We’ve already covered price tiers at under $250, over several articles. In this article, you’ll find products that cost less than $500, and yet more than $250. These are all techie products that either you or your loved ones could be interested in. They’re here to provide you with some ideas for the holiday season, basically. We won’t be including two products of the same type, just to keep things as diverse as possible. We have included six products below, just to keep it short and sweet. You will find more information about each of those products, though, just in case you’re not that familiar with some of them. Read on and see if any of these appeal to you.
Best VR headset: Meta Quest 3S
VR headsets are becoming more and more popular these days. Some of you are probably thinking of getting one for your kid or for yourself, it all depends. Well, the Meta Quest 3S is a solid choice if you don’t want to break the bank. This VR headset is now priced at $299 on Amazon, and you’ll also be getting Batman: Arkham Shadow with it, a brand new VR game that is supposed to be plenty of fun. I mean, who doesn’t want to be Batman, right?
On top of that, a 3-month trial of Meta Quest+ is also included in this price. It doesn’t get much better than that. Do note that this price tag goes for a 128GB version of the headset, the 256GB storage model will set you back a bit more, but it’s available too. This headset is not only for gaming, of course. You can actually watch basically anything you like over it, in case your TV is not available or you simply prefer this.
It’ amazing how immersive a VR headset can be compared to something like a TV. You can also cast your social media apps on the Meta Quest 3S, and it has various other uses. Along with the headset, you’ll also be getting the control pads, and a charging cable, of course… in addition to the perks we’ve mentioned earlier. If you’d like to pull the trigger on this deal, the purchase links is available below.
Best action camera: DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
If an action camera is what you’re after, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro fits in this category perfectly. This action camera is priced at $349, and it has everything you may want from such a product. It looks nice, while there are displays available on both its front and back sides. That makes it immensely more useful in my book, but it will all depend on the style whoever uses it prefers, of course.
The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is waterproof, and it has a 1/1.3-inch sensor on the inside. It can shoot 4K video at 120 fps, while it also has excellent stabilization and subject-tracking. Both of the displays are of the OLED variety, and thanks to this setup, this camera can be easily used for both sports and vlogging. That 1/1.3-inch sensor is also great for filming when the light goes away.
Do note that you’ll need to activate the camera via the DJI Mimo app, but that’s an app you’ll want to install regardless, as it’ll come in really handy for your usage. The battery life is also not bad at all. The company says you can get up to 4 hours of battery life use with this action camera. The variant we’re talking about here is called the ‘Standard Combo’, but the ‘Adventure Combo’ is also available for a higher price.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (Amazon) – $349
Best smart ring: Oura Ring 4
The third product on this list is the Oura Ring 4. Oura is a well-known player in the smart ring market, and the Ring 4 is the latest product from the company. Not everyone likes to wear a smartwatch, and if that’s the case, this is the ideal replacement for fitness tracking. It can track your fitness activities, along with keeping up with your vitals, such as heart rate. Sleep tracking is also a part of the package, of course.
This ring can track over 30 biometrics, some of which we’ve already mentioned. In addition to that, stress tracking is also an option, as are women’s health metrics, and so on. The Oura Ring 4 offers up to 8 days worth of battery life, and this watch is designed to be worn 24/7, says the company. It’s an all-titanium smart ring, for durability reasons, and it’s compatible with both Android and iOS. Oura also integrates with over 40 apps, including Apple Health, Google Health Connect, Strava, and more.
Do note that you’ll need to figure out the proper size before you order it, that’s what Oura Ring 4 Sizing Kit is for. If you decide to get hte ring, you’ll also get first month of Oura membership for free. It’s also worth noting that various different colors of this smart ring are available via the link provided below. The Oura Ring 4 is priced at $349, in case you were wondering.
Best portable camera: Insta360 GO 3S
If you’re in need of a very small and yet versatile camera, the Insta360 GO 3S fits the bill perfectly. This can also be a great gift for someone who likes filming in various different ways. The Insta360 GO 3S is a tiny camera that comes with a number of accessories. This camera can be used on its own, and magnetized to metal services so that you can get the perfect angle.
If you need to see what you’re filming, however, you simply throw it into its dock. That was you get access to a viewfinder, which can be rotated too, for vlogging. That case also serves as a charger for the camera itself. That’s not all, though. You can hook this camera up to your hat, thanks to an included clip. If that’s not your style, a necklace is also included, which you can throw under your shirt, and magnetize the camera over your shirt.
There’s also a mount that ships in the box, in case you need to throw the camera on a tripod or something like that. You get the idea, there are so many use cases for this. The Insta360 is also waterproof up to 10m, though keep in mind only the camera itself is (the charging case offers IPX4 certification). It weighs only 39 grams, and it supports gesture and voice controls too. The company’s app is very useful too. This camera is priced at $399.99.
Insta360 GO 3S (Amazon) – $399.99
Best gaming console: Sony PlayStation 5 (slim)
Sony’s PlayStation 5 console is the most popular gaming console on the planet, hands down. If you, or someone you know, still doesn’t own one, however, here’s your chance to buy it. The ‘slim’ version of the console is highlighted here. If you’re wondering if this is still worth getting despite the fact the PlayStation 5 Pro has been announced, I’d say yes, most definitely. There are a couple of simple reasons for that.
The new ‘Pro’ console is more expensive. On top of that, it doesn’t really add too much value on top of the regular PlayStation 5. Well, at least not for most people. Most people won’t really care about the added improvements. With that being said, there are a ton of games available for PlayStation 5, so getting it today is not really a bad idea at all. Many more games will be coming too.
If you decide to buy this ‘slim version of the console, you’ll get a DualSense wireless controller, a 1TB SSD on the inside, and a disc drive is included too. You also get all the cables you need to hood this thing up to a TV and keep it powered. Astro’s PLayroom game is also pre-installed here. Do note that the stand shown in the provided image is sold separately, though.
Sony PlayStation 5 Slim (Amazon) – $489
Best smartphone: Google Pixel 8a
If a phone is what you’re looking for, the Google Pixel 8a sits under the $500 price tag. It sits there only barely, but it’s arguably the best smartphone you can get for less than $500. There are some other great choices, such as the OnePlus 12R, though. In any case, the Pixel 8a is Google’s latest mid-range smartphone, and it does offer a lot for the money. You’re getting a nice plastic + metal build here, along with very capable AI-boosted camera setup.
The Pixel 8a comes with a 6.1-inch display. That, in other words, means it’s rather compact compared to most devices out there. Google’s very own chip is included here, with focus on AI. The device is also water and dust resistant, for piece of mind. Stereo speakers are included in the package too. Android 14 came pre-installed on the phone, but the latest version of Android is available now, Android 15.
This phone could be a ideal for many people, actually. Getting it won’t break the bank, and yet it’s very capable in basically every way. On top of that, it has a nice software UI without too many complications. The Google Pixel 8a is priced at $499, just keep in mind that it doesn’t come with a charger in the box. That is worth noting, especially if you’re buying it for someone else.