Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas – Day 2: Smartphones

Christmas is almost here we’re here to help you find the right gift for your friends and family with Tech Guide’s 2021 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas.

On Day 2 of the 2021 12 Day Christmas Gift Guide we’re looking at a popular tech category – the smartphone.

And parents might also be gifting their child their first smartphone this Christmas.

Others may want to upgrade to a better smartphone or get their hands on their first 5G phone which are now more affordable than ever.

Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas:

Day 1: Cameras

Day 2: Smartphones

Day 3: Wearables/smartwatches

Day 4: Headphones/speakers

DAY 5: Gaming

DAY 6: Tablets/e-readers

DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets

DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices

DAY 9: In-car gadgets

DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K

DAY 11: Appliances

DAY 12: Computers

DAY 2: Smartphones

TCL 20 R 5G – $349 ($299 from Vodafone)

Just how good could a $350 smartphone be? When you’re talking about the TCL 20 R 5G – the answer to that question is very, very good actually.

It’s also the cheapest 5G smartphone you can buy as well.

With the 5G networks growing to cover even more of the Australian population, the TCL 20 R 5G allows users to tap into the faster network and enjoy even faster download speeds for downloading and streaming.

TCL has shown yet again having a quality smartphone doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE

iPHONE 13 – from $1,199

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini include a Super Retina XDR OLED display for remarkable contrast ratio to achieve true blacks and a 28 per cent increase in maximum outdoor brightness at 800nits.

They include the most advanced dual camera system ever seen in an iPhone with the largest sensor that’s capable of gathering 47 per cent more light.

The range of new iPhones are all 5G compatible, offer improved performance, better and brighter displays and upgraded camera systems to shoot enhanced images and stunning cinematic video.

On the design side, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini, with 6.1-inch and 5.4-inch Ceramic Shield screen sizes respectively, still retain their flat edges and flat screen but with a 20 per cent smaller notch which houses the TrueDepth camera system to power Face ID.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini are available in five colours – blue, midnight, starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED plus an all-new pink option.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE

SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP 3 – $1,499

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a fun new device that can give you a big screen when you need it but then gives you the satisfaction of snapping it shut when you’re done.

The Z Flip 3 is in the same foldable family as the Galaxy Z Fold 3 but it couldn’t be more different.

The Flip 3 is aimed for totally different customer that would be attracted to the Z Fold 3.

While the Z Fold 3 is for the high-end multitasking user, the Flip 3 is built for the more casual smartphone user who has a sense of style and appreciates good design.

When it’s unfolded the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a 6.7-inch 120Hz display and looks and feels like a normal smartphone.

READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE

TCL 20 PRO 5G – $799

Offering an all-in-one experience to Australians all for under $800, the 20 Pro 5G is TCL’s best smartphone to-date with its expansive combination of features, power, design and affordability.

Featuring a curved 6.67-inch AMOLED display, the TCL 20 Pro 5G offers a truly immersive viewing experience thanks to TCL’s all-new NXTVISION 2.0 Intelligent Display technology powered by Pixelworks.

For the snap-happy, the phone includes a 48MP quad rear camera array, to shoot professional-looking photos anywhere you go! The 20 Pro 5G offers over a full day of power, has wireless charging capability, and fast charging technology makes it easy to quickly top up if you’re starting to get low.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE

GOOGLE PIXEL 6 ($999) and GOOGLE PIXEL 6 PRO ($1,299)

The new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are beyond a doubt Google’s best ever smartphones with remarkable performance, striking and sleek designs and intelligent features that can’t be found anywhere else.

The Pixel smartphones haven’t quite had the same appeal in the flagship space as Apple’s iPhone and Samsung devices.

But the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro a set to change all that.

These new devices are among the most advanced smartphones on the market today.

And they are powered by Google’s very own Tensor chip which has been designed especially for the new Pixel 6 smartphones

The build quality is impressive along with the sleek design and colour choices.

READ TECH GUIDE COMPLETE REVIEW HERE

MOTOROLA EDGE 20 FUSION – $499

The Motorola Edge 20 fusion offers blazing fast 5G speeds with an advanced camera system at a competitive price point that won’t hurt the pockets of gift-givers. Featuring an advanced 108 MP camera system, explorers can capture stunning photos with 9x the low light sensitivity, or view bright, vibrant colors on a breathtaking 6.7″ OLED display – all without slowing down thanks to one of the largest 5G smartphone batteries.

You can pick up the Motorola Edge 20 Fusion in Electric Graphite and Cyber Teal at JB Hi-Fi, Vodafone, Officeworks, The Good Guys, Harvey Norman, Big W (Online), Mobileciti & Lenovo Online.

READ TECH GUIDE’S REPORT HERE

OPPO FIND X3 PRO – $1,499

In the flagship class of smartphones there aren’t many choices apart from Apple and Samsung but Oppo has emerged as a viable choice with its new Find X3 Pro.

The Oppo Find X3 Pro offers customers a striking design, a dazzling display and an impressive camera system.

They are the features that customers look for but at this price point they are competing with Apple and Samsung.

It would take a lot to drag anyone away from those brands.

The Oppo Find X3 Pro does offer an attractive alternative for those looking to make a change or upgrade from a cheaper Oppo model.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE

SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 3 – $2,499

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the type of device for the customer whose smartphone is the centre of their world for their work, multitasking, for their entertainment, for creating content and consuming content.

This device delivers on all of those fronts like no other smartphone on the market.

But it’s definitely not for the casual user.

Owning this device takes commitment – it’s bigger and heavier and does a lot more than a regular smartphone.

And while it’s not as sleek and slim and portable as other smartphones on the market – it does put a lot more features and capabilities at your fingertips.

Priced from $2499, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is in the high-end user category.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE

MOTOROLA EDGE 20 PRO – $899

Help the creative in your life unleash their imagination with the Motorola Edge 20 Pro. Featuring our most advanced camera system ever, they can capture stunning ultra-high res photos with a 108 MP sensor, and focus from incredible distances with 50x Super Zoom. For video, the edge 20 pro can record in incredible 8K resolution – a first for a Motorola smartphone.

Their content can be viewed at the highest quality with an industry-leading 144Hz refresh rate on a breathtaking 6.7″ display that captures a billion shades of colour.

The Motorola Edge 20 Pro is available in Midnight Sky and Royal Indigo at JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, The Good Guys, Mobileciti & Lenovo Online.

READ TECH GUIDE’S REPORT HERE

OPPO A53S – $279

The Oppo A53S has a quality 6.5-inch display, a sleek design, a triple camera system, fast octa-core processor and a huge 5,000mAh battery – very flagship-like features.

Oppo has managed to produce a device that delivers a flagship experience with a smartphone that’s priced at under $300.

Oppo’s A53S is actually as close to the entry level than it is to the mid-tier.

It exudes a sense of quality usually reserved for more expensive smartphones so we’re off to a great start.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE