Samsung and LG both demoed their upcoming OLED HDTV sets at CES 2012 earlier this year, and it’s a safe bet that we’ll see several OLED sets hitting the market before the year is up. What remains to be seen is how the entry of OLED TVs into the market will affect things.

What is OLED?

OLED screens combine the picture quality benefits of plasma with the space and power saving technology of LED. To better understand how an OLED screen works, let’s take a look at how traditional displays technology works.

TVs today use some sort of a backlight in order to illuminate an image on the screen. LCD screens have a CCFL (cold-cathode fluorescent lamp) in the edge of the display; edge-lit LED displays work similarly but use LED lights instead of the CCFLs. Backlit LED displays use a grid of LED lights directly behind the display, allowing it to adjust the brightness in specific sections. In a plasma display, ever pixel is made up of several champers of phosphorus gas that illuminates when charged; in other words, each pixel gives off its own light, with no need for a backlight, which is what allows for those deep blacks.

OLED displays work in the same sense as a plasma screen, in that each pixel is capable of emitting its own light. Alternatively, OLEDs are much more power-efficient and smaller than the plasma gas chambers needed for a plasma display. The end result is a super slim display with stunning color quality and perfect black levels that’s even energy efficient.

How Will OLEDs Affect Plasmas

Because the focus of new OLED displays will be picture quality, the high-end plasmas that videophiles flock to will be most affected. The most expensive plasma screens might see some price drops in order to compete with the superior OLED displays, but the entry and mid-range plasmas, like our current top-rated Panasonic TX-P VT30, should be fairly unaffected, at least for a year or two.

What about LED TVs?

Large LED TVs will also see some heavy competition from OLEDs since it’s expected that the first OLED sets to hit the market will be in the 55- to 70-inch range. Price will be the big deciding factor here. OLEDs will best traditional LED TVs in basically all categories, but they will be considerably more expensive. Samsung’s ES8000 series, Sony’s Bravia XBR series, and other “premium” models might see some considerable price drops when OLED TVs hit the market. Smaller, less feature-packed sets, like Sony’s KDL EX720 line, will be less affected.

And the LCD TVs?

LCD screens will remain the go-to flat panel TVs for anyone on a budget. It won’t be until a few years from now when OLED sets start challenging the prices of similarly sized LED TVs that we see the LCD sets start to fade from the market.

Conclusions about OLED TVs?

OLED TVs are a great advancement to HDTV technology, and they really will outperform any display currently on the market. If you’re in the market for a new TV today, is it work waiting for an OLED model to hit the market? Definitely! But only if you’re planning on spending upwards of $5,000 on something truly top-end.

While buying an LED, you must consider a few important factors. Make sure to check the kind of technology employed in the LED. As was mentioned in the last post, there are different kinds of backlighting techniques- edge lighting, direct lighting and local dimming. Amongst the three, the latter is the most effective as the color contrast can be managed and thus the picture quality is considerably better than the other two. Besides this, also consider the thickness of the LED and quite obviously, the cost.

Combining all these factors, we have put together a list of the best LED TVs in the market.

1. The Sony Bravia XBR-HX929- This Sony Bravia LED TV is an impeccable blend of technology and design. It employs the local dimming LED backlighting and produces deeper black levels than most other LED’s in the market. The detailing is excessively sharp and the color contrast is excellent. The 3D viewing is not as impressive because the image is not constant at different angles. The price is also a little steep, but if you are willing to spend money, this Sony Bravia won’t disappoint you.

2. Samsung UND8000 Series- Every good LED has to excel in both of these departments- performance and appearance. An LED is not just about amazing picture quality, it is also about flawless design. The Samsung UND8000 series has made to this list primarily because of its state-of-art looks and features. Having said that, there is no denying the fact that it delivers on the quality front as well, but the design sets it apart from all others. The frame around the screen is kept to a basic minimum giving the LED a clean and classy look. Add to this the excellent black levels and great picture quality and you have an LED to die for.

3. LG Infinia LW5600 Series- The LG LW5600 Series has excellent picture quality and color contrast for an LED which relies on edge lighting technique. This LED is relatively cheaper than the others which feature on this list. While it might not be as impressive as the other two in terms of performance, it offers complete value for money and that is its USP.

