Top Last-Minute Tech Gifts For Awesome Christmas Savings

Maybe the holidays snuck up on you this year while you had your mind on other things. And after a year like this, who can really blame you? But the fact remains: your holiday shopping needs to get done, and it needs to get done now. Even if you don't get your presents in time for Christmas, you can still enjoy the hard-earned fruits of your labor in the new year.

Last-minute shopping doesn’t need to add stress, though. Just about everyone is a gadget lover these days - and there are countless options in terms of cool tech gifts available during the 2020 holiday season. To assist in your last-minute tech gift quest, we’ve gathered some of the best gadgets we’ve come across this year - from Sony TVs to the new iPhone, laptops and more. No matter what tech you're looking for, we're sure you'll find something to buy this holiday season.

1. Apple MacBook Air 13.3"

Apple’s MacBook Air has experienced some extreme peaks and valleys over the past decade: the second-generation design introduced in 2010 was, for many years, the yardstick against which all midsized laptops were measured. The Air was Apple’s most popular Mac and one of the best and most popular laptops ever made. That history, and the strength of the Air brand, meant that people just kept buying the MacBook Air, even as Apple let it fall far behind the rest of its laptops.

When Apple updated the new Air last year, it stuck with their butterfly switch design, which meant that there was still a question mark hanging over it. And the Intel chips inside struggled with even moderately demanding tasks.

That brings us to now: the 2020 MacBook Air comes with the new scissor-switch keyboard Apple introduced in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the processors have been upgraded to Intel’s new 10th-generation parts. The new MacBook Air is a perfect gift to pick up this holiday as they're currently $150 off on BestBuy.

2. Sony 43" Class X800H Series

The Sony X800H, also known as the X80H or XH80, is a decent TV and a nice upgrade over its predecessor, the Sony X800G. If you have Sony models in the X800G model generation, then this TV is a worthwhile upgrade to get. It has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, making it a great choice for large seating areas. Visibility is good in well-lit environments and outdoor settings as it gets bright enough to overcome glare; however, its average contrast ratio makes blacks look grayish and a little washed out, which isn't ideal for dark room viewing.

If you're planning to use this TV for playing games, then you should be plenty satisfied with its fast response time and low input lag, but the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. As long as you don't need anything more than 60Hz, then you should be fine with this panel. Its Android TV interface runs pretty smoothly, and there's a large library of apps available through the Play Store. Also, it has a microphone built into the remote, allowing for voice control through Google Assistant. If you're looking to upgrade your entertainment console this new year, then the X800H is an amazing option for the price since you can save $150 by buying it right now.

3. Apple iPhone 12 mini

If you’re looking to buy a new iPhone in 2020, you’ve honestly got a lot of options. From the super-affordable $399 iPhone SE to the $1,199 iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple now offers an iPhone in (almost) every price point. But beyond pricing, it also offers iPhones in a variety of sizes. While you previously had to pick up an iPhone SE to get something on the smaller side, Apple’s new iPhone 12 Mini is a fantastic mixture of minuscule size and maximum performance.

The iPhone 12 Mini is the smallest of the 4 iPhone 12 models that Apple released in 2020. It is effectively a minified version of the standard iPhone 12. It even sports the exact same specs, not counting battery capacity, making it one of the fastest small phones you can get in 2020. With Apple’s class-leading A14 Bionic SoC and the absolutely amazing camera system, it might be hard to find competition in this form factor.

With it being $200 off on a 24-month plan, the iPhone 12 Mini is one of the best small phones you can get this year. It runs the same flagship processor as its bigger brothers in the iPhone 12 lineup, it has a fantastic design, it's a dream to use one-handed and Apple’s ecosystem is nearly unbeatable. If you don't care for all the bells and whistles that the bigger iPhones offer, then this is the phone for you.

4. JLab Go Air True Wireless In-Ear Headphones

It's hard to make earphones that deliver quality audio for under, say, $40. Under $30, you start to expect less. Less than $30 with no cable? Expectations are not high. With the new JLab Go Air, a normally $29.99 pair of true wireless earbuds, you get a decent pair of actually truly wireless earbuds with a nice, bass-heavy sound signature and a secure fit perfect for working out. With them being on sale at $20, you simply can't find a better deal.

You can jam out to your tunes with a dynamic driver that's capable of producing sound comparable to $60 and even $80 earbuds. Three sets of gel buds offer a comfortable and secure fit for all-day use, while the rechargeable 43 mAh lithium-polymer battery on each earbud offers up to 5 hours of use when fully charged. These JLab GO Air true wireless earbuds have a 30-foot Bluetooth connectivity range, letting you wander away from connected devices freely.

5. Apple Watch Series 3

At launch in late 2017, the Apple Watch 3 was the most expensive wearable the company sold. The prices have gladly gone down considerably since the launch of the Apple Watch Series 4 and Apple Watch 5. Now that it's only $170 with the holiday sales going on, it's an absolute steal.

The biggest upgrade the Apple Watch 3 brought was its own cellular connection inside, so it can work independently of your phone. Does that mean you can buy one without owning an iPhone? Not really. In reality, it means that you can receive phone calls and some app notifications when your phone is at home. It offers a little more functionality if you don't want to bring your phone and you still want to receive notifications and still be able to take calls. This can be particularly useful for frequent joggers who don't want to lug their bulky phones around.

6. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

At a sale price of only $140, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live have a style all their own. They’re super reflective in the bronze color, which tend to lean towards rose gold in some lighting. It's good that Samsung has learned that people want some sort of choice when it comes to their devices' color schemes. You’ve never worn earbuds quite like these, which means putting them in the first few times can feel a bit weird, and you might overthink it. Turns out, they slot into the inner contours of your ears quite naturally and are both comfortable and stable once there (not all ears are created equal, however, and your mileage may vary).

There are no silicone tips meaning the speaker points directly into your ear canal. The Buds Live have some silicone stabilizers near the top, and there’s a slightly larger set included in the box if those help the buds better sit in your ears’ natural contours.

Taken as a whole package, the Galaxy Buds Live exceeded what I came in expecting based on the leaks and the uncertainty I had about what the bean shape would mean for comfort and sound quality. Neither wound up being a concern after actually using them. If you’re okay living with a healthy dose of outside sound when listening to the Galaxy Buds Live, there’s a lot to like.