Daydream ties together all of Google's VR efforts into a single platform. Daydream aside, the Pixel XL stands out as a VR beast thanks to its quad HD screen, lightning fast performance, and natural compatibility with Google's vast ecosystem of camera and video software/apps. The Pixel XL also includes one of the best Android experiences available today, and a top-notch camera. It's a good buy despite the high $780 price tag.
The LG V20, which boasts similar specs and performance, is a solid alternative if you're looking to add killer audio powers to your virtual reality experience for a little less at $720
Best Under $200
Demonstrates very good performance for the dollar.
The ZTE ZMax Pro is one of the best value-for-the-dollar smartphones on the market. T-Mobile sells it for $130 and MetroPCS sells it for $100. That small amount of cash rewards you with a 6-inch screen, 13-megapixel camera, and superb battery life. The ZMax Pro has a mid-range processor that provides plenty of power to push this penny-pinching phablet forward. Toss in the nice design and solid build quality and you have a winner for the prepaid crowd.
If you want a stylus with your inexpensive big-screened phone, check out the LG Stylus 2 from Boost Mobile, which offers an experience similar to that of the ZMax Pro for just a bit more green at $180. Other good options include the LG X Power for Cricket Wireless or Virgin Mobile ($100), or the Samsung Galaxy J7 for Boost Mobile ($180).
Our Review (Editor's Choice award winner)
Accessories
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.
Etcetera
Photography Tools
Add-on gear to take your smartphone photography to the next level.
Olloclip makes a series of clip-on lenses available for the iPhone that include fish-eye, wide-angle, macro, and zoom capabilities. The company has plenty of options already available for the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, and 6s Plus, and just recently added several products for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. For the photobug in your life, Olloclip's attachable lenses open up new dimensions for creativity. Lens sets typically cost about $80 depending on which combo you select.
For Budding Robot Builders
Simple-to-use and programmable robots that can be controlled via smartphones.
Ozobot makes a couple of neat little robots that are meant for kids, but might still make a decent gift for some adults. The Ozobot Evo and Ozobot Bit are autonomous, social, programmable, and thus ideal to help children learn some rudimentary coding. More than that, the Ozobots are fun to use. They're incredibly tiny, and have an array of programmable multi-color lights and sensors. Control them from an app on your phone, which updates regularly with new challenges. The Bit costs $59, while the more-advanced Evo costs $99.
Home Thermo Control
An affordable and manageable way to control the climate in your house.
The Ecobee3 Lite is a WiFi-based smart thermostat that can help reduce heating and air conditioning bills. It's the most affordable full-featured smart thermostat. The unit replaces your existing thermostat and, via the intuitive touchscreen panel, allows owners to quickly and easily program their indoor climate. Moreover, the associated mobile app (Android, iOS) lets people take charge of their home even when out and about. Last, it is compatible with HomeKit, Amazon Echo, SmartThings, and IFTTT for broader smart-home integration. The Ecobee3 Lite costs $170.
For Streaming Media
A plug-and-play module that brings effortless media streaming to most HDTVs and smartphones.
Google's Chromecast Ultra makes a good thing better. This year's HDMI dongle adds support for 4K resolution and HDR (HDR10 and Dolby Vision) for the absolute best in picture quality. This media streaming device is able to tap into 4K content from Netflix, Vudu, and YouTube at launch, with more on the way. Toss in support for Google cast, which lets nearly any Android or iOS device push online content to their TV, and the Chromecast Ultra makes for a nice gift. It's available for $70. Last year's model doesn't support 4K/HDR, but costs half as much at $35.
About the author, Rich Brome:Editor in Chief Rich became fascinated with cell phones in 1999, creating mobile web sites for phones with tiny black-and-white displays and obsessing over new phone models. Realizing a need for better info about phones, he started Phone Scoop in 2001, and has been helming the site ever since. Rich has spent two decades researching and covering every detail of the phone industry, traveling the world to tour factories, interview CEOs, and get every last spec and photo Phone Scoop readers have come to expect. As an industry veteran, Rich is a respected voice on phone technology of the past, present, and future.
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Comments
Wow.
>worst iPhone in years, actually a downgrade from last year
>"Best flagship 2016 guise!"
I'm sorry, after seeing that right at the start I couldn't take any of this seriously in the slightest.
