{"id":20002,"date":"2022-11-30T20:37:16","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T20:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/11\/30\/6-gadgets-you-shouldnt-buy-this-holiday-season-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-11-30T20:37:16","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T20:37:16","slug":"6-gadgets-you-shouldnt-buy-this-holiday-season-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/11\/30\/6-gadgets-you-shouldnt-buy-this-holiday-season-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Gadgets You Shouldn\u2019t Buy This Holiday Season \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"

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And the gifts you should buy instead. <\/p>\n

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MNStudio\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The holiday shopping season can be stressful when you\u2019re finding the perfect Christmas gift<\/a> for family members or friends to throw under the tree. And while it\u2019s tempting to buy the latest gadget like headphones, drones, game consoles, streaming dongles, tablets, or a pet camera, you should avoid some of those items.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t just get a gift card, either. Get something fun, but make sure it\u2019s worth buying. So, take look at our list below to ensure it\u2019s not on it before you wander into stores or add stuff to your cart.<\/p>\n

Pet Cameras<\/h2>\n
\"Cheap
Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I get it. Everyone loves their pets, myself included. For whatever reason, cheap pet cameras are all over Amazon<\/a> during the holidays. Don\u2019t buy one<\/a>. They\u2019re often overpriced, lacking in features, and don\u2019t offer anything more than a basic indoor or outdoor security camera.<\/p>\n

While there are fun pet cameras that come with treat dispensers, the price goes up even more without delivering any other noteworthy features. Some of them don\u2019t work all that great, could lead to pets fighting over snacks, and you don\u2019t want to over-treat your fuzzy family member.<\/p>\n

Instead, you could get a cheap wired indoor security camera like the Wyze Cam v3<\/a> or an Amazon Blink Mini<\/a>. These are affordable, work great, and are good for more than just checking on a sleeping pup. And, if you want to track them around the house, consider the Eufy indoor<\/a> rotating camera.<\/p>\n

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Budget-Friendly Camera<\/p>\n

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Wyze Cam v3<\/h3>\n

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Keeping an eye on your fur baby is easy and affordable with this indoor camera.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Apple AirPods 2<\/h2>\n
\"Apple's
Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apple\u2019s second-generation AirPods<\/a> are a tempting gift idea that everyone can appreciate, especially with some discounts we see during the holidays, but don\u2019t do it. For those unaware, these actually came out back in 2019, and far better options are available these days.<\/p>\n

I know the AirPods were a big deal when they first came out, but now you can get far more features for under $100 from other brands. A prime example is the Anker Soundcore Life P3 earbuds<\/a>. They\u2019re only $80, often on sale for around $55, come in several colors, pack tons of bass, and you\u2019re getting features like active noise-cancellation at the same time.<\/p>\n

And if you don\u2019t want stems sticking out of your ears, the Anker Soundcore Space A40<\/a> is a good option, and the Nothing Ear 1 buds<\/a> are pretty compact.<\/p>\n

Another great alternative is the newer AirPods 3 from late 2021. They\u2019re only $50 more, have a significantly better sound profile<\/a>, longer battery life, wireless charging, and a smaller and more stylish design, not to mention the latest Apple features like Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ.<\/p>\n

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Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)<\/h3>\n

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Apple’s third-gen AirPods 3 are an excellent gift. They’re relatively new, pack plenty of features, and sound great all for $179. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Don\u2019t Buy Cheap Drones<\/h2>\n
\"DJI
Justin Duino \/ Review Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every year, we see people buying cheap drones at Walmart or on Amazon, then complaining about everything from video quality to app issues and pilot controls. Most of those people end up purchasing a DJI drone later.<\/p>\n

I know it\u2019s tempting to buy one of those cheap $149 drones you\u2019ll find online, but this is another one of those popular holiday items you\u2019ll want to avoid. Cheap drones aren\u2019t worth the money<\/a>,\u00a0and whoever\u00a0gets one won\u2019t love it.<\/p>\n

While drones are still pretty expensive, the days of spending over $1,200 for a good experience are long gone. DJI, for example, released the Mavic Mini a few years back for $399, and it was an instant success. We loved it in our review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, you can always find the Mavic Mini 2 on sale. Or, the\u00a0latest Mavic Mini 3 Pro<\/a> has a slew of excellent features, like a rotating camera for portrait-mode social media video capture. It\u2019s a bit more expensive, retailing for nearly $700, but it\u2019s one of the best small drones on the market. Get yourself one today, and if it\u2019s a gift, don\u2019t go with a cheap no-namer.<\/p>\n

The Amazon Halo Rise Sleep Tracker Thingy<\/h2>\n
\"Halo
Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In September, Amazon announced<\/a> the Halo Rise<\/a> device to track your sleep without any cameras, and it\u2019s contact-free, meaning you don\u2019t have to wear it. And while it sounds somewhat helpful, thanks to using sensors to capture your motion and breathing at night, reviews online aren\u2019t all that positive<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unless someone has a specific need, you probably shouldn\u2019t buy any weird standalone sleep-tracking devices. They rarely work as advertised and aren\u2019t all that helpful, either. Plus, you\u2019re paying a lot for something that only serves one purpose.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re better off buying a smartwatch or fitness tracker. Get the watch or wearable you were already going to get, and it\u2019ll track sleep too. It\u2019ll have multiple functions, and you can use it out of the bedroom. There are several fabulous wearables available<\/a>, so choose one below.<\/p>\n

Meta Quest Pro VR Headset<\/h2>\n
\"A
Dave McQuilling\/ReviewGeek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019m not sure where to even begin here. For one, I\u2019m certainly not buying anyone a $1,500 gift for Christmas, and if so, the Meta Quest Pro VR headset isn\u2019t at the top of my list. It shouldn\u2019t be on yours either.<\/p>\n

Our own Dave McQuilling reviewed the Quest Pro<\/a> and found it lacking features, unsuitable for gamers, unpolished, and expensive. I\u2019m sure some teenagers really want one, but you\u2019re better off finding a different gadget to get them for Christmas. You know, like a PS5 or the Meta Quest 2.<\/p>\n

The Meta Quest 2 is the VR headset you want to buy this holiday season. Even though it\u2019s not brand new, has a few shortcomings, and recently received a price increase<\/a>, it\u2019s still in acceptable Christmas gift price territory.<\/p>\n

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Meta Quest 2 <\/h3>\n

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The most affordable self-contained VR headset is about to become more expensive. Grab one now while you can. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Cheap Android Tablets<\/h2>\n
\"Cheap
Lenovo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last but not least, we have to mention those cheap Android tablets that surface every holiday season. And unfortunately, we might be too late, as some of you probably bought one during Black Friday or Cyber Monday.<\/p>\n

Big box retailers still have terrible and outdated Android tablets on shelves from brands like RCA, Contixo, or even Walmarts \u201conn.\u201d brand. You should absolutely avoid buying these, and some would even argue you shouldn\u2019t buy any<\/em> Android tablet.<\/p>\n

If you still want to go Android instead of getting an iPad, you\u2019ll want to stick to Samsung or Kindle Fire. Even some of Lenovo\u2019s cheap tablets aren\u2019t all that great.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Apple\u2019s iPad Mini for $500 isn\u2019t a good deal, nor is the new 10th-generation iPad<\/a> (2022) that\u2019s $450. If you\u2019re looking for an affordable tablet, skip the latest 10th-Gen and get the older 9th-Gen model that\u2019s still only $329<\/a>. That\u2019s the best tablet to spend your money on, making it an excellent gift.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n