4. Sharp LC-LE640U series- This LED series also features in the more affordable range of LEDs. It offers many options for picture control and the picture quality is decently impressive. The simplicity of the design becomes its USP and the matte screen is ideal for bright rooms. This has all the makings of a great LED, one that will never disappoint the common man out there.

Digital Cameras

With trips for spring break and summer just around the corner, it’s not surprising that digital cameras are on the top of the list. These are the three that made the cut.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i – Canon’s Rebel series has always managed to hold onto the top spots in our SLR ranks. The T3i is an excellent entry-level Digital SLR with great manual and automatic features, large 18MP CMOS image sensor, and 1080p video capability. Its burst shooting modes are bit slower than the high-end cameras, and the automatic focus lacks a few feautes; however, its price makes it an excellent value for the budding photographer.

Sony DSC-HX9V – The HX9V isn’t the newest compact digital camera on the market, but it’s still a solid 16MP shooter with a TON of features. If you’re looking for an affordable camera that has a setting for just about any lighting situation you might come across, the HX9V is for you.

Nikon CoolPix P300 – The CoolPix P300 is very similar to the HX9V, featuring many different shooting mode presets. It does cut back a bit on the feature list compared to the HX9V, which makes it a bit easier to use, but you also pay a bit of a premium for the Nikon name.

HDTVs

There is a lot of new HDTV technology coming out this year, but the models topping out list aren’t the latest, most advanced. Instead, they’re excellent sets whose prices have recently fallen.

Samsung UE/UN D5000 Series – Samsung’s D5000 series has a very attractive price tag for the features and image quality that it offers. As far as LED TVs are concerned, it’s one of the best values on the market right now.

Philips PFL7606K Series – The PFL7606K is another affordably priced HDTV. Its key feature is 3D capabilities. As far as 3D features go, the PFL7606K does an excellent job. 2D image quality takes a small hit, but is still quite good for a set of this caliber.

Panasonic TXP GT30 Series – For anyone in the market for a large, affordable plasma screen TV, the TXP GT30 is certainly one of the top choices. Its 3D features won’t wow you, but its 2D picture quality is everything you’d expect from a top-notch plasma display.

Sony KDL-EX720 Series – The KDL-EX720 is the least expensive 3D TV Sony has to offer. For an LED TV, its picture quality is only about average, but it has a long list of useful features such as a matte screen, excellent internet services, and energy saving utilities.

Android Phones

Android devices are extremely abundant and range from budget friendly to unique and high-end. Both ends of the spectrum are popular amongst consumers

Samsung Galaxy Note – The Galaxy Note is currently the highest ranked Android phone on alaTest (coming in just behind the iPhone 4S). Its very large screen and powerful processor make it a popular choice for those looking for a more tablet-like experience.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray – Going in the other direction, the Xperia Ray has a smaller, 3.3-inch display for a more pocket-friendly experience. It still features a quality screen and capable processor, making it a great choice for an entry-level device.

Samsung Galaxy GIO – Though it’s an older device, the Galaxy GIO makes a solid choice for those looking to get the most out of their money. It cuts a few corners, such as featuring a QVGA display, 3MP camera, and 800MHz processor, but is still a good value.

A visit to an electronic shop can be a particularly harrowing experience. You are surrounded by hundreds of electronic gadgets of all shapes, sizes, brands and prices and in the middle of all this, you are expected to make an informed choice. For example, you go to the nearest electronic store to buy a new television set for your home. Once you get there, you are introduced to the different kinds of TVs- plasma, LCD, LED etc. On top of that, a number of technical terms like HDD, CCFL will be thrown at you randomly until you find yourself completely lost. Well, it is not as bad as it sounds. We will take you through the very basics of the world of television, so that the next time you want to buy a television set, you are equipped with all the necessary details.

Let’s begin with the biggies- Plasma, LCD and LED. What exactly is the difference between them? When Hi-Definition TV or HDTV as it is commonly known was introduced, plasmas had just arrived on the market. These were backed by flat panel technology which produced top notch picture quality. It created quite a rage in the electronic market, after which it gave way to the world of LCDs. As of now, LCDs and LEDs are the two major players in this field.

True to its name, LCD or Liquid Crystal Display works through a liquid which is enclosed between two plates. This liquid becomes dynamic when it receives current in some form, and hence the picture is formed. While black and white LCDs have been around for quite some time, color LCDs is a relatively recent phenomenon. Now, the liquid used in this technology does not illuminate by itself and thus, an external source of light is needed. This is where LEDs come into the picture, quite literally.

