Welcome to the fifth instalment of our Christmas Gift Guide 2026! We're back with another five suggestions for the festive season, covering everything from clever everyday gadgets and children's technology to something delicious for the Christmas dinner table. Whether you're shopping for little ones, tech enthusiasts or someone who appreciates a good cheese fondue, there's plenty here to consider.
Tanita HD-386 Black Compact Digital Scales
Bathroom scales aren't necessarily the most exciting Christmas present, but the Tanita HD-386 is a little different. This remarkably compact digital scale is designed to provide accurate weight measurements without taking up much space, making it particularly useful for smaller bathrooms or anyone who travels regularly.
Weighing just 500g and measuring approximately 19 x 13.5cm, it's considerably smaller than a conventional bathroom scale. Despite its diminutive proportions, it can accommodate weights of up to 150kg and measures in 100g increments. There's also a large, easy-to-read display with a hold function, keeping the measurement visible for longer.
We particularly like the portability. It comes with a soft protective case, making it easy to pack into a suitcase or store away when not required. There's also a three-year warranty, which is reassuring.
At around £29, it's a practical little gadget from a well-established weighing specialist. It might not be the most glamorous present under the tree, but for someone who values convenience and accuracy, it's a useful alternative to a traditional set of bathroom scales.
Find out more at Tanita.
Emmi Fondue Melts
Christmas is all about good food and sharing something delicious with friends and family, so Emmi's Fondue Melts make an appealing addition to our festive gift guide. Drawing on more than a century of Swiss cheese-making heritage, Emmi offers an easy way to enjoy traditional Alpine-style fondue without having to prepare everything from scratch.
The 400g Original Fondue combines Swiss cheese with white wine, kirsch and seasoning, creating a rich, creamy mixture that's designed to be heated gently in a saucepan or fondue pot. Once melted, it's ready for dipping, with crusty bread, vegetables and cooked meats all making excellent companions.
We like the simplicity of the idea. There's very little preparation involved, leaving more time to enjoy the food and company. It's also a nice alternative to the usual Christmas party snacks, particularly if you're entertaining guests or looking for something a little different for a festive evening.
At around £5.75, it's an affordable treat that could easily become part of a Christmas food hamper. Just remember that the traditional recipe contains alcohol, so it's worth checking the ingredients if serving to children or anyone avoiding it.
Find out more at Emmi.
XploraOne First Phone for Kids
Buying a child's first mobile phone can be a tricky decision. While parents want to provide a convenient way for children to stay in touch, handing over a fully fledged smartphone also introduces social media, unrestricted internet access and plenty of potential distractions. Xplora's XploraOne takes a rather different approach.
Described as a startphone rather than a smartphone, it provides the essential communication features without opening the door to social media, unrestricted browsing or downloadable apps. Parents can manage approved contacts through the accompanying Guardian app, while GPS tracking, safety zones and SOS alerts provide additional reassurance.
There's a 3.2-inch touchscreen, a 2MP camera, calendar, alarms and reminders, giving children a taste of owning their own mobile device without all the usual complications. School Mode is another useful feature, allowing parents to restrict everyday phone use during lessons while retaining emergency contact functionality.
At £149, it's a considered purchase, particularly as a monthly subscription starting at £9.99 is also required for connectivity and parental controls. However, for parents who aren't quite ready to hand over a conventional smartphone, it offers an interesting middle ground.
Find out more at Xplora.
Yoto Mini 4th Generation
If you're looking for something to keep younger children entertained without putting another screen in front of them, the Yoto Mini 4th Generation is well worth considering. This compact portable audio player gives children access to stories, music, podcasts and educational content, all without needing a conventional tablet or smartphone.
Operation is wonderfully simple. Children insert a Yoto Card to play their chosen content, or use the controls to access their favourite playlists. Parents can manage everything through the accompanying app, while the extensive library of available cards means there's plenty to discover as children grow.
The fourth-generation model brings a number of improvements, including up to 16 hours of battery life, more than 1,000 hours of offline audio storage and an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. It's also been extensively drop-tested, making it better suited to the occasional bumps and knocks of everyday childhood.
We particularly like the independence it offers. Children can choose their own entertainment, whether that's a bedtime story, music during a long car journey or something educational during quiet time. At £89.99, it's not the cheapest audio player, and additional Yoto Cards can add to the cost, but it's a lovely alternative to screen-based entertainment.
Find out more at Yoto.
Life360 Tile Mate
We've all experienced that frustrating moment when we can't remember where we've put our keys, wallet or bag. The Life360 Tile Mate is designed to make those little everyday mysteries considerably easier to solve, using Bluetooth tracking to help locate misplaced belongings.
Simply attach the compact tracker to something you regularly misplace and connect it to the Life360 app on your smartphone. If the item goes missing within Bluetooth range, you can make the Tile play a sound to help track it down. If it's further away, the app can show its last recorded location and use the wider Tile network to help locate it.
The latest model offers a Bluetooth range of up to 350 feet, works with both Android and Apple devices and includes a built-in battery rated for up to three years. There's also a useful SOS alert feature, allowing users to send an alert to their Life360 Circle with a button press.
At £24.99 for a single tracker, it's an affordable little gadget that could save considerable frustration. It's particularly useful for anyone who regularly misplaces everyday essentials, and makes a practical stocking filler for someone who seemingly already has everything.
Find out more at Life360.
That's another five ideas for our Christmas shopping list, ranging from practical everyday accessories and clever children's technology to something delicious to share around the table. Hopefully, there's something here to suit a few different people on your list. Keep an eye out for more Christmas gift inspiration from The Test Pit as we continue our countdown to the festive season.