9 Products on Deep Discount in December
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December is all about gift givingand big holiday sales. Now is a great time to nab great deals on a wide range of products, from electronics to appliances. Weve listed nine items that almost anyone would be happy to receive.
Our analystsmonitor prices year-round to predict when a product can be expected to have the lowest price.
For a more comprehensive list of products on sale in Decemberand throughout the yearcheck our deep discount calendar.
Televisions
Once again, TVs will rank among the most popular tech gifts this holiday, according toa recent study by the Consumer Technology Association(CTA). But choosing the best model for your needs can be challenging. As television technology advances, there are more options to consider, from screen size and type to price and features.
Your first and foremost decision is screen size. If youre sitting about 6 feet away from your TV when viewing, you probably need something in the 48- to 65-inch range. If youre 9 feet or more away, youll want to look for something larger.
Youll also need to decide between a high-definition set and an Ultra High Definition one. These terms have to do with the crispness of the picture. Ultra HDalso known as 4Kis more crisp than HD because the screen has more pixels to compose the image. You may want to lean toward 4K, because more TV shows are being presented in that format, and manynew 4K TVs are selling at low prices.
Another factor to consider is whether the TV supportshigh dynamic range.HDR boosts a TVs brightness, contrast, and color, making the picture on the screen look more like real life. There are a few varieties of HDR, but you dont need to concern yourself too much with picking the right one just yet. Our advice: Buy the best TV you can regardless of the type of HDR it supports.
You will probably want a smart TV that can access online contentsome 70 percent of TVs sold these days are smart TVs. If you prefer a basic set, though, you can add internet capability with a streaming media player.
Ourratings and reviewswill help you make the best choice, and ourbuying guidewill give you more information to help you find the best TV you can afford.
Headphones
Headphones are another top gift choice during the holidays, and many models are on deep discount during December. Inthis years gift guide,there are a number of selections that offer great sound quality at relatively low prices.
Choosing the right headphones can be tricky. Do you prefer in-ear, over-ear, or on-ear? Do you want added features, such as noise-canceling technology? What will the headphones be used for in addition to listening to music in an armchair?
You will also want to consider the trade-offs between corded models vs. cordless. More shoppers are favoring wireless earbuds these days, according to the CTAsurvey.
Before heading out to the store, check ourheadphone buying guide. Itwill help you identify the right models for your lifestyle.
For headphones, we recommend trying out different styles before buying because a good fit can affect sound quality, the effectiveness of the noise cancellation, and comfort. If youre ordering online, find a retailer with a good exchange or return policy.
Digital Cameras
Choosing a digital camera can be complicated, with the camera types ranging from point-and-shoot varieties to professional-grade models with interchangeable lenses. Prices can start at a few hundred dollars and climb to thousands of dollars.
To simplify your decision, the first step is to figure out what type of photographer you are (or hope to become). Will you be simply pointing and shooting, or do you plan to become more involved in your image-making by fiddling with exposure settings or using different lenses?
The next step is understanding the various camera categories available.
Basic cameras, or simple point-and-shoot models, are used pretty much the way you take photos with a smartphone. Simply set the camera on full auto mode or a scene mode, and click away. Price range: $90 to $270.
Advanced point-and-shoot cameras have fixed lenses, but they also have manual controls and other advanced features. Theyre also more expensive than simple point-and-shoots. Price range: $250 to $3,300.
SLRs are interchangeable-lens cameras, and each brand offers a large number of compatible lenses. With the most features, these cameras are also the biggest and heaviest. Price range: $400 to $3,300.
Mirrorless models accept interchangeable lenses, like SLRs do, but theyre smaller and lighter. Downside: They dont have a through-the-lens viewfinder like SLRs. Price range: $440 to $4,000.
For more information on digital cameras, check out ourbuying guide. Once you know which type of camera you want, go to ourratingsto select the best model for your needs.
Smartphones
When shopping for a new smartphone, you have to do more than decide which is the best hardware available. You also need to consider which operating system you want, which carrier to use, and which type of data plan to sign up for.
According to a Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of more than 100,000 members, roughly 60 percent of respondents who had recently switched cell-phone carriers said they were enjoying more reliable coverage, faster data service, and better customer service. They saved money, too. However, only 9 percent of all respondents had switched cell-phone carriersperhaps more should consider shopping around.
When choosing the best hardware, Consumer Reports has you covered. Ourratingsandrecommendationscan help you to navigate the vast number of choices youll have when making your purchase.
