This story is a part of Present Information, our year-round assortment of the perfect present concepts.
Lots of people are on a reasonably tight price range relating to present shopping for. However some of us aren’t, which does open you to a wider vary of choices and will get you into extra premium territory, particularly relating to cellular and gaming merchandise. Whether or not you are searching for the vacations, a special day or simply as a result of, these are a few of the finest items within the $200 to $500 value vary.Â
It is price noting that final 12 months it was arduous to seek out sport consoles such because the PS5 ($400 to $500) and Xbox Collection X ($500) and Collection S ($300) in inventory. And when you nonetheless might should go on a waitlist for the PS5, Sony and Microsoft’s consoles are simpler to come back by as of late and do make nice items. Â
David Carnoy/CNET
When you might have a product that lots of people love, change could be dangerous. Such is the case for Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth technology of the 1000X sequence headphones, which have been first launched in 2016 because the MDR-1000X Wi-fi and have change into more and more common as they’ve improved with every technology. Over time, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, however nothing as dramatic as what it is accomplished with the WH-1000XM5. Apart from the upper $400 price ticket ($50 greater than the WH-1000XM4), most of these adjustments are good, and Sony’s made some dramatic enhancements with voice-calling efficiency in addition to even higher noise canceling and extra refined sound.
Â
You are receiving value alerts for Sony WH-1000XM5
David Carnoy/CNET
Launched in 2021, the PartyBox 110 packs some severe punch and delivers greater sound than many transportable boombox audio system, together with JBL’s personal Boombox 3. There’s an built-in deal with for toting the speaker, however the PartyBox 110 is fairly hefty, weighing in at 23 kilos and measuring barely greater than 22 inches tall. You possibly can stand this Bluetooth growth field up vertically as proven within the image above or place it horizontally, because it has rubber ft on either side of the speaker.
It is rated for as much as 12 hours of playback time at reasonable quantity ranges and has a redesigned mild present that syncs to the beat of your music (you possibly can customise the sunshine present from the speaker itself or use the JBL PartyBox companion app).Â
The speaker has Bluetooth or a wired USB connection and there are guitar and mic inputs. It is also price noting that the speaker is IPX4 splash-proof and you’ll wirelessly hyperlink two PartyBox 110 audio system collectively for stereo sound.
You are receiving value alerts for JBL PartyBox 110
Scott Stein/CNET
The value for Fb’s Oculus Quest 2 has gone up within the final 12 months — it used to start out at $300 for the 128GB model however now it prices $400, with the 256GB model now going for $500. Whereas it isn’t fairly the cut price it was, it is nonetheless the perfect inexpensive cord-free VR headset and loads of enjoyable to play with a big assortment of spectacular video games.
Meta is predicted to launch a higher-end “professional” mannequin that may definitely be higher however will even value much more. Â
Â
Sonos
Sonos’ new entry-level soundbar options the firm’s glorious multiroom music system onboard. A two-channel soundbar with Dolby Digital decoding, it is roughly two-thirds the dimensions of the additionally glorious Sonos Beam (gen 2) however delivers a surprisingly broad soundstage by using proprietary waveguides.
Whereas it does not assist Dolby Atmos encompass sound or have an HDMI port to hook up with your TV (you join it to your TV with an included optical cable), we have been impressed with the sound high quality for music and films. You possibly can pair it with a few different Sonos audio system just like the Sonos One to create a encompass sound system.
Amazon/CNET
Amazon has introduced a large-format 10.2-inch E Ink e-reader that features a stylus. One may say it’s the religious successor to the defunct Kindle DX, which had a 9.7-inch display. It is out there now for preorder for $340 with an ordinary stylus or $370 with a premium stylus and can “arrive earlier than the vacations,” Amazon says, with a tentative launch day of Nov. 30.
A handful of competing stylus-equipped touchscreen E Ink e-readers that double as digital notepads can be found from different firms, together with Kobo and ReMarkable. However the Kindle Scribe is the one front-lit 10.2-inch e-reader with a high-resolution 300 ppi (pixels per inch) E ink show.
