Hey,

Last-minute tech gifts don’t have to feel rushed — they just need to be useful.

This week’s issue is about last minute Christmas gifts that arrive quickly, work immediately, and don’t end up forgotten — plus a couple of headlines that hint at where tech is quietly heading next.

Here’s what’s inside:

Let’s dive in👇

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If you’re shopping late, the goal isn’t something flashy — it’s something useful, reliable, and easy to like.

These are the kinds of gifts that work even when you don’t know someone’s exact setup… and won’t get returned in January.

Here are the last-minute Christmas picks I’d still confidently recommend.

A proper upgrade over the standard DualSense. Better buttons, better grip, more control — especially for anyone who plays shooters or competitive games.

It’s one of those gifts that instantly replaces the default controller and never goes back in the drawer.

Secure fit, great battery life, and genuinely reliable for workouts. Not flashy, just very good at what they do.

A safe win for anyone who runs, trains, or hates earbuds that constantly fall out.

Not exciting. Extremely useful.

Anker gear is reliable, fast, and compatible with basically everything. This is the kind of gift people end up using every single day without thinking about it.

Easy setup, fun effects, and genuinely good for mood lighting or desk setups — without going full smart-home rabbit hole.

Great for apartments, gaming setups, or anyone who likes ambiance without complexity.

If someone already has HomeKit or is smart-home curious, Aqara sensors and switches are surprisingly powerful for their size and price.

Not flashy — but very “oh wow, that’s actually useful.”

One of the least glamorous gifts on this list — and one of the best.

Perfect for cameras, controllers, kids’ toys, and anything battery-hungry. People rarely buy these themselves, but once they do, they never go back.

A genuinely thoughtful winter gift. Small, reusable, and surprisingly effective.

Great for commuters, outdoor walks, or anyone who’s always cold.

Still one of Apple’s best small products. Perfect for keys, bags, luggage — or that one thing someone is always losing.

A surprisingly solid upgrade for anyone still using built-in TV apps. Faster, cleaner, and less annoying than most smart TV interfaces.

Yes, really.

A sturdy, well-made umbrella is one of those things people don’t replace until they absolutely have to — and then immediately appreciate when they finally have a good one.

Sometimes the boring gift is the best one.

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Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are reportedly racing to build AI data centers in orbit — a response to growing limits around power, cooling, and scale on Earth.

It may sound extreme, but it shows how quickly AI infrastructure is pushing against real-world constraints.

The OnePlus 15R is rumored to get a 32 MP autofocus front camera with 4K video, a first for the R-series lineup.

Front cameras are usually an afterthought on mid-range phones, so this would push the 15R closer to flagship territory — especially for video calls, creators, and social use.

Whether that’s a real differentiator or just a nice spec on paper remains to be seen.

After a year of experiments, a few lessons stood out — and a few assumptions didn’t hold up.

In the next issue, you’ll get:

No highlight reel. Just an honest look at the year, the lessons, and what comes next.

🗓️ See you Thursday.