We know men can be difficult to buy for, but a set of jazzy socks simply won’t cut it anymore. For Christmas 2020 we’ve rounded up some of the hottest products of the year that we think the man in your life will love.
There are grooming gadgets, of course, but also a Swiss smartwatch, the best action camera money can buy, a top-quality drone, and much more besides. But while that all sounds rather pricey, we’ve also included handy links to our more thorough buying guides, where you will find cheaper alternatives.
Ready to ace your present-buying for him this Christmas? Take a look at our hand-picked list of the best gifts for him.
- Best Christmas gifts: inspirational present ideas for everyone
- The best gifts for her this Christmas
- The best gifts for dad this Christmas
The newly-launched Hero 9 Black is the latest action camera from market leader GoPro. Replacing the year-old Hero 8, the new 9 features a new version of GoPro’s extraordinary Hypersmooth technology, which smooths out your video without the need for a gimbal.
The camera can shoot Ultra HD 4K video at 60 frames per second, or even 5K at 30fps. Also new for the Hero 9 Black is a front display that shows video for the first time on a GoPro, helping you line up your shots and snap the perfect 5K video or 20-megapixel selfie.
There’s also voice control for hands-free shooting, the option to live-stream 1080p Full HD video, up to 8X slow-motion, 33 feet of water resistance and a built-in mounting system for attaching to GoPro’s huge range of accessories. This really is the ultimate action camera.
Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer recently updated its Connected smartwatch for 2020. The new model has an always-on screen and new sports-tracking features. There’s also an updated stainless steel case design with interchangeable rubber sports strap, or an all-black Grade 2 titanium model if you really want to push the boat out.
Running Google’s Wear OS software, the Tag Heuer Connected has a range of digital faces to pick from. Some embrace the watch’s 1.39-inch touchscreen display, while others mimic the faces of Tag’s mechanical timepieces.
It’s a large watch, at 45mm across the case and 13.5mm thick, but is neatly designed and still offers a refined, sporty look on most wrists. A short lug-to-lug width helps to disguise some of that bulk.
If you don’t quite have £1,500 to drop on a luxury watch, check out our best watch gift guide, in which we’ve collated the best wrist candy for a variety of budgets.
When T3 reviewed these Sony headphones earlier in 2020 we gave them the full five stars and a Platinum Award. They are, quite simply, the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy today, fending off the competition from Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, and Beats by Dr. Dre.
The Sony headphones produce a lively, balanced and detailed sound plus mind-blowing noise cancelling technology to block out the world around you.
Although almost identical to its WH-1000XM3 predecessors, the new XM4 boasts a slightly slimmer headband cushion and ear cups, creating a more comfortable design than weighs in at 254g. Available in black or silver, the headphones are beautifully designed and have a set of touch controls that are logical and responsive to use.
DJI gave the Mavic Air a serious upgrade in 2020, upping the size and weight of its smaller consumer drone to create the Mavic Air 2. The result is a hugely capable drone with 4K video shooting at 60 frames per second, 48-megapixel photos, an improved controller, and a whole suite of autonomous flying features.
We were hugely impressed with the flying abilities of the Air 2, which despite its compact size and 570g of weight, remains steady as a rock even in a stiff breeze. It’s also one of the quietest drones we’ve tested, and it has a much greater battery life than the original Air. We recorded 34 minutes of flight time after a 90-minute charge, up 13 miles on the first-generation Air.
There are three flight modes on offer, catering for drone novices and professionals alike. Tripod mode is the most stable and limited to 11mph, while Normal mode ups this to 27mph and Sport mode sees the DJI flying at a speedy 42.5mph.
For shooting stunning 4K video in a compact package with great battery life, it’s hard to beat the new DJI Mavic Air 2.
For the man who loves DIY, make measuring quick, simple and fun with a digital laser measure. He’ll be able to accurately measure and record precise distances of up to 20 metres inside and out, making short work of measuring up for redecorating or buying or building furniture.
The Bosch Zamo III Digital Laser Measure is lightweight and really easy to use, as it’s operated with just one button. So that makes short work where a ruler, tape measure and pencil would only lead to frustration and aching arms.
