There has been more than a little bit of tech released in 2014.
In fact it almost feels like we've been writing about it all year. Weird, huh?
Over the last six weeks we've been cataloguing our best picks and deals over at our Tech The Halls section. But now Christmas is coming closer and closer, we're thinking you're probably in panic mode.
That's why we've compiled most of our tech gift guides into this one master list, below, so you can search through it and maybe happen on a great gift idea right at the last minute.
We also have Engadget's selections, in the video above.
Happy Christmas. And don't worry, we're SURE nothing will be released in 2015.
The Ultimate Tech Of 2014
Sony SmartWatch 3(01 of83)
As the name suggests, this is a fully-fledged smartwatch and runs Google's watch-specific Android Wear software. Connecting to your phone via Bluetooth, the watch links up with Sony's LifeLog app which keeps track of your fitness stats as well as music you’ve listened to and videos you’ve watched. The watchface is a removable unit that easily pops in and out of the silicon wrist strap and it's all completely waterproof so it'll survive your morning swim without any dramas. You'll also get 3 days of use on a single charge, better than any other Android Wear device currently on sale, so you can spend less time charging your battery and more time working off the Christmas cake in the gym. (£190)
Polar M400(02 of83)
Bridging the gap between fitness bands and GPS sports watches, the M400 is primarily built as a running watch, though it can also be used to track other forms of exercise. Weighing less than 57g, the M400 is much less bulky than many other sports watches. It packs an accelerometer which means that it can track your activity as well as your sleep and because it's intended for running it will also give info on distance, pacing and the amount of calories you burn. The news for running newbies is that it includes a feature that will guide you back home via the most direct route using GPS if you get lost or need to call it quits halfway through your run. (£169)
Ice Cream Ball(03 of83)
Fill it with ice, cream, salt and sugar, shake it and eat. It's low tech - but at least you're burning calories before you take them all back on board again in the form of milky ice treats. £29.99
Sony NWZ-WS610 Walkman(04 of83)
This nifty all-in-one Walkman from Sony takes the form of a pair of in-ear headphones and is 100% waterproof up to 2m so not only will it withstand a sweaty workout and rainy run, it will also stand up to a dip in the pool. The 4GB capacity means that you can pack in around 1,000 songs. Playback time is limited to just 60 minutes, but then it only takes three minutes to charge up. There are three colours to choose from You can also get a 16GB version that takes around 4,000 songs. You can also hook up to your smartphone over Bluetooth to stream songs wirlessly and if you've got a Sony phone you can simply tap it connect, thanks to the on-board NFC. (From £129)
Nest Protect: Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm (05 of83)
For a shade under £90 this alarm does more than just (theoretically) go off when you're about to die. Instead it constantly monitors levels of dangerous chemicals in the air, sends the data directly to your phone and can alert you to problems even when you're thousands of miles away. It also talks to your other sensors - which means all the alarms will go off when there is trouble, not just the one that's actually on fire.
Fitbit Charge(06 of83)
The latest fitness gadget in Fitbit's arsenal, the Charge is an upgrade to the older Fitbit Flex and features a new LCD screen that can display the time as real-time fitness stats as well as caller ID from your smartphone. You can use Fitbit’s app to keep track of your food intake and record your workout info and even share it all with friends, or even compete with them if you're feeling super-confident. You'll get a 7-day battery life and the water-resistant casing means that you can wear it in the shower, though not in the pool. The Charge comes in four different colours and there are two sizes to choose from so there should be one to suit everyone. (£99.99)
Civilization Beyond Earth(07 of83)
Based on the same mechanics as its predecessor, Civilization V, this 4X strategy game sees the player travelling through space and founding colonies on other planets following a mysterious disaster on Earth known as ‘The Great Mistake’. Currently only available in Windows but due to hit OS X and Linux in the near future, the game can branch off in a number of directions but the devs have cleverly made it impossible to unlock all of the game’s elements in one play, so it’s a great option if you’re after a game you can revisit more than once. (£26.99)
Misfit Flash(08 of83)
This new fitness band is an updated version of the Misfit Shine, although the price has been slashed in half to a wallet-friendly 50 quid. The design isn't quite as fancy as some of its higher priced rivals, but you won't get laughed out of the gym either.The circular tracker slips into the back of the rubber wrist strap and as well as the standard activity and sleep tracking, you can also tell it when you're starting to exercise and it'll record various sports including running, swimming, walking and cyling. If it's a basic, no-frills fitness tracker you're after, then this is a very good shout indeed. (£50)
B&W T7(09 of83)
The B&W T7 is a mini marvel. That honeycomb design? It's a specially built design feature that hugely increases the rigidity of the frame almost eliminating distortion through vibration. It'll set you back a pretty penny but you'll be glad you spent every one.
