UNDER-TREE TREASURES FOR EVERY TECH-SAVVY ENTRY ON YOUR “NICE LIST” THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

BY EVAN MONROE

Amazon Echo Hub Control Panel
The tech giant’s response to simplifying the booming smart home phenomenon arrives in an 8-inch, wall-mounted tablet that boasts serious capabilities. It’s compatible with more than 140,000 smart gadgets, from door locks and motion sensors to smart plugs, lights, and security systems. Simply tap the screen to ask Alexa to make requests like turn on bedroom light, view camera footage, or play the latest Beyoncé. $180, amazon.com
Sony PS5 “Slim”
The gaming giant is shedding extra weight in its latest release, a sleeker, slimmed down variant of Sony’s cult-favorite gaming console. Though it’s 30% smaller in volume, the “Slim” touts just as much power as its big brother along with 1TB of storage. It also adds the option for an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive on the digital edition. $449+, sony.com

Google Pixel Watch 2
Following its initial launch last October, Google’s smart watch sequel arrives packed with upgrades this holiday season, including three all-new sensors to deliver uber-precise intel on heart rate, skin temperature, and signs of stress. It also boasts a significantly improved battery life (while the previous gen touted a 24-hour battery life, wearers were clocking an average of eight with normal usage), plus a nifty new Safety Check feature that alerts predetermined contacts when the wearer is out for, say, an early morning run or late-night errand. If users can’t check in once the timer expires, the watch pings their location via Google Maps. $349, store.google.com

LEICA SOFORT 2 INSTANT CAMERA
Blend the convenience of a smartphone camera with the romance of fi lm with this hybrid release from Leica. First, users can easily snap photos via the camera’s SMOS sensor that captures digital images, then, upon reviewing images on the corresponding companion app, use the physical level to instantly turn those pictures into prints (you can also refer to the camera’s three-inch LCD screen to approve images for print). There’s also a built-in flash to support nighttime photography. $398, leica-camera.com

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 McLaren Edition
The go-to name for studio professionals and recording artists across the globe recently launched an uber-exclusive McLaren Edition of its famed Px8 headphones, a stunning celebration of the longstanding partnership between the two power brands (the British marque has been integrating B&W into its high-performance builds since 2015). The over-the-ear, noise-canceling wearables blend supercar-inspired styling with high-performance wireless sound, encased in buttery soft, Galvanic gray leather with signature Papaya orange details. $699, bowerswilkins.com

BOSE SMART ULTRA SOUNDBAR
Say farewell to the need for subtitles with Bose’s recently unveiled ultra-intelligent sound bar, which packs an AI-powered Dialogue Mode that ensures every word arrives razor sharp without diminishing surround sound effects. Bluetooth and WiFi enabled, the speaker features Dolby Atmos and Bose TrueSpace technology that separates and places instruments, dialogue, and effects in different pockets of the room for a fully immersive listening experience. It’s all housed in a sleek, handsome package, too. $899, bose.com

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The latest version of king Apple’s prodigal iPhone hit the market this fall touting a storm of superlatives: stellar battery life, sharper cameras, and faster performance. Featuring a new brushed titanium enclosure with thinner bezels, it’s also the lightest Pro series phone to date. Powered by a meaty A17 Pro chip, the handheld boasts an upgraded 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and an all-new 5x, 120mm tetra prism telephoto camera with 3-D sensor shift optical image stabilization. The system allows users to capture spatial video, 3-D-like videos that will be compatible with Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset (scheduled for an early 2024 release). $1,199, apple.com