If one was to go by strictly technical standards, the term LED would come across as a misnomer. LEDs are actually just specialized versions of LCDs. The basic technology has remained the same, only the source of lighting has changed from the traditional CCFLs (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lighting) to LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes.

LEDs offer many advantages due to the different types of back lighting available- edge lighting, direct lighting and local dimming. In the former case, LEDs are positioned along the edge of the panel and this facilitates the production of extremely thin screens as the LEDs are not placed behind the screen, which is precisely the case in direct lighting. Direct Lighting has its own advantages, the biggest of them being that the color contrast can be enhanced by turning some LEDs off. Local dimming, which is a very recent phenomenon, attempts to combine these two types. Under this technology, there are banks of LEDs which are positioned behind the panel, and thus, the contrasts can be regulated. At the same time, due to the presence of specialised banks of LEDs, it is possible to have a thin screen depth.

Due to such developments in technology, LEDs have added a new dimension to the world of television. The quality of color accuracy, contrast levels and viewing angles have improved by leaps and bounds, thus re-defining the whole experience of watching television.

Contrast Ratio

Manufacturers have invented the term “Dynamic Contrast Ratio.” Realistic contrast ratios are around 1,500:1, but dynamic contrasts state numbers like 1,000,000:1. The top rated PC monitor on alaTest right now, the Asus VG278H lists a 50,000,000:1 “Smart” Contrast Ratio. Samsung’s D8000 Series, the top rated HDTV lists 25,000,000:1

Ultimately, these numbers are completely meaningless. A display’s contrast ratio is a ratio between the brightest and darkest image the display can produce. Dynamic contrast cheats by turning off the display’s backlight when the screen’s image is entirely black, using that as the darkest value. In a real viewing scenario, the entire screen would never be black like that, so you would never see dynamic contrast in action.

Manufacturers have even started to omit true contrast ration specs entirely. Some don’t even use the word “Dynamic” when listing their misleading numbers.

Full backlit LED TVs that can turn off a portion of the screen’s backlight, making dynamic contrast slightly more applicable, but even that scenario rarely occurs in real life viewing. OLED displays are the only ones that can truly take advantage of this concept, but they don’t need dynamic contrast to do it. Unfortunately, OLED TVs are quite rare and expensive right now.

Refresh Rate and Response Times

Manufacturers have started advertising their TVs with “Effective Refresh Rates.” That’s to say, they’ve developed special algorithms that strobe the backlight in order to make a refresh rate of 120-240Hz (such as the Sony Bravia KDL-XBR9) look more like 960Hz – or so they claim.

A refresh rate comes from a display’s ability to refresh the image on the screen so many times per second, while the response time is how long it takes a pixel to turn from black to white and back to black again.

The above image shows a 1/160^th of a second snapshot of a display advertized as having a 120Hz refresh rate and 8ms response time. You can make out 8 distinct refresh cycles trailing behind the squares. This means that the real response time is actually about 65ms. The discrepancy is because manufacturers do not take into account gray-to-gray response times.

Color Gamut

Color Gamut has become a popular advertising term, especially for computer monitors. Manufacturers are always trying to outdo each other with higher/wider color gamut; however, a higher color gamut won’t result in more accurate color. In fact, it will only over saturate the image.

Almost all image content is created from a standard color gamut, as shown within the white triangle above (computer displays use sRGB and HDTVs use Rec.709). You can think of a standard color gamut as a set of defined colors. By widening the color gamut of a display, you’re only adding colors that are never used (ie: colors outside the triangle). At the same time, widening the gamut also reduces color precision, unless you also increase bit depth.

*Note regarding Adobe RGB color gamut: Some displays advertise Adobe RGB color gamut. This is a wider range gamut than other standards, but it is only used in specialized fields, such as professional photography. Adobe RGB is a positive feature, but only for those specific purposes.

How to Choose a Display among this Dishonesty?

No display manufacturer is innocent of playing the numbers game, but that doesn’t mean that some displays aren’t better than others. The trick is finding out their real specs, and to do this, it’s best to read expert reviews where the specs are measured by the reviewers.