Price: £300
Price: £300
Netatmo Weather Station(10 of83)
You might not think you need to monitor the weather and air quality outside your home. But that's until you actually get around to it and find out how truly amazing, interesting and occasionally disturbing those data points can really be. £139
Beats PowerBeats 2 Wireless(11 of83)
These superb wireless headphones from Beats feature a Bluetooth 4 connection for hooking up to your phone or music player without pesky wires getting in the way of your excercising. You'll get around 6 hours of continuous playback which should be enough to get you through your workout playlist several times over. The flexible wire that connects the headphones together sits comfortably round the back of your head and the good news is that it's designed to stay tangle free. Add to that the facts that they're feather-light and they sound great and you've got yourself a hell of a good piece of kit for the gym.(£169.95)
Withings Home HD Video Camera(12 of83)
This is an incredibly powerful and potentially useful home camera and monitor. Just please pay attention to the security settings - and change your password regularly. You can never be too careful with a camera in your home. £169.95
Monster iSport Strive(13 of83)
Monster makes several iSport in-ear headphones, with the Strive being the most affordable. Although they're not wireless, the flat cable stays largely tangle-free while the silicon ear hook keeps them firmly in place and the three differently sized pairs of earbuds help you to find the perfect fit. As you'd hope, they're also sweatproof. The semi-open design means that they're great for wearing while you're out on a run so that you can still hear traffic and any other potential dangers around you. Audio quality is also impressive, as you'd expect from Monster, so that you're getting premium quality without it costing the Earth. (£59.95)
A Robotic Tricks Machine(14 of83)
Sphero Ollie [£79.99]Sphero is an app-controlled wonderbot. It can travel at ridiculous speeds, do tricks in mid air, tackle most terrain types and be customised with the help of a 3D printer. It works with various education-focused apps too, and is the closest thing we've found to capturing the soul of skateboarding hero Tony Hawk in the carapace of a robot. That is except for...
iPod Shuffle(15 of83)
This colourful little chap is an ideal companion for the gym thanks to a built-in clip that can be used to attach it to your clothes. Available in rainbow of colour choices, the Shuffle has a bargain price tag which makes it Apple's most affordable iPod. Tipping the scales at just 12.5g, you won't even notice it's there when you're working out. While you might not be able to cram your entire music library on, there's enough room for hundreds of songs to get you through your workout thanks to the 2GB capacity. The built-in rechargable battery gives you around 15 hours of playback which should be enough to see you through numerous visits to the gym. (£40)
Mario Kart 8(16 of83)
As the name suggests, this is the eighth fully-fledged instalment in the Mario Kart canon - but this time an anti-gravity feature lets you drive along walls and ceilings. You can also race against up to 11 other people thanks to the online multiplayer. There are plenty of familiar faces from the Mario universe to make you feel at home, but there’s no mistaking the fact that this is the best version of Mario Kart yet and an absolute must-have. This is what the Wii U was made for. (£39.95)
Jawbone Up Move(17 of83)
Landing in time for Christmas, this little fitness gadget is probably the best budget activity tracker around. As well as tracking your movement, the Move will also keep tabs on your sleep and feed back all the information via Jawbone's dedicated smartphone app. The simple device comes in a choice of five colours and can be worn on a wrist strap or popped into a clip that can be attached to a belt, pocket, bra or whereever else you care to keep it. The tracker sports an LED display that lights up when pressed to show how close you are to your goals without having to check your phone. What's more, it's water resistant so there's no need to worry about it getting all sweaty. (£39.99)
Bowers & Wilkins P3(18 of83)
These headphones won T3's music gadget of the year award, and if you try them out you'll see why. The sound is beautifully rendered, while the build quality and styling is pretty flawless. (£169)
Best For: The City Worker (credit:PA)
Best For: The City Worker (credit:PA)
A Self Balancing Robot(19 of83)
MIP The Self Balancing Robot [£99]This robot can hold a can of pop, is controlled by hand gestures, balances itself on two wheels and is totally adorable. Who said that robots are still the stuff of science fiction?
