It’s that time of year again! We’re back with the WiFi HiFi Holiday Gift Guides! Not sure what to get that special someone on your list? It has been a particularly tough year, and we all deserve some joy. There are lots of tech gift to suit an enduring passion, new hobby, personality, or style. Here, we’ll look at great gift ideas for someone who has reignited their passion for gaming.
ZAGG Kita Grip 360 Nintendo Switch Case
The beauty of the Nintendo Switch is that you can take it with you to play virtually anywhere. But like any electronic device, you want to keep it protected from bumps, scuffs, and falls. A carrying case is great, but the Kita Grip 360 can stay on the portable gaming unit 24/7 as a slim protective case and screen protector, even when placed on the Switch Dock for charging. It offers D30 impact protection with full access to joy sticks, buttons, and kickstand to maintain the natural gaming feel, along with contoured palm grips and a textured surface. The flexible polymer screen protector, meanwhile, includes anti-microbial treatment to inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria and guard against degradation from microorganisms.Yet it still employs a glass-like feel and is smudge- and fingerprint-resistant. The case and screen protector are drop-resistant from as high as 10 feet.
Razer Kishi Gaming Controllers
While we traditionally think of gaming at home using a console and a big screen TV, today, gaming extends far beyond that to more mobile experiences. And that includes using some of the latest premium smartphones and apps. This gaming controller includes two pieces that attach to either side of an Apple or Android device providing all of the familiar controls for all types of games. This includes face and bumper buttons, a D-pad for extra inputs and better accuracy, and Type-C charging.
They’re available in Canada through distributor Gentec International for $130, with either an iOS or Android/Xbox/universal version.
LG UltraGear Gaming Speaker
The LG UltraGear Gaming Speaker pairs perfectly with LG’s premium UltraGear gaming monitor, offering three-dimensional, game-optimized sound. The speaker boasts LG’s proprietary 3D Gaming Sound technology that provides a more realistic gaming experience without the need to wear a headset. Game Genre Optimizer has two modes that can customize game audio to match what the user is playing. FPS Mode allows first-person shooter game fans to hear the smallest of details, allowing them to react even quicker to an enemy stealthily closing in on their position. RTS Mode, meanwhile, ramps up the realism with genuine spatial sound that can immerse players in their favourite real-time strategy (RTS), racing, and other games. With support for DTS Headphone:X, the LG UltraGear Gaming Speaker can provide convincing 7.1 virtual surround sound when using headsets or earphones as well. Hi-Res Audio certified with a built-in Hi-Fi Quad DAC, it also has built-in mics with LG’s echo-cancellation algorithm that can distinguish a user’s voice from game sounds and background noises.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
This mini-LED curved gaming monitor has Quantum Matrix technology to provide an immersive gaming experience, along with fast response and refresh rates. It uses the same Mini LED technology built into Samsung’s latest Neo QLED lineup. Quantum Matrix Technology harnesses enhanced 12-bit gradation for greater control of the light source and contains Quantum Mini LEDs that make dark areas darker and bright areas brighter with 2,048 dimming zones, ensuring viewers enjoy the content as it is meant to be seen, says Samsung. Quantum HDR 2000 offers a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, with certification received from VDE, together with a static contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. The Odyssey Neo G9 features an ultra-wide 49-inch display with a 32:9 aspect ratio that offers Dual Quad High-Definition (DQHD; 5,120×1,440 resolution) with a rapid, 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. The 1000R curvature of the monitor was certified by TÜV Rheinland, awarding it their Eye Comfort certificate. The G9 provides Adaptive Sync on DP1.4 and HDMI2.1 VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) through HDMI 2.1 with NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, delivering dynamic and seamless action, scene-by-scene. The display seamlessly fits into any gaming setup or environment, with a glossy white exterior and rear infinity core lighting system, which includes 52 colours and five lighting effect options. The monitor also comes with the CoreSync feature, allowing users to personalize their setup with the multiple colour modes.
