Marchelle Abrahams seeks the definitive geek’s wishlist – luxury tech toys that are exciting enough to bring out their inner freak… and up their fun factor.
Getting the perfect gift for that special someone can be a nerve wracking experience. If you get it wrong, you could end up in the dog box and a lifetime of “remember that time you bought me that rachet thing...”
Get it right, and, well, you could set yourself up for a marriage proposal! That’s telling porky pies, but you get our drift.
Shopping for a geek is even harder. So, to make sure you score, we’ve come up with a definitive guide of top gadgets that should be on every geek’s wishlist.
PS: We know you’re working with a budget, so we’ve ordered it from dirt cheap to wowzer!
Under R200
Want to stay plugged in while you stay hydrated? The Ultimate Gym Bottle with iPhone Storage lets you store your smartphone inside the bottle while you enjoy your a session at the gym or a jog in the park listening to your favourite tunes.
Price: R169
Where can I find it: Any @home store or shop it online: www.home.co.za
R500+
Oh darn, you misplaced your phone again! Don’t bother calling it because you left it on silent mode. What about your car keys? What you need is a Bluetooth® tracking tag.
How it works: Just secure the tag to the item that keeps getting lost. You will be able to find it in a matter of seconds, thanks to Bluetooth technology and the free downloadable app.
Price: R556.50
Where can I find it: Shop online at www.uncommongoods.com (ships to SA)
R1 000
Quick, what’s the square root of -1? If you had the Equation Geek Watch, you’d know the answer with the flick of the wrist, literally. If Albert Einstein was still alive, he’d be rocking this watch. Smart and stylish, it features the equivalent notation of each number.
Price: R946
Where can I find it: www.uncommongoods.com
R2 000+
What if you could take your Instagram likes to the next level? The Seek Compact Thermal Image Camera captures over 32 000 temperature data points, and fits into either the iOS Lightning or Micro-USB port on your device.
Price: $249.99 (about R3 200)
Where can I find it: Shop it online at www.thinkgeek.com
R3 000+
Imagine holding the world’s smallest LED projector in the palm of your hand? The RIF6 CUBE Pico Projector is compatible with smartphones, laptops and even gaming consoles. The LED technology enables it to project a 120-inch screen display and comes with a mini tripod.
Price: $249 (about R3 200)
Where can I find it: Shop it online at www.amazon.com
R5 000+
Apple’s iPad Mini 4 has been touted as the “best small screen tablet.” Packing all of Apple’s latest technology into a 7-inch screen, this little baby has enough battery power to go the whole day. Did we also mention its sleek design and touch ID finger scanner?
Price: R6 000
Where can I find it: Shop online at www.bidorbuy.co.za
R10 000+
CNET voted the Samsung Galaxy S8 the top smartphone of 2017, while others rated it as “the most beautiful phone ever.” Speed, long-lasting battery life and gorgeous curves - what more could you ask for? The bad part? It’s awkwardly-placed fingerprint reader. But who needs smartphone security when you’ve got a good looking handset, right?
Price: R12. 999
Where can I find it: Shop it online at www.loot.co.za