iKettle(20 of83)
The iKettle is a WiFi connected kettle. And yes, that means you can lie in bed, load up an app and tell it to boil when you're still cosy underneath the covers. All other products? Meaningless. All other kettles? Woefully under-WiFi enabled. Read our full review here. £99
A Drone That Climbs Walls(21 of83)
Parrot Rolling Spider [£89.99]This drone is able to fly, roll up walls, crawl along the ceiling and more -- all controlled from your smartphone. It lacks the cameras seen on more expensive models, but it's a lot cheaper - and a lot more fun.
Monitor Audio Bronze BX2(22 of83)
Simply put, these are five-star speakers for less than £350. They're handsome, timeless and sound amazing.
Yurbuds Leap Wireless(23 of83)
US company Yurbuds has finally made it to the UK via audio maker JBL and this is its flagship wireless headphone option. The maker says that the earphones are compatible with all smartphones and sport a more secure fit than many other sports headphones. Boasting Yurbud's distinctive sweat-proof design, the earphones feature a microphone for making calls along with an inline remote for controlling the audio at the touch of a button. A respectable six-hour battery life should provide you with more than enough Taylor Swift on your ‘for-your-ears-only’ gym playlist.(£79.99)
Griffin Shoe Pouch(24 of83)
It may not be the most exciting of gadgets, but the Griffin Shoe Pouch could well be one of the most useful. The durable nylon shoe pocket is designed to hold Fitbit, Misfit, Sony and Nike+ fitness trackers and can be securely attached to your trainer if you don't like the idea of a wrist-based gadget. The pouch features a reflective panel for extra visibility if you're out running in the dark and can hold any tracker measuring 8 x 48 x 10mm or less. You can attach it either by slipping it under your shoe's laces or by threading it through them for some extra hold.(£17.50)
A Gateway To The Most Addictive Toy Ever(25 of83)
Skylanders Trap Team Tablet Edition [£49]Skylanders finally comes to tablets. With a copy of Skylanders Trap Team for iPad, plus a controller and portal for bringing your real-life toys to digital life in the game, this is everything you need to get started with Activision's billion-selling franchise. And you don't have to own a console to do it. Bargain - just say goodbye to your iPad. That's your kid's iPad now.
Minecraft(26 of83)
This inexplicably popular title from indie developer Mojang (now owned by Microsoft) is one of the best-selling games of all time. The premise is simple - there isn’t one. There’s no real aim except to do whatever you damn well like, which largely involves building structures out of textured cubes while bouncing around a blocky 3D landscape. The relaxed nature of the game soon becomes incredibly addictive and ultimately time-consuming. You can play Minecraft on all the major consoles, as well as on iOS and Android and it recently made it onto Xbox One and PS Vita. (£13.49 on PS Vita)
A Digital Fightin' Buddy(27 of83)
Nintendo Amiibo [£10] Nintendo's Super Smash Bros is one of the games of the year. And with these NFC-enabled figures even lone wolf gamers can finally play with friends. Simply tap the figure onto your gamepad, and you can play alongside a smart, evolving fighter customised to your heart's desire. Some of the figures also work with Mario Kart and Hyrule Warriors, and compatibility with future titles is promised.
UE Boom(28 of83)
The UE Boom is the all-rounder of Bluetooth speakers: It sounds fantastic, it's splashproof and rugged as hell yet it looks stylish enough that it wouldn't be out of place in a living room. Oh and then there's the battery life, this thing just doesn't run out.