A thunderous surround sound experience is absolutely essential if you want to get the most out of your home theater system. It doesn’t matter how big your TV is, or how you pop your popcorn, without the right sound, you can never be fully immersed into your movies/games.  AV Receivers (or AVRs as they’re often called) are integral to premium surround sound, and we’ve got a crash course to help you purchase the right AVR.

Supported Formats

First and foremost, you’re going to want to rule out any AVRs that don’t support today’s most popular audio formats. Just about any modern AVR will support audio formats like DTS and Dolby Digital, but that’s not enough. Blu-ray movies now feature lossless audio tracks which require DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby Digital TruHD. You’ll absolutely want to make sure any AVR you’re considering supports both of those. LPCM support can also be especially useful if you play your content from a PC of some sort.

Apart from audio formats, you’ll also want to make sure your AVR supports the right video formats. You’ll more than likely want to ensure it plays nice with 1080p sources. Even more useful, some AVRs even support upscaling SD and 720p sources to 1080p before sending it to your TV. Most AVRs today support 1080p (though a handful only support 1080i, so be careful). Lastly, if you have a 3D TV and you enjoy 3D videos, make sure you AVR supports 3D video signals.

Inputs and Outputs

Most AVRs have a handful of video inputs of various types (generally a few HDMI ports, some composite connectors, and a few component connections) and a single HDMI output. That single HDMI output connects to your TV. The rest of your home theater equipment connects to the AVR, so make sure it has enough inputs for all of your gear. 

Audio inputs are important too. The HDMI connections are able to carry 7.1 channel audio and HD video in the single cable, but other input types need other options. Optical inputs are ideal if HDMI isn’t an option (this is often used by music devices, some gaming systems, and most component sources). Composite sources will typically need the usual RCA connections, though some allow optical or coaxial audio. The key is to make sure any AVR you consider has room enough to connect all of your devices at once.

Channels and Features

Just about every modern AVR on the market today will meet all of the requirements above and can range anywhere from $200 to several thousand. The main difference in price comes from the number of audio channels they support and the extra features they include.

Most media features 5.1 channel sound (5 speakers and a subwoofer), but a 7.1 channel AVR is a wise choice for future upgrades. A 7.1ch AVR works fine with a 5.1ch setup. They’re about the same price anyway. Other options are 7.2 channels (7 speakers and 2 subwoofers), 9.1, and 9.2. These are generally much more expensive.

Other features that have an effect on price are things like network connectivity for DLNA support, iPod and USB ports, integrated WiFi for multiroom audio, and FM or Satellite radio inputs. Of course component quality has a large impact on price as well, but our thousands of expert reviews can help you sort that out. Also, the more features an AVR has, the more complicated it can be, so they use GUI Setup Menus to help; however, some GUIs can be much worse than others. Our User Reviews can help you there.

Sony Bravia XBR HX929

If price is no object and you want the best, look no further than the Bravia XBR series. The XBR-HX929 features a 240Hz refresh rate (though comparable to 960Hz thanks to Sony’s Motionflow XR 960), which is crucial for high-action footage, such as when watching sports. It also includes Sony’s latest in X-Reality PRO Engine as well as Motionflow, both allowing for much smoother motion on screen. When you top that off with advanced LED backlight control, 3D-compatibility, and of course WiFi and Web Apps, the XBR-HX929 not only gives you a killer sports viewing experience, but also makes for a great TV once the game is over.

Samsung UN LED 6000 Series

Currently among the top rated HDTVs on alaTest, Samsung’s LED UN 6000 series TVs make an excellent choice (and are considerably more affordable than the XBR line Sony offers). The 6000 series includes Samsung’s very own Clear Motion Engine, similar to Motionflow, which gives you a viewing experience similar to that of a 480Hz screen. It also includes just about every feature the HX929 has, minus the advanced LED backlight and a small handful of others.

Vizio XVT-3SV Series

When it comes to getting the most for your money, Vizio is almost always the brand of choice. The XVT-3SV offers many of the same features as Sony’s XBR line, such as localized LED backlight control, built-in WiFi, and Web Apps, yet with all of these advanced features, it’s actually even more affordable than Samsung’s UN 6000 series. Unlike the other two, though, the XVT-3SV does not feature any sort of active motion engine; however, its 240Hz refresh still does a good job keeping up with the action.