You are receiving value alerts for Amazon Kindle Scribe
Scott Stein/CNET
The ninth technology of Apple’s entry-level iPad got here out final fall with an up to date A13 Bionic chip processor that provides it a pleasant efficiency enhance (a keyboard or case is just not included). Whereas costs begin at $299 for 64GB of storage, it jumps to $479 for the 256GB model, so search for particular gives as this iPad usually will get the flash-deal therapy.
You are receiving value alerts for Apple iPad 10.2-inch 2020 (grey, 32GB)
David Carnoy/CNET
Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds 2 should not solely about 30% smaller than their predecessors, however their case is about 40% smaller and actually pocketable. They characteristic best-in-class noise canceling and improved sound, due to Bose’s new CustomTune sound calibration system that customizes the sound to your ears. Voice-calling efficiency can be considerably higher than that of the unique QuietComfort Earbuds.
The opposite massive change is to the ear ideas. Bose has ditched its one-piece StayEar wing ideas for a two-piece Match Package system that options separate ear ideas and “stability bands” in three measurement choices, supplying you with extra flexibility to get a safe match and tight seal.Â
The buds initially ship within the Triple Black Coloration with the Sandstone colour to observe later within the 12 months. They’re IPX4 splash-proof and appropriate for sporting actions.
Â
You are receiving value alerts for Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Theragun
The Theragun Prime is a part of the fourth technology of Theragun therapeutic massage weapons. Its prior equal was the Theragun Liv, which is reviewed in-depth right here.
Just like the high-end Theragun Professional ($599), the Theragun Prime’s essential spectacular characteristic is that it is a lot quieter than its now-retired predecessor. In reality, the Prime rivals the famously quiet Hypervolt Plus by way of quantity stage — that is a large enchancment from the Liv.
The enhancements do not cease there, although: The place the Theragun Liv solely had two preprogrammed speeds and got here with two closed-cell foam attachments, the Theragun Prime has 5 built-in speeds (from 1,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm) and comes with 5 closed-cell foam attachments.Â
Sarah Tew/CNET
No, you possibly can’t get a very high-performance TV for lower than $500, however with TCL’s 55-inch 55S535 you will get an incredible present with a pleasant measurement display, very stable 4K image high quality and the perfect streaming system out there (Roku) for lower than $500. If you’d like beneath $400, TCL’s newest 4-series 4K line can be a good alternative.
Â
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Hypervolt Hypervolt Professional 2 is the present flagship Hyperice percussive massager, and rivals the marginally better-known Theragun in effectiveness. This new mannequin encompasses a digital pace dial that allows you to cycle by 5 ranges of percussion and options the identical 90-watt high-torque motor and notably quiet operation (for the quantity of drive it generates) of its predecessor. You possibly can rise up to a few hours of battery life and 5 interchangeable heads together with a pleasant carrying case.
The step-down Hypervolt Professional ($250) has a 60-watt motor, three speeds and leaves off the digital pace dial.
Stephen Beacham/CNET
If the particular person in your record does not have already got a Nintendo Swap or wants an improve, you possibly can’t go flawed with this gaming system. This fourth iteration of Nintendo’s Swap hybrid handheld provides a greater, higher built-in show (now an OLED display), plus a redesigned kickstand and TV dock. It is a splurge, but it surely offers hours and hours of enjoyable with video games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Metroid Dread, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Tremendous Mario Odyssey. (For those who’re searching for the following Zelda sport, that is not coming till Might 2023.) Take a look at extra nice sport solutions right here.
You are receiving value alerts for Nintendo Swap OLED (Purple/Blue)
Extra vacation present concepts
Discover The Excellent Present
AllBelow $10Below $20Below $50Below $100Below $250
allmothersdadsgrandparentshealthvacationersteenagerspreteenstechgamingfoodiesromanticjewelleryhousechildren
107 outcomes
.jpg)