Price: £169.99
Price: £169.99
Xbox One(29 of83)
The Xbox One features HD streaming from Netflix, Amazon, Plex and many more services, plus includes HDMI passthrough so you can watch Sky or any other TV without changing inputs -- and also send that video to a tablet or phone, for free. It also plays music, games and anything else you can throw at it. It's pricey, but it's hard to say there's a better home media box around right now. (credit:Damian Dovarganes/AP)
Just Classic LEGO(30 of83)
LEGO Ultra Agents Mission HQ [£79.99]LEGO Ultra Agents is something of a throwback. There are no movie licenses, few 'special' (IE pre-moulded pieces) and genuine space for imaginative play. This set is one of our favourites of the year. It's essentially a giant truck, but with a highly detailed spy HQ built inside. The set comes with a boat and truck, as well as an enemy mech complete with pilot. It's not necessarily a set for AFOLs (adult fans of Lego) as it's not intrinsically beautiful - it's just a great-fun, creative toy.
A Highly Technical Foam Dart Gun(31 of83)
Nerf N-Strike Elite Nerfcam ECS-12 Blaster [£84.99]As foam dart weaponry goes, this is pretty much the pinnacle. It comes with a built-in camera in the scope, to record your first-person battles with terrifying precision (up to 100 minutes on a 4GB card). It comes with twelve darts and fires 85 feet. It's also satisfyingly heavy and loud.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (32 of83)
Don’t be put off by the overlong title - this action RPG is better than it sounds and is set between the events of The Hobbit and the The Lord of the Rings. Released first on next-gen followed by Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, the game plays fast and loose with the universe set out by Tolkien. You play Talion, a ranger of Gondor who is killed guarding the Black Gate of Mordor. You’re then resurrected with wraith-like powers to take your revenge on the evil Sauron and his crew. If it sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is. But it’s still a hell of a lot of fun to play. (£39.99 on Xbox One)
Bose SoundTouch(33 of83)
The new Soundtouch range by Bose combines the company's deservedly famous sound quality with a new, simple and easy way to connect your speakers wirelessly, around your home. With a dedicated app, a focus on 'presets' to make playing music as quick as turning on a light and a range of components at decent prices, it seems like an easy win. They're a bit outgunned in the content stakes right now - but for sound quality it's right up there.
Rayman Legends(34 of83)
First released in 2013 but new to the next-gen consoles in 2014, Rayman Legends is a platform game that boasts gorgeous visuals. But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because it looks nice - it’s great fun, but suitably challenging, too. The rudimentary plot revolves around a bunch of tiny characters called Teensies. They’ve been kidnapped and it’s your job to save them while progressing through levels across multiple worlds, testing your skills along the way. If you’ve got one of the existing versions it’s probably not worth updating to next-gen but for newbies, this is a must-have. (£19.85 on PS4)
Sonos Play:!(35 of83)
For £169 you get not only a great, powerful little speaker, you get full access to the glorious world of simple, connected audio. Sonos no longer requires a base station, which means you can plug this in and start listening to dozens of great services like Google Play Music and Rdio around the home. You'll get addicted and buy more, but this one little speaker can be the bulkhead into a world of better music.
Uutensil Stirr(36 of83)
This thing costs £10, and jiggles around in your pot to automatically stir your food when you're out of the room. It's hilarious.
Parrot Flower Sensor(37 of83)
Do you kill your houseplants? Then you need this. This small, £39.99 gadget links up with an iPhone app to tell you when you need to water your plants, when you need to add food and exactly how likely it is that it's going to die while you're on holiday.
