Best Apple Accessories to Get For Christmas
Best Apple Accessories to Get For Christmas
CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AGAIN, AND WITH THAT COMES SECRET SANTAS AND GIFT EXCHANGES! WITH THE HOLIDAY RUSH, IT MIGHT JUST BE MORE PRUDENT FOR MANY OF US TO SHOP ONLINE RATHER THAN QUEUE WITH THE CROWDS AT ORCHARD ROAD. THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR MOST, TECH ACCESSORIES BYPASSES THE AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS OF HAVING TO EXCHANGE GIFTS DUE TO WRONG SIZING OR DESIGN, WHILE STILL FUNCTIONING AS A BRILLIANT UTILITY TOOL FOR YEARS TO COME.
Nothing is worse than a gift not used, and these Apple accessories are sure to come in handy as the years go on.
1. MagSafe Battery Pack
Know anyone with an iPhone 12 or later that’s always running out of battery? Well, this gift is sure to solve that issue for them. Providing extra juice for that special someone’s iPhone so you can always stay in touch, the MagSafe Battery pack provides up to 70% additional charge with the iPhone 12 or 13 Mini. Not only does this allow you to do away with those bulky power banks and unnecessary wires, but the MagSafe Battery Pack also doubles up as a charger for other Apple wearables (such as the Apple Watch and AirPods) that support MagSafe. For the die-hard Apple fan, consider giving them the best bang for your buck with the MagSafe Duo Charger – a sleek and gorgeous way to keep their Apple products in view and topped up to full.
The MagSafe Battery Pack and MagSafe Duo Charger are both available on Apple’s website at 139 SGD and 199 SGD respectively.
2. Apple Pencil
For the artist in the group, the Apple Pencil is a must-have. However, there are some things to note before you decide to purchase this as a gift. The Apple Pencil comes in two generations – the second generation is only compatible with the iPad Mini (6th Generation), iPad Air (4th Generation), iPad Pro 12.9 inch (3rd generation or later), and the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later). Meanwhile, the first generation of the Apple Pencil is compatible with any iPad from the 6th generation onwards, the iPad Mini (5th Generation), the iPad Air (3rd Generation), the iPad 12.9 inch (1st or 2nd Generation) and both the iPad Pro 10.5 inch and iPad Pro 9.7 inch. If you’re unsure about which iPad the recipient has, you can always check by looking on the back of his/her device and cross-referencing it here.
Given its high response rate and minimal latency, many artists favour the Apple Pencil coupled with the processing power of the iPads to achieve maximum results while sketching or drawing digitally. This extends to note-taking as well and is a great fit for anyone who wants to consistently work free-hand on their device. Attached seamlessly along the side via magnets, the Apple Pencil is the definitive Apple accessory that changes the game.
You can find the first-generation and second-generation Apple Pencil on Apple’s website at 138 SGD and 189 SGD respectively.
3. AirTags
For the absent-minded one in the group, Apple’s AirTags make for a thoughtful and personalised gift. Connecting to iOS and macOS devices via Bluetooth, the AirTag provides real-time updates on its location by consistently sending out signals to iCloud. As an accessory, AirTags are lightweight and durable – they can also be personalised and engraved, which lends an intimate touch to the gift.
Prices start from 45 SGD for a single AirTag and move up to 149 SGD for a pack of four, all available on Apple’s online website.
4. Apple Watch Sports Band
Finally, the gift for gym rats and fitspo in the group – the Apple Watch Sports Band. Coming in a rainbow myriad of colours, the Apple Watch Sports Band is both functional and stylish. The easy swap system makes customisation a cinch, allowing the wearer to switch up the look of the Apple Watch in mere seconds. Composed of custom high-performance fluoroelastomer, the Apple Watch Sports Band is also an extremely durable accessory while being soft and comfortable.
Available on Apple’s online website for 69 SGD, be sure to double-check the case size of the wearer’s Apple Watch before purchasing!
Posted : January 13, 2022
A large part of what makes the iPad Mini so popular is its tiny frame combined with insane processing power. Apple knew their target demographic well when tweaking the specs for this recent release, and it really shows. Catered towards people working on the go, and creatives who spend a lot of time drawing and sketching for work, this 6th generation iPad Mini checks all the boxes for a powerful and portable tablet suited for work and play.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
It wouldn’t be an Apple upgrade if they didn’t improve the camera capabilities on the device. If anything, that’s the least we expect from the tech giant’s annual keynote events. This time, the iPad Mini has received blessings in both the front and back cameras on the device. Boasting a 12MP camera on both the front and back of the 6th-Gen iPad Mini, this is a massive boon compared to the relatively sub-par 7 and 8-megapixel cameras on the respective front and back of the 5th-Gen iPad Mini. The newer Mini also has the ability to record in 4k and capture higher-quality images, courtesy of the new Smart HDR 3 function in the A15 Bionic chip.
Knowing that video calls are also more popular now than even in the time of COVID-19, Apple’s implementation of CentreStage for a more natural video call experience also feels like a natural feature to have as well.
A ton of well-deserved updates to the iPad Mini makes it feel right at home alongside Apple’s latest generation of tablets. If you’re still wondering if you should still get the new iPad, the make or break factor here really is the size and portability of the iPad Mini 6.
Historically, the Mini was always viewed as the cheaper and lower-spec cousin of the flagship iPad. Not this time – the iPad Mini 6 proves a worthy contender for the individual who’s constantly on the move, looking for an all in one device that fits comfortably in the palm of their hand.