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It's that time of year! We've gotta get very clever to try and find thoughtful ideas to gift to our loved ones, that are within budget, are things they'll actually use and like, and it has to be something that they'll hopefully be surprised by!
Saw Drew Kozub on BT this morning? Want a deeper dive into those gadgets! Welcome, you're in the right place!
For gamers, fitness enthusiasts, bookworms and more, here's some great gadget gift ideas!
What's up, Peloton?
We're starting off with a gift that's probably more of a luxury gift (in fact, it was one of our top picks in our giant luxury gift collection), but for the household that wants to get stronger together, the latest generation of Peloton Bike+ can't be beat (full review here).
The big change here is something called Peloton IQ. Think of it like your own personal coach to help count your reps and point out if your form or technique is a little off. Using a built-in camera and on-board AI Peloton IQ provides feedback in the moment with helpful suggestions so you get the most out of your workouts.
And of course, the cycling experience on the new Peloton Cross Training BIke+ is top-notch!
Fitness Tech
Peloton Cross Training Bike+
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The newest Peloton bikes are incredibly smart which is going to make all the difference in hitting your fitness goals. For cycling workouts, it can automatically adjust the difficulty during classes based on coaches recommendations. But the real magic happens in strength workouts (done on the swivelling built-in display). The new screens are powered by Peloton IQ which can analyze and offer suggestions to correct your form during exercise.
For excellent hardware, smart software, and easy-to-follow fitness programs (those are collections of courses based on your fitness goals) Peloton is a top pick for high tech fitness enthusiasts who are ready to level up their workout routines.
Kobo Colour eReaders
The convenience of having a whole digital library at your finger tips is magnificent. So why get a dedicated eReader instead of just a tablet or reading off your phone? Kobo can provide many compelling reasons and two great examples can be found with the Kobo Clara Colour and the Kobo Libra Colour.
The main benefit of a proper eReader over other digital screens is the paper-like look of a Kobo display. This is easier on your eyes and mimics the look of real paper. So if you're bedtime ritual involves a great book, you don't have to worry about overstimulating your eyes right before bed.
As I noted in my full review of the Kobo Libra Colour there's a few benefits to this specific model:
- Large 7-inch, E Ink Kaleido 3 display
- Optional stylus (for annotating books with your own notes)
- A digital diary/journal through the Notebooks tab
Colour eReader
Kobo Libra Colour
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The Kobo Libra Colour adds a new dimension to the eReader experience by laying in colour e-ink. Beyond that, it's not different from the "regular" Kobo Libra. The colour is a nice-to-have feature, particularly if you want to take advantage of annotating your books or highlighting certain passages or using this as a digital diary in the Notebook section.
For a more compact experience, which is great for travelling, the Kobo Clara takes all the core features of the Kobo Libra and shrinks them down.
The things you lose:
- Stylus support
- Physical page-turning buttons
Those are small compromises that might not even matter to the average person. Yes, the screen size is smaller, but you can digitally increase the text size, so legibility isn't a problem even on a smaller screen.
Colour eReader
Kobo Clara Colour
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The Kobo Clara Colour is a compact eReader with an easy-to-view 6" E Ink Kaleido 3 display. It provides the core Kobo experience and is the perfect size for one-handed reading. And it's $70 cheaper than the Libra, so you can put that money toward a sleep case, the page-turning remote control, or a gift card to the Kobo store!
Aside from both models being water proof and having excellent battery life the other main reason to consider Kobo over other eReaders is that you can connect to your local library through a digital service called Libby/Overdrive allowing you to borrow eBooks for free!
Smart Sunglasses
Smartglasses are the future. They are going to be as common in the next few years as smartphones are today. The Meta Oakley HSTN smart glasses balance style with smarts thanks to Meta AI.
Picture this, you're on vacation with your friends or family exploring a new city. You've decided to do a self guided tour. You notice a beautiful sculpture or a building with beautiful architecture and you're wondering what it is. You can simply as your sunlgassses, and you'll get the answer!
The Oakley Meta HSTN glasses are amazing for travellers or reveryday use. With built-in microphones and cameras you can snap pictures and take videos using voice commands. Or enjoy your favourite music on the go while listening through diescreet Bluetooth speakers.
Hey Meta
Oakley Meta HSTN
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Whether you're snapping vacation vids or want advice on what to make for a midnight snack, the combination of Meta AI and Oakley style comes together beautifully in these smart sunglasses.
ROG Xbox Consoles
In one of the biggest collabs since Taylor and Sabrina joined forces on the Life of a Showgirl, ROG (a global leader in PC gaming) and Xbox (that division of Microsoft that divided the console wars even further) have teamed up to release the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.
At a glance these consoles are great because:
- Allow you to play Xbox games anywhere
- Support additional game libraries (Steam, EA, and more)
- Have the same, 120Hz refresh rate
- Are incredibly ergonomic and comfortable to hold
You can read my over-the-top review of the "entry level" model right here. But be warned that review is probably overkill so I made a simpler and shorter review here that probably does a better job explaining who should buy which model)
For info on the high-end console, you can dig deep right here.
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ROG Xbox Ally
Xbox Gaming on-the-go
The ROG Xbox Ally is an extremely capable gaming machine. While it doesn't have every bell and whistle that the X model has, for a $500 price difference, it's a great choice for the gamer who wants a pick-up-and-play portable solution to try and carve out more time in their day for gaming by taking a console with them on the go.
ROG Xbox Ally X
The ROG Xbox Ally X comes in at a premium price, but it also delivers a premium gaming experience. It does an excellent job of removing barriers and friction points of mobile gaming on a Windows-powered device to make the user feel like they have a dedicated gaming handheld. At launch, there are many great features, but based on upcoming software updates in 2026, the console looks like it will continue to improve from an already strong starting position.
I've used both consoles since shortly before launch and they're both great. The $1,200 is definitely "better" but many of those features that make it better are things that a more casual gamer wouldn't need to tap into anyway, so saving the $500 and going with the entry level one is likely A-OK for most people.
Though I did just come back from a tech conference where I got some insights into AI and video games that I previously had never thought of so in terms of "future proofing" there's gonna be some stuff coming down the line where the more expensive model will be beneficial because of the advanced AI chip that' son board.
We're Geeking Out
Hopefully this article was helpful to answer any questions you might have about what you saw on the Breakfast Television segment and provided some inspiration for some gift ideas. If there's any lingering questions, feel free to send me a DM on Instagram so we can Geek Out together!
Read more
Kobo Libra Colour - Classic Kobo experience, now in colour!
The Kobo Libra Colour is a great eReader first, colour eReader second, and digital notebook third.
No Nonsense Review: ROG Xbox Ally
This is a short article covering the most important factors you should consider before buying the ROG Xbox Ally
Why would anyone need smart sunglasses? They're actually kinda awesome!
Ray-Ban Meta AI Smarglasses are the latest fusion between an iconic style brand and the latest in smart tech from Meta.
My Exercise Bike Cuts Me No Slack: Peloton Cross Training Bike+ Review
Peloton's newest fitness bike really is their best. In the fall of 2025, the company launched the Cross Training Bike+. It features Peloton IQ which is an example where AI doesn't suck. It's a useful tool guiding you through proper workout form.