LittleBigPlanet 3(38 of83)
The latest addition to the saga, LittleBigPlanet 3 sees the return of Sackboy just in time for Christmas. With Stephen Fry once again on board as narrator, the game sticks to the successful blueprint set out by previous versions, while this time hero Sackboy is joined by three new playable friends to help him save Craftworld from some new baddies (one voiced by Fry's cohort Hugh Laurie). The PS4 version features boosted high-def 1080p graphics along with a range of new tools and power-ups. This is the most ambitious of the LittleBigPlanet games so far, and the good news is that you can access playable levels created in the previous two versions. (£47.99 on PS4)
Octodad: Dadliest Catch(39 of83)
The sequel to Octodad, first developed by a group of students for the 2011 Independent Games Festival, this slightly bizarre adventure game challenges the player to complete a series of seemingly mundane tasks - from climbing a ladder to mowing the lawn. The only catch is that you have to do it all as an octopus in a suit, who is trying to pass for human, specifically, a suburban father. It may sound bonkers, but the result is an amusing and surprisingly engaging experience, especially the multiplayer mode which enables different players to control separate limbs. (£11.99 on PS4)
South Park: TheStick of Truth(40 of83)
This ludicrously funny game is basically a playable RPG version of the TV show and it’s packed with the same explicit, biting humour so if you’re not a South Park fan already then this probably isn’t for you. Available on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, the game puts you in the role of the silent ‘new kid’ who moves to the Colorado town and gets involved in an epic role-play fantasy, with Cartman at the helm. Naturally, things get out of hand. The whole escapade relies on the genius scriptwriting of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. (From £11.60 for PC download)
Underwater Disco Lights(41 of83)
This thing projects weird lights in your bath, costs £8 and won't kill you. Sold.
A Real-Life Video Game(42 of83)
LEGO Minecraft: The Mine [£89.99]Kids love Minecraft. But that doesn't mean they have to spend all Christmas on their iPads or Xbox. LEGO has released these beautiful, Minifig-scale Minecraft sets and they're fantastic fun. They come with elements fromt he game every kid will recognise - from creepers to armour, torches and even a spider. But it features the trademark colours and style of the game and -- of course -- can be reconfigured into endless new forms and Minecraftian visions. Amazing fun and good value too.
Child of Light(43 of83)
When a 19th Century Austrian child called Aurora is transported to the mythical land of Lemuria, she discovers that her quest it to find the missing sun, moon and stars which have been stolen by the Dark Queen. Ubisoft’s turn-based RPG is essentially a fairytale, packing beautiful visuals and an emotional coming-of-age story. Following its release on all the major consoles, it has finally made its way onto the PS Vita. A simple, yet highly effective battle system means that Aurora can go toe-to-toe with a diverse bunch of monsters. (£12.85 on PS Vita)
iPad Air 2(44 of83)
The new iPad Air 2 from Apple is an incredible new upgrade to the tablet you know and love. It's far lighter and thinner, has an upgraded processor, and in our review we called it nothing short of a "masterpiece". If you have more than £399 to spend on a tablet, spend it on this.
Super Smash Bros(45 of83)
Already out on the 3DS and landing on the Wii U for Christmas, this is Nintendo’s fifth version of its hugely popular fighting game which brings together characters from all of its big gaming universes. The game features a whopping 51 characters to choose from with 17 totally new fighters on board. Obviously Mario’s in there, plus some familiar faces from The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong, among others. There are even a few guest appearances, including big-mouthed ghost botherer Pac-Man. The best bit is that eight players can battle it out at the same time. Chaos. (£39.00 on Wii U)
Bose SoundLink Mini(46 of83)
Carrying on the traditions of its larger siblings, the Bose SoundLink Mini utterly surprises by packing in more lower-end punch than is decent from a speaker this small.
Price: £169.95
Price: £169.95
Jawbone Jambox(47 of83)
The classic is sometimes the best, and in this case the original Jambox remains the pinnacle of Jawbone's Bluetooth range. Easy connection with cutting-edge design make this a style-based winner.
Price: £129.95
Price: £129.95
JBL Pulse(48 of83)
The JBL Pulse is about as subtle as a Skrillex album and frankly, we wouldn't have it any other way. It's unashamedly loud but still has the audio 'oomph' to back it up.
Price: £169.99
Price: £169.99
Loewe Speaker 2go(49 of83)
Loewe's Bluetooth speaker may not win any design awards but then again that's not what the company's about. The ultra-stiff metal frame reduces vibration keeping the sound quality from the Speaker 2go crystal clear.
