As we've now entered Christmas month (mistakenly referred to as "December" - stupid name) it's time to step up the gift buying and set your sights on the finish line. We're here to help with yet another round-up of awesome things to buy for those you love, like, or have to tolerate (work colleagues) this Christmas. Roll on.
TEKNOFUN Poke Ball Speaker
Fans of Pokemon rejoice; here's a Bluetooth speaker for you. Styled after the iconic Poke Ball from which those famous critters emerge, this is a fully wireless, rechargeable speaker for close-by and same-room musical pleasure.
Juiced up via USB, and featuring a Micro SD card slot, this speaker makes a great bedroom media addition, be it for kids currently tackling the latest Pokemon games, or for older gamers yearning for some nostalgia. It's sturdy (in case a kid actually throws it) and sounds pretty decent, especially considering the price. It might not 'raise da roof' in terms of power, but for localised listening, it's great.
£29.99
Available from www.amazon.co.uk
Frozen 2 Karaoke Case
We're assuming your kids have already seen the film, and that your house is filled with the sounds of all the songs. So... why not let Aldi help you go even more insane with the Frozen 2 Karaoke Case? This portable speaker and amp will let the kids sing along to their favourite Frozen tunes, and features everything they need to stage their own performances.
The case comes with a microphone and carry strap, and features a rechargeable battery, which is damn handy considering you'll probably run out of batteries by 9am on Christmas morning. The great thing is that the case can also accommodate the carry strap and the included USB cable, so nothing will ever go missing, allowing the kids to cart it around to their hearts' content. The sound quality is... okay, we guess. It won't win any awards, but lets face it - neither will your screeching children.
Ha, we just put down your kids! Sick Christmas burn! Anyway, as ever this is a bargain from Aldi, so check it out.
£24.99
Visit www.aldi.co.uk
Sphero Mini Activity Kit
We previously reviewed the Sphero Mini - the tiny robot ball that can programmed with code or driven around for fun. The Sphero Mini Activity Kit includes the aforementioned Mini, this time with a transparent shell, and a host of accessories to help kids get the best out of their ball.
As well as a construction set, filled with ramps and obstacles to avoid (or hit - more fun), the kit features cards with challenges and tasks. Use the free app to code a journey for your Mini, or play one of the games with the joystick or tilt functions. We already loved the Sphero Mini, and champion Sphero in general, but this kit adds a lot of play value and makes for an excellent gift for STEM-loving kids.
£59.99
Available from www.amazon.co.uk
Haynes Star Wars Rebel Starfights Manual
With the growing excitement for The Rise of Skywalker, set to be released just be Christmas, Star Wars fans can get all technical with this handbook. We've featured Haynes in Gift Guides of Christmases past, but this year's is a whopper. Filled with detailed run-downs of all the Rebel space craft you know and love, this "Owners Workshop Manual" will help you repair your B-Wing while picking out your next updated X-Wing.
As with all Haynes fantasy handbooks, the print quality is exceptional, and all the research clearly been completed to another level. You'll discover all the intricacies of the ships, as well discovering their histories and when they first appeared in the Star Wars universe. It's a great gift for Star Wars fans, and something every Rebel should own.
£19.99
Available from www.amazon.co.uk
Seagate Game Drive for PS4
Here's a gift idea for your kids who are big gamers. If their PS4 hard drive is constantly running out of space from all the games they download, give them the gift of expansion. Seagate's Game Drive external hard drives are built and styled with consoles in mind, offering plug-and-play compatibility and an immediate capacity boost.
Seagate were kind enough to send us a 2TB Game Drive for the our PS4. As you might expect, the drive is styled to match with the design of the PlayStation, and once plugged in offers fast speeds and seamless integration. It might not seem like a very 'sexy' gift, but to be honest, speaking as gamers, anything that helps handle all those extra games they'll get for Christmas, will be warmly received.
2TB version £59.99