Apple has released its holiday gift guide for 2016, including a variety of accessories for its core products: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. The list of recommendations is more focused than the vast 2015 guide, presenting four collections: music, photography, games, and a general Apple products category.
The primary category only features Apple’s first-party products, like Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, Beats headphones and Apple Pencil for iPad Pro. The music, photography and toy collections recommend a selection of third-party accessories …
The ‘Apple gifts’ collection leads with iPhone 7 and accompany cases; the Leather Case and the Smart Battery Case. It also prominently shows off the Apple Watch with nylon bands, the iPad Pro plus keyboard cover and Apple Pencil, the 12-inch MacBook and Apple TV.
For music lovers, Apple recommends Beats Solo3 headphones, a ROLI Lightpad Block, two types of SONOS wireless speakers which integrate Apple Music streaming and the Ultimate Ears BOOM wireless speaker as an on-the-go alternative. It also includes the recently-released Powerbeats 3, Apple’s latest earbuds with the W1 chip.
The photography gift collection revolves around accessories that enhance the iPhone 7’s camera, like the Manfrotto TwistGrip tripod mount and DJI OSMO mobile Gimbal, as well as the DJI Mavic Pro Drone for aerial photography.
‘Games & Toys’ focuses on products for younger audience, which Apple describes as “this year’s most innovative toys”. The chosen items all work in combination with an iPad or iPhone in some way. For example, the Play-Doh Touch attaches to the back of an iPad and comes with an app to drive the experience. Apple also suggests some ‘toy’ gadgets for adults like the BB-8 droid, Parrot Swing Minidrone and a SteelSerius Nimbus MFI gamepad to enhance the iOS gameplay experience.
Several of the items listed are available ‘only at Apple’ although most are widely available from any retailer, so it’s worth shopping around for the best deals. Apple is offering free two-day delivery on in-stock items purchased by 5.00 pm or you can buy items for in-store pickup, depending on availability.