Price: £269
Price: £269
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact(50 of83)
The Z3 Tablet Compact is Sony's somewhat delayed reaction to the success of the iPad Mini. The Z3 Compact is an astonishing 6.4mm thin. It's waterproof -- like its smartphone counterparts -- and it comes with the same Full-HD display. With a massive 4,500mAh battery as well Sony's hoping that the premium features and impressive build-quality will dissuade you from buying with Apple.
Sennheiser Urbanite(51 of83)
Subjectively the Sennheiser Urbanites are among our favourite-looking headphones on the market, they sound great in most situations and they're clearly built to last. They aren't Beats-flashy, and they're not quite "a sea of white Zinfandel". They're more like a mature, tasty bottled craft beer with a cool label.
Best For: The Hipster
Best For: The Hipster
BeoPlay A2(52 of83)
The BeoPlay A2 is a true conundrum in that while it's definitely the largest of the group it's still just as desirable. That heavy leather strap negates many of your worries about portability and like the B&W its sound is of such a quality that it's a perfect speaker for moving around the house.
Price: £299
Price: £299
Orbitsound T9(53 of83)
The Orbtisound T9 Soundbar works perfectly both with your TV and your iPhone or iPod, since it comes with great, full-room sound as well as a built-in charger. (£189)
Harman Kardon Esquire Mini(54 of83)
This is by far and away the smallest, which also means it has the most to accomplish. No bigger than an oversized wallet, the Esquire Mini is definitely one of the more stylish we've seen and while it's hard to find competitive sound from any speaker this small, it does the best with the limitations it has. It's not for parties, but it was made for a hotel room.
Price: £129.99
Price: £129.99
Cambridge Audio GO(55 of83)
Cambridge Audio are best known for their superb computer speakers and home entertainment systems. Turns out that they're pretty good at Bluetooth speakers as well. The Cambridge Audio Go is a no frills affair with NFC, Bluetooth, 18-hours of battery life and two massive woofers and tweeters.
Price: £129
Price: £129
Plantronics BackBeat Pro (56 of83)
Plantronics has actually created something remarkable with the Backbeat Pro. They've done more than make a great pair of headphones: they've made a wearable device with a specific purpose, which is to create the sensation of solitude. And they've done it in a package which is smart, effective, straightforward and as a pleasant as a Club Class bacon sandwich.
Best For: Solitude
Best For: Solitude
Murdered: Soul Suspect(57 of83)
Ever wanted to play a game where you have to solve your own murder? Sure you have. This somewhat macabre adventure stealth game sees the ghost of Detective Ronan O’Connor roaming the streets of Salem, piecing together clues to find the serial killer responsible for his untimely demise. Action is thin on the ground but there’s plenty to keep you entertained, like a supernatural LA Noire. Available across most of the major consoles, this is not the most technically perfect game around, but a compelling concept and a game that you’ll remember long after you’ve played it. (£23 on PS4)
iPad Mini 3(58 of83)
At £319, the iPad Mini with Retina display isn't cheap. Also its only major upgrade on the last model is the addition of a Touch ID sensor. It's a decision that has raised eyebrows but as you'll soon realise, when a tablet is this good, sometimes it's more about what you don't do that matters.
Nexus 9(59 of83)
The Google Nexus 9 has an excellent display and comes running Android 5.0 Lollipop. It's thin, powerful (thanks to a 64-bit processor) and sports HTC's BoomSound speakers making it a multimedia powerhouse.
Bose QuietComfort 20i(60 of83)
These in-ear headphones are among the best we've ever tested - and you'd hope so, because at £259 they aren't cheap. What you get for your money is a combination of great, rich basic sound, brilliant noise-cancelling tech and the most comfortable fit you can find without involving a custom-made solution.
Best For: The Frequent Flyer
Best For: The Frequent Flyer
Technics R1(61 of83)
Technics is back. The high-end audio brand has returned courtesy of Panasonic and first off the line is the unfathomably complex R1 reference system. Now we could tell you about 'Virtual coaxial allignment systems' or long strobe woofers when in actual fact all you need to know is this. This system has been built to make you feel as childishly happy as you did the first time you went to a gig and frankly, that's something we can get on board with.
