Written by Laura Reed
With the holiday gifting season entering full swing, choosing the right gift can be a daunting prospect. BestReviews is here to help you make the best possible decision. Since we perform our own rigorous hands-on testing, you can be sure that the newest products perform the way you expect. We look for special features, extra benefits, standout styles and unexpected issues or drawbacks so you can purchase with confidence.
Last month we tested smartwatches, instant cameras and lots of video games. Here's what we found.
Shop this article: Dyson v12 Detect Slim, Breville Bambino Plus, Apple Watch Series 9.
The BestReviews Testing Lab isn't staffed by professionals: we ask regular people, just like you, to try out products in real-life situations. We're not having pro chefs test our air fryers or salon stylists test our hair dryers because we want to know how the average consumer approaches and uses products. By approaching our testing with an everyday user's level of familiarity, we can evaluate them on the same factors shoppers look for, such as differences between models and ease of operation.
To better care for our planet and our community, we donate lightly tested products to organizations such as the Lighthouse Community Public School, which is local to our testing center of operations.
Our tester enjoyed the bright, clear sound and versatile connectivity options in these over-ear headphones. However, they lack the deep bass of older Beats models and the stiff build can feel uncomfortably tight on the head.
Our tester recommends this premium hair dryer for anyone who blow-dries their hair multiple times a week. It's pricey and tends to perform better on straight hair, but it's lightweight and dries hair fast thanks to its multiple heat and fan settings.
This high-end cordless vacuum cleans effectively thanks to strong suction and a laser light feature that reveals every last speck of dust. Its dustbin is small and needs frequent emptying, but its battery life is decent and it's lightweight.
Our tester loved all the data this high-end smartwatch collects. Its navigation abilities struggle and it's expensive, but it's rugged, fast and responsive.
The flagship Microsoft gaming console offers a huge library of games, including games from older Xbox generations thanks to backward compatibility. It has expensive proprietary storage options, but excellent graphics and performance.
Our tester enjoyed the ease of use this instant camera offers, especially its helpful selfie mirror. Its somewhat low-quality images may disappoint some but be nostalgic to others.
This compact espresso machine looks elegant and produces cafe-quality coffee drinks thanks to thoughtful accessories and an automatic milk frother. The espresso it produces may not be hot enough for some aficionados, but it's solidly built and easy to use.
Although its design hasn't changed much over time, the Apple Watch 9 is an excellent introductory smartwatch and a solid upgrade for existing Apple Watch users. Features such as the double-tap gesture and additional health tracking continue to be added with new OS updates.
Designed for outdoor activities, this premium smartwatch has a bright AMOLED display and comes with detailed pre-loaded maps for hiking and climbing. It's pricey and a little heavy, but it boasts excellent battery life and helpful fitness metrics.
"Harry Potter" fans and casual gamers alike can enjoy immersing themselves in the beautifully rendered world of Hogwarts in one of the year's best video games. It's available for the PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series S, X and One and Windows PC and will be available for Nintendo Switch on Nov. 14.
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Laura Reed writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
