It is that time of year again and if you aren’t already picking up those Black Friday deals, chances are you will still be shopping right up to Christmas Eve. As always, we want to make sure you pick up either for yourself or your loved one, the most coolest items on the scene. So we present to you our list of items you should be getting if you haven’t already purchased! All are items we have used and reviewed, and think are very cool.
Apple iPad Mini
Are you tired of seeing a slightly disappointed look when people open gifts from you on Christmas? Well, the iPad mini is an amazing gift idea for kids or teenagers who can really be difficult to buy for. Get ready to knock their socks off with this amazing tablet that bundles the awesomeness of an iPad into a smaller, more portable size. Available in black & slate or white & silver, this smaller iPad has a sleek and stylish, eye-catching design that is sure to please. The 7.9 inch display is larger than most of the competing tablets of this size and stays true to the vivid display quality that iPad has become known for. No matter who you buy this for, they will be blown away by the over 275,000 available apps and quite thoroughly dazzled by the speed of the WiFi and available cellular network connectivity that the iPad mini has to offer. Starting at $329 it is an incredible gift idea that will have your family and/or friends blissfully happy on Christmas day.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
There is no question about the awesomeness of the Samsung Galaxy Note II and the fact is, it is in a class of it’s own. This half phone, half tablet behemoth is 100% sexy. Like the love child of a Galaxy S III and a Galaxy Note 10.1, you have the benefit of the fantastic Super AMOLED display with the S Pen full feature set. Under the hood is the brolic Exynos 4412 Quad-Core Processor, 2GB of RAM, and Android 4.1 running butter smooth. The coolest thing about the Note II however, is simply the fact that there is no other device like it. If you have a special person who is in want of a new phone and or tablet, kill two birds with one stone with the Note II. At 5.5 inches, it may not be for everyone, but with the feature set and excellent battery life, there is something here for anyone. Need more reason why this is cool, check our review here. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is available now for $299.99 on Sprint and AT&T on contract reminding us that sometimes, bigger is better.
Bowers & Wilkins P3 Headphones
If you have someone on your holiday list that’s been looking for a pair of stylish, portable and great sounding over-ear headphones look no further than the foldable P3 Mobile Hi-Fi headphones from Bowers & Wilkins- The T3 winner of the Music Gadget of the Year Award. The design and sound are both flawless and comfortable. The hard clamshell carrying case compliments the aluminum and durable rubber construction of the headphones making them rugged and lightweight. These headphones are the perfect for work, commuting, walking the dog, jogging or any time you want a Concert for One on the go.
Personally, I love these headphones not only because I find them beautiful to look at and sleek to the touch, but the specially crafted ear pad fabric which includes memory foam -seems to improve the acoustics and don’t make my ears hot (an issue I’ve been having with over ear headphones in the past). In addition to the velvet lined carrying case the P3 comes with a choice of cables: one with a remote/microphone attachment that works seamlessly with your iPhone®; and another that ensures compatibility with all other mobile phones and MP3 players. Swapping cables is a cinch you simply pop off the magnetic replaceable ear pads. The use of ultra-linear neodymium magnets and precision damping ensures smoother motion and a more accurate, natural sound – which leads me to the one down side – if the music you are listening too is sub par you will definitely notice. On the off chance you don’t have anyone on your list worth you dropping $200 this holiday for these little slice of heaven ear cans -do yourself a favor and pick up a pair for yourself. They come in your choice of black or white finish.
Motorola RAZR M
The smartphone that was made to fit perfectly in your hand is not small on features. (It’s about the same size as the iPhone 5). The super AMOLED 4.3” screen goes from edge to edge for a beautiful crisp display. The 1.5 GHz dual-core snapdragon processor and 1 GB of ram, makes for easy maneuvering and use. It has advanced camera technology for high quality pictures and HD video recording. You can go on for hours using your smartphone due to the great battery life. With NFC technology, sharing images, contacts, web pages and more are a breeze
The body of the phone is strong and has protective nanocoating (protects from rain and spills). This phone is for those who want a big display without the huge body and weight. And not but definitely not least the phone is getting Android Jellybean 4.1. The Motorola RAZR M is a lot of great features in a small package. This phone is on Verizon Wireless and goes for $99.99 with a 2 year contract.
myCharge Summit 3000
Most of us carry more than one device at a time. We’ve all had that moment when our battery is dying or has died and we just don’t know how the day can continue. With the myCharge Summit 3000 we can charge up to 3 devices at once. With the myCharge’s 3000 mAh battery, you can add up to 13 hours of talk time, 17 hours of video or 67 hours of music. It has a 30 pin connector (for iDevices), a microUSB connector (for most Android phones and tablets), and a regular USB connector. It can charge the majority of smartphones nearly twice. You can get voice notifications of your battery level with the push of a button (in four languages). The Summit 3000 goes for $79.99. Also available and with a Black Friday deal to go along with it, is the myCharge Peek 6000. The Peak 6000 normally goes for $99.99, but for Black Friday it will be $59.99!
