Yes, it’s that time of the year again – Christmas and the festive season are almost here, and it’s time to find a gift for the TV, streaming and gadget lovers in your life.
As someone who covers streaming devices, home entertainment and, well, cool gadgets year after year, I sit down every year to create this roundup of products and gift ideas – from the best streaming sticks out there, to earphones and speakers, streaming subscriptions that you can give as a gift, and a few unique smart products for those who have everything.
As always, please remember that although there are lots of deals and discounts during the holiday season, you should only buy within your means and your budget – no discount or gift is ever worth going into debt over.
As always, some of the links in this article may earn us a referral fee, at no extra cost to you – but that never affects my unbiased opinion of the products.
Streaming Devices
While many people just use their Smart TVs for streaming apps – those are often slow, and not very user-friendly – plus, when they get old, some apps disappear (like the ITV Hub exodus, for example).
Therefore, a standalone streaming stick is often the better choice, with a longer list of supported apps, better performance, and a longer shelf-life.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
I’m a big fan of Amazon’s Fire TV sticks, and late last year Amazon released a brand new version of its top-tier stick – the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (see my full review of it).
The Fire TV 4K Max’s interface is speedy and very responsive (thanks to an updated CPU), and it supports almost every streaming service in the UK, along with hundreds of additional apps (and even games) – see my Fire TV app recommendations.
If you’re looking for the ultimate streaming stick to give as a gift – you can’t go wrong with this one.
Cheaper Alternative: Fire TV Stick HD. It only supports HD (no 4K), and it’s not as fast to use – but it still supports the Fire TV’s huge app and streaming library, and can be a nifty bedroom/guest-room stick.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Roku’s 4K stick is almost as fast and powerful as the Fire TV Max stick – with the main difference being the operating system (and the Firestick’s support for WiFi 6E).
While Roku’s sticks haven’t been updated for several years now (in terms of the hardware), they’re still very capable – and Roku’s OS is simpler and easier to use, with a grid of streaming channels and apps that you just need to choose from.
If you’re buying for someone who wants to get into the streaming world, but isn’t very technically minded – the Roku sticks are a great starting point.
Cheaper Alternative: Roku Express. The entry-level streaming device from Roku – it only supports HD, and it’s not as fast – but it features the same simple interface and wide app/streaming support, at a very affordable price.
Freeview Recorders
Every TV sold in the UK already has a Freeview tuner built-in, so set-top box Freeview recorders may seem like a thing of the past.
However, if you know someone who’s a hardcore Freeview viewer, and especially if they’re looking to ditch their expensive Sky Q or Virgin Media TV360 subscription – then a dedicated set-top Freeview recorder can offer so much more than just a TV with Freeview.
Manhattan T4-R
This year, the Manhattan T4-R Freeview Recorder was finally launched – and easily became our Editor’s Choice, as the best Freeview recorder available today.
While not exactly revolutionary compared to the popular T3-R that preceded it, the T4-R improves on many fronts.
It has a slick and very responsive interface, great picture quality, smart recording options, and a smarter EPG with unique filtering options.
The T4-R doesn’t have any streaming apps other than those that come with Freeview Play (so BBC iPlayer, ITVX, etc.) – therefore it can’t replace a streaming stick – but if you (or the person you’re buying this for) is an avid Freeview viewer – this is an excellent recorder.
Humax Aura
The Aura is certainly expensive, but it serves two functions: it combines a Freeview Play recorder with an Android TV streaming device.
So you get 1TB or 2TB of storage space for recordings, as well as Android TV and Chromecast support, with hundreds of supported apps and streaming services (but it doesn’t support Netflix for now, unfortunately). See my Humax Aura review.
Be careful not to buy one of the older Humax Freeview boxes though – as they no longer support some apps, particularly ITVX.
It’s worth mentioning that the Aura’s software hasn’t been updated in a while – and it shows, unfortunately – but I’m hearing some chatter about a big software update coming in early 2025.