Urbanista Seoul True Wireless Earphones
These true wireless earphones are designed specifically to wear during mobile gaming, offering low latency and premium audio quality. They come in Urbanista’s signature Scandinavian design in four colours: midnight black, electric blue, vivid puple, and pearl white. Seoul’s connectivity provides low latency audio so you can play mobile games or watch movies with minimal delay, at 70ms. They run for up to eight hours per charge with a USB-C wireless charging case that provides three extra charges on the go for a total of 32 hours. It can charge wirelessly using a certified Qi pad. The in-ear design has a universal fit with customizable Silicon GoFit tips in three sizes. Switch between gaming and music modes via the tap of an earbud to get the best possible audio experience. They have touch control, a noise-cancelling microphone, and three microphones on each side. With IPX4 water-resistance, Bluetooth 5.2, and compatibility with Siri and Google Assistant, The Seoul headphones are available through Urbanista’s Canadian distributor Erikson Consumer for a MAP of $125.
Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) Phone 5 Smartphone
The ROG Phone 5 is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform featuring advanced 5G communications and premium Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gaming features. With features like an upgraded GameCool 5 cooling system and new performance manager, along with a Samsung-built AMOLED display with 300Hz touch sampling rate and low latency, it’s a gamer’s dream. It has a 6,000mAh battery and comes with a 65-watt HyperCharge adapter that tops up the battery in the shortest possible time. Enjoy Snapdragon Elite Gaming for ultra-smooth play at HDR quality levels, with desktop-level capabilities. Qualcomm Game Quick Touch, meanwhile, lets gamers experience up to a 20% increase in touch responsiveness and lower latency. The ROG Phone 5 supports 10 different motion controls, so gamers can easily pick the moves to fit their game. In a racing game, for example, swivel the phone to steer or pull it towards them to brake.
Dark Matter Hyper-K Gaming Mouse
Employing a honeycomb design on the front makes this mouse ultra-lightweight (60 grams without the cable or USB connector) and comfortable to use for even long gaming sessions. It has an adjustable 16,000 dpi sensor for precision movement and Omron switches for easy and seamless clicks. It comes with a premium paracord-wrapped cable jacket, high-grade PTFE feet, and customizable dpi. Grab one for US$40.
PNY XLR8 Gaming Memory RAM
For a hardcore gamer you know could do with some extra RAM, this gives you 8GB of DDR4 3,200MHz (PC4-25600 CL16) desktop memory so they can run more demanding applications and games simultaneously and at lightning speeds. Designed for PC gamers, it also allows you to customize the computer’s lighting and effects via supported Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light Sync, and ASRock Polychrome Sync software. If the person has a computer they built themselves, or a customizable desktop they use for gaming, they might be very happy to receive this. Starts at $100
Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller
For someone who has already been gifted with a Sony PlayStation 5 console (or perhaps splurged to get one for themselves), this wireless controller would be a welcome gift. It has adaptive trigger buttons and offers haptic feedback technology for a more immersive gaming experience. The dynamic vibrations provided by the haptic feedback simulate the feeling of the environment, even the recoil of different weapons, while the adaptive triggers further help feel the tension when doing things like pulling back a tight bowstring or hitting the brakes on a speeding car. A gamer can never have too many controllers, and this one comes in new colours like cosmic red and midnight black along with a built-in mic and headset jack so they can chat with friends or fellow gamers as they play. It is available for MSRP $90 for white/black or midnight black, or pay an extra $5 for the super-cool cosmic red at $95.
Pulse 3D Wireless Headset
Every serious gamer who connects online to play uses a headset to communicate with other players, whether they are friends or family members from afar (or even a sibling in another room or neighbour down the street), or strangers they are playing with online from around the world. There’s nothing worse than trying to play with a subpar headset. This one is designed to deliver the 3D Audio made possible by the PS5 system’s Tempest 3D AudioTech. Enjoy clear voices while you listen and talk, and dual noise-cancelling microphones to eliminate annoying background noise. The headset in white or, coming soon, midnight black, is $130.
Custom Designed and Engraved Xbox Controller
Did you know you can design your own custom Xbox controller? Using the Xbox Design Lab, a thoughtful gift for a gamer on your list might be to create a unique controller for them. It might feature their favourite colours and even personalized engraving. Visit the design lab, choose from a palette of 18 colours, including the specific colour you want for every part of the remote, from the back to the bumpers, triggers, D-pad, thumbsticks, ABXY buttons, and view, menu, and share buttons. Select the button style to match the colour scheme (for example, light letters on a dark coloured background or vice versa), then add optional laser engraving, and you’re good to go. Keep in mind that each order takes 28 days to fulfill so this is something you’ll want to jump on getting done ASAP. (If you miss the deadline for the holiday season, there are always birthdays and other special occasions.) When you visit the site and select customize, you’ll see the estimated price of $85 as well as an estim