JBGG_2021

G I F T G U I D E

5G PHONES THAT FOLD TO FIT

SMART AND SMALL There have been huge advances in tech over recent years, there’s some seriously clever stuff that can be done in tiny devices. Toys that used to be simple plastic mechanical things are now enhanced with smartphone apps, while tiny devices that can be attached to almost anything contain smart software and the ability to track their own location so you’re never likely to lose the keys or the TV remote again. If you’re looking for small gifts with big potential, tiny tech has a lot to offer.

Way, way back near the dawn of the mobile phone, someone came up with the idea of making those formerly chunky devices into something more pocketable by putting a hinge between the keypad and the screen, letting users fold the phone shut and slip it in their pocket. Since phones got smarter and much smaller, the foldable phone was almost forgotten – until Samsung figured out that you can bend an OLED screen, and came up with the most high-profile foldables in years. Whether it’s unfolding to a tablet-like size or flipping open like the classic mobiles of old (but this time, it’s all screen) these phones are on the cutting edge of mobile tech.

What to Buy:

JB’s Top Tips

Folding phones have pre-installed protectors to keep the screen safe – don’t peel them off! Extra displays make foldables usable while closed, and can be great for quick selfies.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 The revolutionary phone that unfolds reveal a tablet-like 7.6” screen for an immersive experience. $2499

Did You Know?

The Original Flip Phone Motorola’s StarTAC, released way back in 1996, is considered to have been the first mainstream flip phone, and the inspiration for many other flip phone designs. But the flip phone concept had been around much earlier than that, with Panasonic making cordless home phones with a flip design years before Motorola made their iconic flipper.

JB’s Top Tips

Check the smartphone support of connected devices before buying so you know the recipient can use them right out of the box.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 The classic flip-phone reinvented as an all-screen experience that folds in half for pocket or purse. $1499

What to Buy:

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PRO TIP

The Power of the Stick Thanks to increasingly powerful motors that can run on rechargeable batteries – along with some very clever innovations from vacuum companies – stick

There’s a lot of ways that tech has made its way into things that would once have been manual, traditional objects. These days, both pen and paper can be completely digital, devices to help you create art can be computer-controlled, and connection to smartphone and computer apps can take these devices from doing simple exploratory or creative things and make them far, far more capable. For anyone who’s into the art of creating, technology has opened up a whole new world of possibility. A CREATIVE CHRISTMAS

vacs have become the go-to for quick

clean-ups. While robot vacuums are brilliant for automatic dust and fur clean-up, the bagless design of stick vacuums gives them serious suction to clean up the tough stuff – and they’re always ready to go with a full charge.

GoCube Smart Rubik’s Cube A real physical Rubik’s Cube that connects to your phone or tablet for learning, min-games and more. $129

Tile Pro Bluetooth Tracker 2-pack Find your keys or other valuable items easily with Bluetooth tracking. $89.95

What to Buy:

What to Buy:

Wacom One Pen Display Draw and paint on a paper-like digital canvas with a natural- feeling pen. $649

Dyson V15 Laser detection of the smallest dirt and dust. $1399

Cricut Joy Cut materials and craft creations effortlessly with a compact machine that can cut more than 50 materials or write in multiple styles. $349

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