Earphones & Speakers
Watching something interesting on TV – or even on your smartphone – works best when you have good earphones or speakers.
The good news is that in recent years, some of the budget-priced (or mid-priced) audio devices have gotten better and better – without getting more expensive.
So here are some recommendations…
EarFun Air Pro 4
I have long been a fan of EarFun’s true wireless earphones – which usually offer a great combination of sound quality, features – and a very affordable price.
Their most recent Air Pro 4 model is exactly that – the audio is excellent, the Active Noise Cancellation works very well for many use-cases (especially at this price point), and battery times are quite good with – 52 Hours total with ANC off and 35 Hours total with ANC ON
- See my EarFun Air Pro 4 review.
Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2
Edifier is another audio brand I’m a fan of – and if you’re looking at truly excellent sound quality at the mid-range price range, the NeoBuds Pro 2 certainly deliver.
The ANC isn’t as good as on the Air Pro 4, and I would’ve preferred better battery life (you only get 4 hours with ANC on) – but if you prioritize audio fidelity over some of the other features – these represent great value for money.
Edifier MP230 Retro Speaker
Bluetooth speakers are very common these days – but let’s face it, most of them are… kind of ugly and boring.
Edifier sought to rectify that with the MP230 retro speaker and its classic retro design that utilises MDF wooden enclosure, and looks like an old 50’s radio.
The sound is surprisingly powerful for such a small speaker (2 x 10 x 2 cm), and the bass is VERY strong – so much so, that your desk might vibrate.
It’s totally wireless with a 2600 mAh battery and can play for up to 10 hours on a single charge. Just remember that this is not a voice assistant (like an Echo), and can only serve as a Bluetooth speaker.
Victrola Rock Speaker
Speaking of Bluetooth speakers – if you like listening to music in your garden, there’s no reason for the speaker to be ugly either. In fact, why not have your garden speaker look like… a rock?
That’s exactly what you get with the nifty Victrola Rock Speaker. It’s wireless, with a battery that lets you play up to 22 hours – but it also has solar charging, so you can just leave it outside without having to recharge manually.
On particularly cloudy days, the solar charging can take a while (so you can always boost it up with a cable) – but for regular use, I haven’t had any issues with the solar charging. And, it’s IP65 weatherproof, so you can generally leave it out in the rain (but I would avoid heavy flooding).
The audio quality is pretty good for the size – it won’t satisfy audiophiles, but that’s not why we listen to music outside – we just want to party, or enjoy some quiet tunes during tea time – and the rock is perfect for that.
Streaming Subscription Gifts
With so many streaming services around these days, no one has them all – so they can be a great gift option. And since you can either give them via a gift card, or virtually – they’re great as a last-minute gift.
Disney+ Gift Subscription
Disney+ (see our full review) can be streamed on most streaming devices and Smart TVs in the UK, and includes content from the worlds of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star – Disney’s general entertainment category for more mature audiences (which includes popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Bear and many others).
Disney+ changed its pricing and plans last year – so the annual gift card is for the Premium tier, which supports 4K and doesn’t have advert breaks.
The gift subscription will be delivered via e-mail, but do note that it’s only for new Disney+ subscribers (so it can’t be added on top of an existing subscription).
Netflix Gift Cards
Who doesn’t know Netflix? The granddaddy of all streaming services, if you’re looking to buy a gift for someone who likes watching TV and somehow DOESN’T have Netflix yet – this is it.
With numerous TV programmes, Netflix Originals, movies and even some reality TV, Netflix has something for everyone.
The standard Netflix subscription currently costs £10.99/month (but there are also Premium 4K and the Basic-with-Adverts plan), and you can choose gift cards that are worth between £15 and £200. You can find official Netflix cards on Startselect (which sends the code instantly via e-mail).
iTunes Gift Cards
If you’re buying gifts for an Apple fan – gift cards for iTunes are the most flexible. They can be used to then buy apps, films, TV programmes or even full streaming subscriptions on Apple’s app and media stores.
