Top 9 holiday tech gifts of 2013
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It weighs a mere pound and feels so compact in your hand you'll swear it's a mini. Despite its shockingly sleek body, the iPad Air packs the same big and sharp 9.7-inch Retina display as its predecessor. Apple also includes its new 64-bit A7 chip for faster performance which makes for an overall better experience, whether you're playing games or editing video in the new iMovie. It gets better. In our tests, the Air lasted nearly 12 hours on a charge. Add in more than 475,000 apps, and it's easy to see why the iPad Air is the ultimate tablet. More: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.laptopmag.com/review/tablets/apple-ipad-air.aspx">Apple iPad Air Full Review</a> (Apple)
Of the two new consoles being released this fall, the PlayStation 4 is the pure gaming beast, packing eight x86-64 cores and a 1.84 TFLOPS graphics processor with 8GB of GDDR5 memory. Not sure what any of that means? Just know that the gamer on your list will be in heaven playing some of the most lush, immersive and detailed titles ever created. Just take one look at the mesmerizing shooting game "Killzone Shadow Fall," and you'll know you made the right choice. Other highlights include a new Dualshock 4 controller with a built-in touchpad for new modes of gameplay, and a Share button for bragging. Plus, there's Remote Play capability for the PlayStation Vita. More: <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.laptopmag.com/12-killer-playstation-4-games-and-demos">12 Killer PlayStation 4 Games<br></a>More: <a href="http://www.tomsguide.com/us/sony-ps4-review,review-1939.html">PS4 Full Review</a> (Sony)
An awesome digital stocking stuffer, Google Chromecast will help your video junkie get the best online video content right on the big screen. This little stick plugs into their set's HDMI port and streams everything from Netflix and Hulu Plus to YouTube and Pandora. Plus, the device supports Google Play's movies, TV shows and music. If your couch potato uses the Chrome browser, he can send videos from his smartphone, tablet or laptop with the push of a button. More: <a href="http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-tvs-2013,news-17862.html">Best TVs of 2013</a> (Google)
Ready to splurge? You've never seen a TV like this. Samsung's first OLED set for the U.S. boasts best-in-class colors and contrast while also offering blur-free motion. That means the S9C series is perfect for anything you might want to watch, whether it's "Man of Steel" or the Pittsburgh Steelers. The curved design is fantastic, too, which makes the experience more immersive. Bonus: With a special pair of glasses, two people can watch different shows in HD at the same time. More: <a href="http://blog.laptopmag.com/gifts-for-the-rich-2013">Best Tech Gifts for Millionaires</a> (Samsung)
With smartphones these days, it's go big or go home. But the Galaxy Note 3 actually does several useful things with its large 5.7-inch display. Jot down a name, phone number and address with the enhanced S Pen, and this handset is smart enough to let you automatically add it to your address book. You can also run two apps side by side, and drag and drop content from one window to another. A blazing quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, a sharp 13-MP camera and more than 10 hours of battery life make this the ultimate Android phone. More: <a href="http://blog.laptopmag.com/top-8-smartphones">Top 10 Smartphones</a> (Samsung)
The first smartwatch that's worth buying, the Pebble works with both Android phones and the iPhone, and lets you see who's calling, emailing or texting without having to pull your phone out of your pocket. You can also change music tracks on your phone from across the room and download one of many slick watch faces. The fun really starts when you start downloading apps, whether it's for checking your pace while you run or the distance to the next hole while you golf. More: <a href="http://blog.laptopmag.com/5-reasons-youll-wear-a-smart-watch">5 Reasons You'll Wear a Smartwatch</a> (Laptopmag.com)
Whether your loved one is looking to shed some pounds or just stay in shape, the Fitbit Force will give him or her all the right info at a glance. Equipped with an OLED display, this device tracks everything from steps taken and calories burned to stairs climbed. Plus, the Force can help you sleep better by measuring the quality of your sleep. A silent-wake alarm will avoid waking others when it's time to go for that early-morning jog. And although the Force isn't a smartwatch per se, call-notification support is coming soon. More: <a href="http://www.laptopmag.com/review/fitness-watch/fitbit-force.aspx">Fitbit Force Full Review</a> (Fitbit)
The latest MacBook Pro offers an amazing amount of eye candy (2560 x 1600 pixels), along with serious speed. The new fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, combined with faster flash memory, helps this laptop blow the doors off most Windows-powered Ultrabooks. The battery inside Apple's 3.7-lb. powerhouse lasted an impressive 9.5 hours on our tests. Add in the free new iLife and iWork software, and your mobile pro will have everything he or she needs. More: <a href="http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/macbook-pro-13-inch-retina-display-2013.aspx">Apple MacBook Pro Retina Display 2013 Full Review</a> (Apple)
The Bose SoundLink Mini boasts the most impressive sound we've ever heard from a portable Bluetooth speaker. How did Bose do it? The speaker's interior includes a pair of custom transducers for delivering clear highs and mids, while a pair of passive radiators drive the lows. Once you fire up this 1.5-lb. aluminum wonder, you'll enjoy pure wireless audio bliss for up to 7 hours on a charge. If your loved one was really good this year, spend the extra $24.95 for one of three colorful smart covers. More: <a href="http://www.laptopmag.com/review/speakers/bose-soundlink-mini.aspx">Bose SoundLink Mini Full Review</a> (Bose)