Sony Cyber-Shot RX1
If there is one camera out there that is on the mind of every photographer or aspiring photographer, it has to be the Sony Cyber-Shot RX1. Forget about DSLR cameras or the large crop of new interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras. As awesome as those cameras are, nothing holds a candle right now to how exciting the Sony Cyber-Shot RX1 is. You see, the RX1 is the first fixed lens, full frame camera that happens to also be very compact. The RX1 features a fixed, 35mm f/2.0 Carl Zeiss Sonar lens, 24.3mp full frame sensor, and full HD video recording. There’s even an optional optical & electronic viewfinder that can be used. The RX1 isn’t for everyone however as the $2799 price tag may seem a bit high to most, but when you consider how much a larger DSLR sized full frame camera is compared to the RX1, it’s a real bargain and you’ll really appreciate the amount of tech that went into cramming a full frame sensor into a camera this size.
Astro Gaming A50 Wireless Headset
Considered by most as a top tier gaming headset maker, Astro Gaming this year released their most advanced headset to date with the new A50 wireless headset. The new A50 is basically a heavily modified A40. It still has the same great fit and finish as the previous A40 headset but now features full 5.8ghz wireless built in without the need to wire up into the mixamp. When used in conjunction with the wireless mixamp, you get a full Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound. What I love about the Astro Gaming headsets however is the fact that they work on multiple systems unlike other headphones that are made for a specific console. That means you can use these on the Xbox 360, PS3, or PC. The Astro Gaming A50 goes for $299.99
Halo 4
This has to be one of the most anticipated games of the year. The first-person shooter developed by 343 Industries for the Xbox 360. It is the first installment in a new trilogy of Halo series games. The game begins four years after the ending of Halo 3, and marks the return of the main protagonist, Master Chief, along with artificial intelligence construct Cortana.
The game sees the return of the Covenant as an enemy, and introduces a new faction of enemy called the Prometheans who serve under the Forerunner ecumene. Halo 4 features updated versions of UNSC and Covenant weaponry from previous Halo games, as well as introducing new weapons and an arsenal of Forerunner weapons wielded by Prometheans. The game also features armor abilities Returning armor abilities include active camouflage, hologram and jetpack, new abilities include hard light shield, Promethean vision, regeneration field, autosentry and thruster pack Sprinting also returns in Halo 4 all players can now use it independently of their armor ability. Get it for Xbox for $59.99
Call of Duty Blacks Ops 2
Yes you already know the game was going to make the list, it drops every year and every year COD fans line up for hours just to get the game. The game takes place in the year 2025, a Special Forces unit led by David Mason arrive at “The Vault”, a secret location that is home to the aged Frank Woods, who they believe has information on the whereabouts of Raul Menendez. Champaign, multiplayer which everyone jumps into as soon as they get the game and of course all new Zombies. Since the game takes place in 2025 you know we are going to see some cutting edge weapons. Get it now for $59.99 on all major platforms.
HTC One S
Still a formidable foe months after its release is the HTC One S for T-Mobile. With impressive specs such as a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 1GB of RAM, Lag seems to be no issue on this device. Mixed with the beautiful 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED screen and its awesome camera(i favor over Samsung devices) its a must have. Also new life has been stuffed into it with a Ceramic Black Finish and currently priced at $0.00. It currently is running ICS but Jelly Bean is on the horizon.
Nexus 7
This has been the break out Android tablet on the scene this year. Yes, while other Android based tablets are out this year, nothing beats an Nexus device. Not only are you guaranteed to get the latest software updates before anyone else, the guys at ASUS really did make a nice looking tablet. This 7 inch tablet is sexy looking in all black and has a great rubberized texture feeling on the back.
There have recently been changes with the Nexus 7 as well, with the addition of a 32GB model and dropping of the 8GB one. So for just $199 you can pick up a 16GB model, or for $249 a 32GB one. And heck if you spring for the all out $299 model, you get 32GB and cellular signal with it as well. You’ll have an attractive tablet with constant connection and good looks for an affordable price all wrapped in one!
HTC One X+
We were originally going to go with the HTC One X, but AT&T just recently released the HTC One X+. All the goodness of the One X but now with Android OS 4.1 Jellybean, 64GB of internal storage,Sense 4+, and a 2100 mah battery. If you are on AT&T or have a loved one who is and looking for an Android phone, this is the one you should pick up. It is going for $199.99 on a 2 year contract.
Logitech Harmony Touch Remote
Need a universal remote, or know someone who does? Well this thee best universal remote out right now! Yea I said the best. Buttons who needs buttons when you can do most of the work with a touchscreen. The Harmony Touch remote improves on the previous models and adds in the perk of touch. It is a little pricey at $249.99, but hey it is the holidays live a little!
SOL REPUBLIC Ultra
A favorite here at G Style, these premium headphones are called Ultra. The higher end in the SOL REPUBLIC Tracks family, it’s still customizable and indestructible. Great gift for the one that seems to go through headphones like no tomorrow. Packed with the V12 Sound Engines and comfortable ear cups, they will be thanking you until next holiday. Pricing is currently at $180 which is great compared to some of the other high end products.
Monster Inspirations
After coming out of the shadow of Beats Audio, Monster went ahead and created it own line of headphones starting with Inspirations. They do bring a nice detailed crisp sound, and the bass is incredible. They are a little big, but they are extremely comfortable and love the cushions.They do have a sturdy build to them. Also if you have that loved one that changes their mind all the time, the headbands are also interchangeable. Prices can be seen as low as $225.
And there you have it folks! If you pick up one of these, you’ll definitely be part of #AllTheCoolGeeks, or whoever you pick one of these up for will love. If you plan on picking up something on Black Friday, good luck and stay safe!