Audible Gift Membership
It’s not a streaming TV service, but Audible still offers great entertainment, with one of the largest audiobook collections in the world (We gave it a lot of praise in our Audible UK review).
For gift memberships, you choose the number of months you want (with one credit given per month) – and it starts from £7.99 for 1 month/1 credit.
More Tech Gift Ideas
Twinkly Squares Starter Kit
Colourful LED lights are all the rage these days – and we’re not talking about Granny’s Christmas lights.
If you’re looking for something truly eye-catching, the Twinkly Squares Starter Kit is a brilliant (pun intended) choice. These smart LED panels are essentially tiny screens you can mount on your wall to create pixel art, animations, or just set a mood – all via the smartphone app, that lets you change colours, looks, and even use GIFs.
Keep in mind, these are not monitors, so don’t expect extra smooth and clear animations or photos – but you can still do some nifty tricks with the lighting and colour changes.
The starter kit comes with six panels that you can arrange however you fancy, and each panel can display different colours independently. Setting up is straightforward – just mount them on your wall (all the bits you need come in the box), connect via Bluetooth or WiFi, and start playing with the 16 million available colours through the Twinkly app.
You can also control them with Alexa or Google Assistant when you’re feeling lazy – though be warned, six panels aren’t loads if you’re planning to create larger displays (but you can but extension kits).
Tapo Smart Light Strip (L930-5)
If you’re a fan of smart lights – this LED light strip from TP-Link is great for Christmas but also for year-long usage.
You stick it anywhere you want with the built-in adhesive (so on the wall, under a counter, etc.), and then let the fun begin – you can use the app to change the colours and brightness, create lighting effects and more. And – you can control it all with a voice assistant like Alexa or Google’s Assistant.
I was a bit sceptical at first, but I’m a convert now – much more than a novelty, this light strip can genuinely change the way you use and control lighting in your house.
So Chill Mini Fridge
Looking for a fun gadget that’s both practical and a bit quirky? The So Chill Mini Fridge is exactly that – a compact 4L cooler that’s perfect for keeping a few drinks chilled in a bedroom or home office.
It’s USB-powered, which means you can plug it in anywhere (even in a car), and comes with decorative stickers to personalise the look.
Just keep in mind this isn’t meant to replace a proper fridge – it won’t get cold enough for food storage, but it’s brilliant for keeping up to 6 cans of drinks cool, or even storing skincare products if you fancy that extra-refreshing feeling.
Think of it more as a drink cooler with style points rather than a proper refrigerator.
iWALK USB-C Portable Charger
Here’s a practical stocking filler for anyone who’s always running out of phone battery. The iWALK portable charger is impressively tiny – small enough to slip into any pocket – but packs enough juice (4800mAh) to fully charge an iPhone 15 or most Android phones.
What makes this charger particularly neat is its built-in USB-C connector and 20W fast charging capability – something you don’t often seen on portable power banks. It can boost an iPhone 15 from empty to 50% in about half an hour.
While it’s not the most powerful portable charger out there, its compact size and convenience make it perfect for those times when you just need a quick top-up while out and about – and you don’t even need to carry cables around, as it has its own USB-C connector.
Cable Guys Gremlins Holder
Last but not least, here’s a brilliantly nostalgic gift for anyone who loves ’80s movies – a Gremlins-themed holder featuring the infamous Stripe, complete with his signature white mohawk.
This little troublemaker stands about 8.5 inches tall and can hold pretty much any gaming controller you throw at it – from PS5 to Xbox Series X to Nintendo Switch.
It’s not just for gaming gear either – Stripe is happy to hold your phone or TV remote too (just don’t feed him after midnight).
Made by Cable Guys and officially licensed by Warner Bros, it’s both a practical bit of desk organisation and a proper conversation starter.
Don’t see any mention of Freesat recorders nowadays and as there are many of us who still use them having dumped Sky years ago a review of the market would be very useful.