Samsung UN LED 8000 Series

Much like the 6000 series, the LED UN 8000 series is very highly rated. In fact, it currently holds the top spot on our HDTV charts. The 8000 series is on par with Sony’s XBR offerings in terms of price and features. It features a more advanced version of the Clear Motion Engine, resulting in a refresh rate comparable to 960Hz, just like the XBR series. It also has localized LED backlight control, though due to its Edge-lit design, it is not quite as effective as Sony’s approach. Where the 8000 series lacks in picture quality, it makes up in unique features, such as wireless syncing with many Samsung devices (ie: smartphones, cameras, and camcorders).

Smartphones

There were more smartphones than you could shake a stick at this year, and a few really stood out, like Fujitsu’s quad-core Tegra 3 prototype featuring a 4.6-inch 720p display and 4G LTE connectivity, and Nokia’s newly announced Lumia 900 which is a Windows Phone that might shake up the competition.

What really stood out to us, though, was Lenovo’s K800. While Lenovo is best known for their high-end ThinkPad laptops, they’re really entering the smartphone market with a bang. The K800 is the very first Intel based Android phone, utilizing Intel’s brand new Medfield Z2460 mobile processor, a 1.6GHz processing behemoth, and possibly the fastest smartphone processor to date.

Tablets

Tegra 3 tablets were rampant at CES, from Acer’s latest IconiaTab and Pantec’s waterproof Element to the Asus 7-inch MeMO and Samsung Galaxy Note (which is technically a 5.3-inch smartphone). Out of all of the choices, the one we absolutely couldn’t overlook was the Transformer Prime TF700T.

The TF700T is just like the original Transformer Prime in shape, size, and even most of its components, making it compatible with the same keyboard dock; however, it has a few key improvements over the original Prime. Most noticeably, it has a full 1920×1080 HD display which is absolutely stunning. It wasn’t the only 1080p quad-core tablet at CES, but the Transformer’s great track record speaks for itself.

Laptops

Laptops are always popular at CES, and this year was no exception. AMD in particular had a very impressive booth showcasing its upcoming Radeon HD 7000M series graphics capabilities, which for the budget-aware mobile gamer, will almost definitely be the way to go once they hit the market.

But when it comes to feats of both performance and battery life, Samsung’s latest Gamer Series 7 notebook takes the cake. It will come with Nvidia’s yet to be released GTX 675M graphics core, which is expected to shatter current mobile gaming performance records. On top of that, it also features a dial that allows you to switch between the high-performance Nvidia GPU when you need it and the battery-saving integrated Intel HD graphics core when you don’t.

HDTVs

We saw no clear winner when it came to HDTVs this year. Instead, we saw three amazing models, all featuring some amazing technology that we can’t wait to see reach the consumer market. OLED TVs are definitely going to catch some attention over the next year. Both Samsung and LG demoed 55-inch OLED displays that would take your breath away. LG’s demo unit was only 4mm thick, despite looking better than any display we’ve seen before.

Sony was also turning some heads with its own 55-inch prototype. While Sony didn’t choose to go with OLEDs in which each pixel is its own light emitter, it did take a similar approach which it’s calling “Crystal LED.” Essentially, each pixel has its own individual LED backlight behind it. This creates the same effect as OLEDs, but with a greater potential range for color.

Cameras

There were a lot of interesting and impressive cameras at CES this year. In terms of specs, the Nikon D4 certainly holds its own, but Polaroid definitely wins points for innovation, showing the world’s first “Smart Camera,” the SC1630.

The SC1630 takes the guts of your typical point-and-shoot camera (3x optical zoom lens, 16MP sensor, etc) and pairs them with the smartphone based Android operating system. The result is a wonderful compact digital camera with Wifi, Bluethooth, and even the Android Marketplace at its disposal.

Smartphones and Tablets

Over the past couple of years, smartphones have been seeing explosive progress in everything from performance to functionality. At the start of every year, someone makes the claim that it will be the “Year of the Smartphone.” Well, it looks like we’ll be going on the third “Year of the Smartphone” in a row this year, and I, for one, am not disappointed.

Intel Enters the Race

Intel has been talking about developing smartphone processors for a while, but now it’s official. In the second quarter of this year, Lenovo will be launching the very first Intel powered Android phone, the K800. While not quite as power efficient as the traditional ARM processors, Intel’s Medfield chip, now known as the Atom Z2460, will offer a new level of performance in smartphones, tablets, and ultrabooks. It will definitely be interesting to see how it compares to Nvidia’s ARM-based Tegra 3.