The two main operating system choices are Android and Apple iOS; each has its pros and cons. Our helpfulbuying guidewill walk you through both operating systems and the hardware they run on so that you can make an informed choice.
Wireless Speakers
If you have an audiophile on your gift list, wireless speakers are a great option.
First, decide whether the speaker will be for in-home or outdoor use. There are numerous models in both categories, and some are better than others at withstanding water and sand if you take them to the beach.
Also decide which type of connectivity you want. Wireless speakers can be connected to Bluetooth or WiFi, or sometimes both.
Each type of connectivity comes with pros and cons. WiFi speakers tend to offer a longer range than Bluetooth. Theyre also good if you have a few speakers you want to connect. But if youre sharing your WiFiwith many other devicessuch as laptops, phones, and tabletssound quality may be reduced.
Bluetooth speakers lack the range of WiFispeakers but are simple to connect and compatible with a wide variety of devices.
Check our wireless speaker buying guide and ratings, and see ourholiday gift guide for more tips.
Fitness Trackers
Fitness trackers come with a variety of options and prices. Ourbuying guidewill help you to find thebest optionfor you or your loved ones at a price that you can afford.Some great models are availablefor less than $200.
Some trackers are simpler than others, but they all use sensors to monitor your movements and often connect wirelessly to your computer or mobile device to store data about your daily activities.
Advanced trackers are more sophisticated. They can monitor heart rate, steps taken, and sleep time, and may also include sensors such as GPS, gyroscopes, and barometers for tracking more active lifestyles.
Before you buy, make sure the tracker you choose fits your needs. If youre starting a fitness routine, you probably dont need anything too fancy. But if youre training for a race or participating in active sports, youll want to make sure your gadget can keep up with you.
Smartwatches
The differences between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker are becoming more difficult to distinguish. Many of todays smartwatches include features commonly found on fitness trackers, though their capabilities tend to go above and beyond them.
In general, asmartwatch is a wrist-worn device that can notify youvia a wireless connection to your phoneof incoming calls, texts, instant messages, and social network updates.
But todays options can be much more than an extension of your telephone. Some modelscan perform many advanced tasks without being paired to a nearby phone. For example, wireless technologies may enable you to use your watch to make mobile payments at stores.
Depending on the product you choose, prices can range from around $300 to $1,500. Oursmartwatch buying guidewill help you make aninformed decisionbefore you decide to plunk down a chunk of change on your new device.
Before you buy, make sure your smartwatch choice is compatible with your existing smartphone or any other devices that you plan to pair with it. Take note of the battery life, which can range from a day to a week or longer, depending on how you use the watch and the sophistication of the watch technology.
Cordless Drills
A cordless drill is often the most important power tool youll buy. But before you purchase one, be sure youre getting the right tool for whatever job is at hand:heavy-duty, general-use, or light-duty.
You wont find drills labeled this way for sale, so make sure you look at the chuck size to determine where it lands on the scale. The chuck is the three-pronged clamp that secures bits at the business end of any drill. The bigger the chuck, the more powerful the drill.
Also make sure that you take note of the battery power. Most cordless drills these days run on lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. They deliver more power and longer run times. Because batteries have such a direct impact on performance, their capabilities figure heavily into CRs cordless-drill testing program.
Check ourbuying guide for recommendations.
Cordless drills are sold in three configurations:
As a stand-alone tool with one or two batteries and a dedicated charger.
As part of a collection of cordless tools from a single brand, called a kit.
As a bare tool, with no battery or charger.
If you want only a drill and dont own any other power tools with compatible batteries, go for a stand-alone tool.The bare tool is the least expensive but the worst value.
Tablets
This is a good time to buy a tablet, and its not just because they are often on deep discount in December. Tablet performance has improved a lot in recent years, especially among lower-priced products.
You can get a great 7- to 8-inch tablet starting at less than $200. Tablets with larger display sizes cost more, of course. But very good 10-inch tablets are out there for about $350.
If you want to read comfortably, watch movies, type out documents with a separate keyboard, and use standard productivity apps, you might want to consider a larger tablet with at least 12 hours of battery life. Be prepared to spend at least $400.
Also, dont forget who will be using the device. If you have young kids, make sure the product can withstand the knocks, drops, and goo that it will surely encounter.
Our tablet buying guide will help you find theright tablet for your needs.
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