Tech Guide’s 2020 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas – Day 2: Smartphones

Christmas is just around the corner and we’re here to help you find the right gift for your friends and family with Tech Guide’s 2020 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas.

On Day 2 of the 2020 12 Day Christmas Gift Guide we’re covering one of the most popular tech products – the smartphone.

This Christmas might see parents gift their child their first smartphone.

Some may see it as an opportunity to upgrade to a better smartphone, consolidate with a mid-tier device or get their hands on their first 5G phone.

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

MOTOROLA RAZR 5G – $2,299 

Motorola’s foldable Razr device has had a makeover and now includes 5G connectivity.

It has a rear mounted fingerprint sensor and a more tapered chin along with an updated hinge mechanism that adds significant functional changes.

When it is flipped open, the Razr reveals a 6.2-inch Flex View displayed which, when viewed horizontally, offers a 21:9 cinema vision aspect ratio for ideal viewing conditions.

The new Razr has an even slicker form factor with the updated chin design reducing the device’s size while at the same time enabling 5G performance by housing two of the four 5G antennas.

The Razr 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 765G processor.

On the camera side, the Razr 5G has a 48-megapixel camera system which can also be used as a selfie camera when the phone is folded shut.

READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT ON THE MOTOROLA RAZR 5G

ALCATEL 1SE – $199

The Alcatel 1SE in is packed with impressive features but still priced under $200.

Alcatel has always been a brand that has proven you don’t need to spend big money to have an impressive smartphone.

The Alcatel 1SE has a 6.22-inch HD+ display, an AI triple rear camera system and a 4000mAh battery.

This larger display offers vibrant colours and is housed with 2.5D glass on the front which extends to a radical texture on the back panel for a great look and feel in your hands.

On the camera side, the device’s triple camera system allows users to capture stunning images and videos whether they are shooting everything from food to fireworks through the 13-megapixel main lens, 5-megapixel super wide angle lens and the 2-megapixel depth lens.

READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT ON THE ALCATEL 1SE

SAMSUNG S20 FAN EDITION – From $748

Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Fan Edition brings together a flagship smartphone with the features customers love from the Galaxy S20 series like the stunning display, AI-powered camera, expandable storage and all-day battery but offered at a more affordable price.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is also available in a 5G variant and offers a premium design and top-shelf build quality.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a 6.5-inch flat FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity O display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ certification so your content pops.

READ TECH GUIDE’S REPORT ON THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 FE

iPHONE 12 – From $1,199

The iPhone 12 has a distinct new look with more defined flatter edges that hark back to the look of the iPhone 4 which was unveiled in 2010 and the latest iPad Pro.

The edges of the new iPhone features a frame made of aluminium on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini and stainless steel on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The display includes a new Ceramic Shield which makes the glass even more resistant to scratches and drops. It is tougher than any smartphone glass.

All of the new iPhones have an IP68 rating so it can withstand water immersion to a depth of up to 6m for 30 minutes.

And, of course, the four new iPhone 12 models are all 5G compatible.

READ TECH GUIDE COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE iPHONE 12 AND iPHONE 12 PRO

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE iPHONE 12 MINI AND iPHONE 12 PRO MAX

PIXEL 5 – $999

The Pixel 5 has a 6-inch flexible OLED FHD+ display with HDR support and a resolution of 1080 x 2340 and a contrast of 1,000,000 to 1.

The device is 5G compatible and can also be used as a 5G hotspot to connect all of your other devices on the move.

There are now two cameras on the rear panel – a 12-megapixel dual pixel and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide – so you can shoot stunning images in all scenarios including low light situations and the night sky.

There is also a front 8-megapixel camera that peeks out from the hole punch on the display.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE GOOGLE PIXEL 5

LG VELVET – $899

At $899, the LG Velvet will win a lot of fans with its premium design, top shelf features and excellent 48-megapixel camera.

On the design side the LG Velvet looks like a flagship product with curved edges on the 6.8-inch OLED display.

It also has curved edges on the back panel and feels great in your hand.

The device is 5G compatible so can connect you even faster when you’re in range of 5G cellular coverage.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE LG VELVET

TCL 10 PRO – $749

The TCL 10 Pro has a stunning premium design and impressive flagship features but at a mid-tier price well below $1000.

The TCL display incorporates the company’s advanced NXTVISION technology to provide remarkable colour accuracy and SDR to HDR (high dynamic range) real-time conversion.

The TCL 10 Pro has a smooth and sleek design with a beautifully curved 6.47-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen and edges.

The display on the 10 Pro is a real head-turner. For a start it’s an AMOLED screen so you’ve got beautiful deep blacks and bright colours that pop.

The TCL 10 Pro is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage along with an expandable memory card slot.

The rear panel features a four camera system (64-megapixel, 16-megapixel, 5-megapixel and 2-megapixel) with the lens flush with the back chassis. The only slight protrusion are from the dual flashes.

READ TECH GUIDE’S REPORT ON THE TCL 10 PRO

OPPO FIND X2 PRO – Was $1,599 – now $1199

The Find X2 Pro has been thoughtfully designed with the user in mind and delivers what customers are looking for: a large high quality screen, great performance, impressive camera system, long battery life and fast charging.

On the design side, the Oppo Find X2 Pro has a curved edge screen as well as a curved rear panel which means the tapered chassis sits nicely in your hand.

The 6.7-inch OLED curved screen also catches your eye as soon as it comes to life. It has QHD+ resolution (3168 x 1440) and 513ppi (pixels per inch).

On the performance side, the device has 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal memory and is powered by an octa-core processor which runs at up to 2.84Ghz.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE OPPO FIND X2 PRO

iPHONE SE – From $679

The iPhone SE is Apple’s most affordable phone but Apple hasn’t skimped on the performance by adding the same processor that’s powering the iPhone 11 Pro.

And if the design looks familiar – you’re absolutely right – Apple has taken the design of the iPhone 8 and made some subtle exterior changes but the biggest improvements are under the hood.

Not everyone wants a larger phone and not everyone can afford the more expensive smartphones.

But if you didn’t have more than $1000 you either had to buy an Android device or an older or second hand iPhone – until now.

READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE iPHONE SE

NOKIA 3.4 – $249

The Nokia 3.4 next is the first in its series to feature a punch hole display front camera along with a triple camera system.

The device has a 3D nano-textured rear cover and introduces a new colour palette with an iridescent finish that changes colour as you move it.

Fjord is a cyan blue that shifts to purple, Dusk is a deep purple that shifts into a golden red tone and Charcoal is a classic grey with a subtle golden tint.

The Nokia 3.4 has a 6.39 HD+ screen and is powered by the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 mobile platform that offers a 70 per cent performance upgrade over the previous model.

READ TECH GUIDE’S REPORT ON THE NOKIA 3.4