Joey Roth Ceramic Speaker(62 of83)
These are among the most unique speakers you can buy. They're not cheap, but they sound great - and you'll never need to buy another conversation starter for your living room again. All anyone will want to talk about is your HiFi.
Naim Mu-so(63 of83)
Imagine taking all of the technological know-how you've learnt from creating a sound system for Bentley. Now take all of that and cram it into a wireless all-in-one speaker. Well that's what Naim have done and the result is something that looks like the black box for a Haggunenon battle cruiser. It probably sounds like one too.
Sonos Play:1(64 of83)
We're huge fans of the Sonos system, which allows you to easily and wirelessly connect a range of speakers into a network around your home, and play a massive amount of content through a dedicated app. The Play:1s are among our favourite Sonos components yet - small, neat, compact and with excellent sound quality. They're the gateway drug to the most complete audio solution in the world. (£169)
PMC Twenty 23(65 of83)
These are some seriously expensive speakers (£2,100) but according to What HiFi, they're worth every penny, with rich, deep, booming sound able to deal with the highest-fidelity recordings and reproduce them with wonderful quality in a luxury at-home setting.
Ultimate Ears UE Boom(66 of83)
The UE Boom is a Bluetooth, iOS and Android compatible wireless speaker that features great 360-degree sound. UE pitch it as the first "social" speaker since it can connect to two source devices at the same time. It's also stain and water resistant and has a 15-hour battery - and gorgeous styling.
Samsung Galaxy Alpha(67 of83)
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is the company's first big attempt to take on the iPhone at its own game. That means the Alpha ditches Samsung's previous love of plastics in favour or a stunningly thin metal frame. The 4.7-inch Super AMOLED display may not be Full-HD but it packs enough colour that you probably won't care. It also comes with all the class-leading features you'll find on the S5 including a fingerprint scanner and a heart rate monitor on the back.
BeoPlay H6 By B&O(68 of83)
The BeoPlay H6 headphones are a purchase based on emotion. At £329 they're incredibly expensive for the sound they produce. Then again these aren't just about the sound -- even though they sound excellent -- they're about buying something that has design at its very core. Then again, isn't that the decision you make with every Bang & Olufsen product.
Best For: The bright young things
Best For: The bright young things
RHA T10i (69 of83)
The RHA T10i headphones are ruthless, or at least they would be if they were a human being. They're cold, calculated metal design make them an imposing first sight when you open the box but then, you haven't bought a pair of RHA headphones just for the looks. They sound utterly precise (and excellent).
Best For: The Perfectionist
Best For: The Perfectionist
Sony MDR-HW700DS(70 of83)
Look past their ludicrously long name and you'll find the world's first 9.1ch surround sound headphones. Connecting via HDMI these are the audiophile's headphones of choice for home entertainment thanks to uncompressed audio and compatibility with 4K video and sound files. Plug these into your 4K TV and you'll be presented with nine channels of crystal clear sound using Sony's VirtualPhones Technology.
Best For: The Film Buff
Best For: The Film Buff
AKG K451(71 of83)
These headphones have won fans all around the world for one simple reason: for this price (£50) you can't do better. They sound excellent, fold up neatly to stow away in a bag, come with a basic cable and a cable with a built-in three-button remote and won't leave you bereft if you lose or break them.
Best For: The Student (credit:Flickr:Cognoscenti*)
Best For: The Student (credit:Flickr:Cognoscenti*)
Jaybird Freedom Sprint(72 of83)
These resilient, water-resistant Bluetooth headphones are designed for exercise, and come with a set of neat ear-moulding foam inserts to keep them tightly in place when you're running. For £105 it's hard to find a better pair of sport earbuds.
Best For: The Jogger
Best For: The Jogger
Apple iPhone 6(73 of83)
The iPhone 6 Apple's largest ever iPhone, both in terms of physical size and popularity. The phone is already smashing the company's own pre-order records and the handset's arrival caused almost every network site to crash. So what's all the fuss about? Well you get a larger, thinner iPhone with a 4.7-inch screen or 5.5-inch display if you chose the iPhone 6 Plus. It features a new 8MP camera with uprated optics as well as a faster more efficient processor.