The battery life is decent too, lasting for five hours, which is more than ample considering he won’t be using this for long stints at any one time.
If the man you're shopping for is looking for a robust bag to take him through his commute and weekend activities, the Rapha Roll Top Backpack could be the best gift for him.
This hard-wearing, durable bag is modelled on the roll top backpacks favoured by bike messengers. Features include reinforced, padded straps with reflective tabs which, when combined with a reflective bottom panel, improves visibility and therefore safety in the dark. There's also the signature webbed Rapha stripe designed to provide a position for lights and locks to attach to.
The bag is designed for hyper-functionality, from the quick-grab handle through to the pink lining that makes it easier to find what he's looking for with less digging. Compartments include a padded 15” laptop sleeve, and an exterior pocket on the side that's perfect for quick-access items like his keys, wallet or phone.
The Rapha Roll Top Backpack is available in all black (shown above), black and pink, or dark green.
For many, nothing beats a few pints to wind down from a hard day's work. If that sounds like the ideal gift for the man you're buying for, the battery-powered Fizzics Waytap is worth a punt.
This simple to use gadget transforms the look, texture and taste of bottled and canned beer into a gloriously smooth drop of draft. Achieving boozy perfection is simple: insert a bottle or can and pull the lever.
Soundwaves add Micro-Foam to the bubbles before the Waytap dispenses beer with a fresh, flavoursome twist and a delicious, creamy head. Cheers!
We may be biased, but we wouldn't keep making a magazine that we didn't think was the best tech magazine on the market, which is why we think a T3 magazine subscription is the best gift for any tech-loving man this Christmas.
Our relentless focus on quality means we review, rate and recommend the best tech that's guaranteed to help you live your life smarter.
Every month, T3 magazine reveals the best tech he never knew he needed to know about, and he can get it direct to his door before each issue hits the stops. It’s filled cover-to-cover with with gadgets that will genuinely make his life better, including TVs that give his favourite movies new life, smart home gear that saves him time and money, and ways to make his commute more bearable.
Stylish waterproof jackets are not always easy to come by, but this one from Fjallraven will ensure he looks good whilst staying warm and dry this winter.
Made from 65% polyester and 35% cotton, this jacket features layers of durable G-1000 original and lightweight G-1000 Lite fabric. It also has zipped hand and chest pockets, an adjustable hood and is available in blue or green to suit his taste.
What's more, if the man you're buying for is eco-conscious, he'll love Fjallraven's ethos. They are committed to using recycled and organic material where possible, and there are Eco versions – made from recycled polyester and organic cotton – of their G-1000 fabrics.
2020 has taught us all an awful lot. And while it might not be a particularly important lesson, this includes men discovering the daily shave is a waste of time. Afterall, if you’re not going to the office (or the pub) anymore, then you may as well cut back the shaving to two or three times a week.
This is why the Braun Series 9 9390CC was awarded with T3’s best shaver award for 2020, owing to its unrivalled abilities on longer stubble. The Braun slices its way through your stubble with ease, thanks to titanium-tipped blades that give a gold-plated appearance.
Battery life is 50 minutes from a 60-minute charge, and the shave is waterproof. There’s also a convenient slide-up beard trimmer.
With James Bond's latest mission delayed yet again, until April 2021, we hope this as-seen-on-screen jumper will help make up for it. Produced by luxury London clothing company N.Peal (which sells a range of 007 garments), the ribbed army sweater has a military feel thanks to canvas patches on the shoulders, elbows and cuffs.
A unisex jumper available for men and women, and with sizes ranging from XXS to XXL, it is made from 90% superfine Merino wool and 10% cashmere, but a soft for hard-wearing construction.
Every man's wardrobe should include at least some socks that are louder than others But there's a fine line between stylishly stripy and tacky.
Thankfully, this three-pack of signature stripe socks by Paul Smith fit the bill perfectly, offering just the right amount of character without yelling too loudly from beneath your trouser legs. Made in England, the one-size socks are made from 78% cotton and are machine washable.
They come presented in a black gift box and are the playful addition your loved one's sock drawer has been crying out for.