Nvidia and Tegra 3

Tegra 3, the first quad-core processor to be found stuffed inside a tablet (the Transformer Prime) has been on the market since December, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t make an appearance at CES. Not only were there several Tegra 3 tablets from manufacturers like Toshiba, Asus, and Acer, but Fujitsu stole the show by displaying the first Tegra 3 smartphone. And in case you were curious about Tegra 3’s performance, a Tegra 3 tablet was shown playing Skyrim on an HDTV. So yes, current generation console performance has officially been achieved in the mobile sector.

Tons of New Smartphones

Just about everyone had a new smartphone to announce at CES this year. Samsung announced its Galaxy Note (as well as the Galaxy S II HD for T-Mobile); Sony came out with the Xperia S; Motorola had the Droid 4 and new RAZR MAXX (claiming 21 hours of talk time); and Nokia showed us the Lumia 710, as Windows Phone that might actually compete with the iPhone and Android for once. And that’s just to name a few of the big players’ announcements.

HDTVs and Entertainment

Apart from all of the fancy gadgetry, CES has always been a staging ground for home entertainment breakthroughs. HDTVs specifically, as well as other home appliances, have always been popular topics.

HDTVs

For the last year or two, HDTVs at CES were all about 3D. That phase is finally starting to die down (I personally say “Good riddance”), and the TV sector is transitioning onto the next big thing: OLED. LG wowed the audience with a magnificent 55-inch OLED TV that had some of the most vivid colors, deepest blacks, and sharpest image ever. Plus it was only 4mm thick!

There were of course plenty of other products on display, including Dish’s new wireless satellite receiver boxes, some fun remote controlled surveillance equipment, and a ton of talk about a new wave of GoogleTV devices.

Video Games

Even though video game-related stuff is more of an E3 thing, there was plenty to go around at CES. For starters, the Wii U got some demo time, strutting its upgraded graphics and tablet-like controller. The PlayStation Vita also got some valuable face time, with Sony announcing a planned launch date of February 22^nd.

CES 2012 continues through Friday, so stick around and we’ll keep you informed of all the cool gadgets and technology that are headed our way this year.

Laptops and Desktop PCs

If you’re getting a new computer for someone (or if someone you know has a big surprise waiting for him this Christmas), there are plenty of useful – and sometimes necessary – peripherals you might want to get them as well. Desktop PCs, in particular, are pretty useless without a monitor and a pair of speakers. A mouse and keyboard are more likely to come bundled, but they could be especially useful for anyone getting a new laptop.

Slightly less necessary, but still practical, gifts are options, too. A USB flash drive or external hard drive can be useful for transferring files from an old computer to the new one. And software is always handy, too – from Microsoft Office to the latest PC games. A few other things to remember are power cords, surge protectors, and Ethernet cables.

HDTVs and Blu-Ray Players

Each year, more and more households make the switch to HD. A quality HDMI cable is an absolute necessity that many HDTVs don’t include, and most Blu-Ray and other HD devices prefer to bundle poor quality cables. A mounting bracket makes a great gift, too; although, make sure it’s compatible with the TV (and that the recipient plans on mounting it in the first place). And remember, and HDTV isn’t much good without any HD content. Blu-Ray movies will go great with that Blu-Ray player.

Gaming Consoles

Both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 make use of HDMI connections, but neither typically come bundled with an HDMI cable. The Wii technically isn’t HD compatible out of the box, but there are HD adapters available. Extra controllers are always important to consider (and of course their batteries and chargers) no matter which console you’re getting. There are plenty of other console accessories, too, like headsets, memory cards, and specialized controllers. Don’t forget to include a few games.

Smartphones and Tablets

Smartphones and tablets usually come with everything you need right out of the box, but there’s a lot that is easy to overlook. Most states now have laws against driving while using your phone without a hands-free device. A Bluetooth headset makes an excellent companion gift to a smartphone. Headphones do, too, since the bundled ear buds generally aren’t of the best quality. Vehicle mounting kits can also be useful, especially with all of the GPS features smartphones have these days.

For use as multimedia, tablets and smartphones often need a special HDMI cord in order to connect to an HDTV. Other adapters and battery chargers can be practical gifts, too. The same goes for micro SD cards, for the mobile devices that support them.