Sony Xperia Z3(74 of83)
The Sony Xperia Z3 is the perfect example of 'if it ain't broke' thinking. Design changes are minimal but practical with soft rubber corners protecting against drops. The new Z3 comes packing a massive 5.2-inch screen but thanks to smaller bezels it keeps the same small footprint. It'll play HD audio and shoot 4K. That's not all though, Sony's boasting a whopping two-day battery life. (credit:The Huffington Post UK)
Motorola Moto X (2014)(75 of83)
The Motorola Moto X 2 is significant for two reasons, the first of which is that you can almost entirely design it yourself. The new Moto X heralds the arrival of Moto Maker to the UK which means you can choose from literally thousands of different design options. On top of that you get a stunning 5.2-inch display that's matched with a phone that measures in at just 3.8mm at its thinnest point. Thanks to Motorola's agreement with Google it's pure Android and will get updates from Google as soon as they're announced. For now, this is your Nexus replacement.
Samsung Galaxy Note IV(76 of83)
This is the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and it shows the biggest departure from Samsung's design thinking yet. Gone is the cheap plasticky body, replaced with a thin metal frame and smooth leather back. The screen is still 5.7-inches but Samsung's upped the resolution to a massive 2K.
Nokia Lumia 930(77 of83)
The Nokia Lumia 930 looks set to be the flagship Windows Phone of 2014. With the all-new Windows Phone 8.1 OS it'll sport customisable lock screens, the ability to set wallpapers for all your tiles and later in the year you'll have access to Microsoft's answer to Siri: Cortana. It also happens to be a seriously powerful smartphone as well with a 5-inch Full-HD display, 20MP camera and professional levels of film recording thanks to four mics for full stereo pickup.
HTC One M8(78 of83)
The 2014 update to the HTC One builds on the same hardware features that won the original such a fanatical response, but keeps the essential DNA intact. The massive front-facing speakers are 25% louder, the UltraPixel camera adds a second lens for depth perception (so you can refocus an image after shooting it), and there's a 5-megapixel 'Selfie' front facing lens too. [REVIEW]
iPhone 5C(79 of83)
The 5C was rumoured to be Apple's 'budget' iPhone. It isn't - and not only because it isn't that cheap. The "proudly plastic" 5C comes in five colours (see what they did there) but has the same internals, screen and camera as the iPhone 5. It's essentially the same beautiful, high-end phone you already know and love, in a more colourful (and potentially divisive) design. As such it's hard to see how Apple won't sell a billion of them.
Samsung Galaxy S5(80 of83)
This year's Galaxy S adds water resistance, a slightly larger screen, a 16-megapixel camera and a heart-rate sensor into what was already a market-leading, powerful and sleekly designed device. It doesn't rock the boat too much, but it didn't need to. This is still up there with the very best Android phones.
Marshal Major 50(81 of83)
These limited-edition Marshall headphones come with all the unique styling and sound engineering you'd expect for the amp masters, along with some extra design touches for good measure. They include gold-rimmed pads, inscriptions on the inside of the headband and a remote/microphone control on the cable. For £140 they aren't cheap - but there're no other headphones around with this kind of rock pedigree.
Best For: The Rocker
Best For: The Rocker
Tesco Hudl(82 of83)
Tesco's Hudl 2 tablet improves on its predecessor in every way, it has a larger, higher-resolution screen, dual-speakers and a faster processor. It's also a really great option for those who want a no-fuss Android experience.
Kindle Fire HDX(83 of83)
The new Kindle Fire HDX tablet comes in both a 7- and 8.9 inch version, and both are tasty upgrades. The 7-inch has a 1920 x 1200 display, a quad-core processor, LTE, all the Amazon services you'd expect plus a new 'Mayday' support service for new users. It starts at £199. The 8.9-inch is pricer at £329, but has an even more impressive 2560x1600 display - and still comes in lighter than an iPad Air.