gift giving
Siblings can be hard to please, but this time, you might find yourself on their 'favourites' list because of the gift you select. Image Credit: Pexels/freestocks.org

Brothers and sisters are your ride-or-die for life. Chances are you already have a good idea about what your sibling wants, if you have a strict no-secret policy. But then, there are older brothers and sisters, who've showered you with the latest phone, headphones and spontaneous take-outs over the years - so what could you possibly gift your role model? Try to get a rough idea by pinning down their hobbies and interests. Maybe they're eyeing the newest gaming console or the internet's favourite bag.

Editor's tip
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We picked some of the best-rated gadgets and items that your sibling will love. Make sure you're all set with presents for the rest of the family, with our holiday gift guides for him, her, mum, dad and little kiddos. Use your Amazon Prime membership to get them as early as tomorrow. Check out other holiday gift deals, as well!

1. Best Phone: Nothing Phone (2)

Pros

  • Interesting design with glyph interface
  • Excellent AMOLED display quality
  • Charges full in 55 minutes
  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor

Cons

  • Camera is still just decent

Gift them an unforgettable handset, one that meets all of their high standards. Arguably the hottest smartphone in the market right now, the Nothing Phone (1) first debuted in July 2022 and went on to garner interest for its futuristic design. It's latest version is even better. The Nothing Phone (2) features  a glyph interface under its see-through back, where LED lights beam with every call, notification and battery alert. These customisable light patterns help you differentiate between texts and calls, even without checking the screen. In the dark, the interface automatically transforms into a portable ring light for a softer flash. At an attractive price point, you’re getting a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, dual 50MP cameras and 4K video recording. It keeps a 5G-enabled chipset by employing the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, making it faster and more battery-efficient than the Nothing Phone (1). Reviewers get approached by strangers, when they're out and about with their Nothing handset. Users of the older instalment highly recommend the upgrade.

Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh208.25 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year accidental damage protection for Dh238.

2. Best Smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm)

Pros

  • Call and text from the smartwatch, using cellular connectivity
  • Takes electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Alerts emergency services in the event of a crash
  • Battery lasts up to 36 hours in low power mode

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Best compatibility with iPhones

Splurge a little more to snap up the newly launched Apple Watch Series 8, for a busy sibling in a corporate job. A smartwatch will remind your brother or sister to take a break, enjoy time away from their phone and keep them up to date on their sleeping habits and overall health. After speaking with experts, we crowned this Apple Watch the best of the best in 2022, for its added safety features and cellular connectivity. Series 8 performs an ECG (electrocardiogram) for accurate heart rate readings, tracks skin temperature linked to women's health and alerts emergency contacts and authorities when there's been an accident. This thoughtful present also allows them to take calls outside of a Bluetooth range. Pick from the various colours and band types - we've gone with Starlight which comes with a 45mm sports band.

Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh148.60 for 12 months with select banks.

3. Best Gaming Console: PlayStation 5 Digital Console (UAE Version)

Pros

  • Fast, powerful and smooth processing
  • Comes with a DualSense wireless controller
  • Haptic feedback is great
  • Supports displays up to 8k
  • Plays eligible PS4 games

Cons

  • No disc player
  • Slightly more expensive than Sony's listing price

If your gamer sibling is yet to add the PlayStation 5 to their setup, surprise them with the console, this holiday season. Our pick is the digital version, which means it comes without a built-in disc player. Instead, they'll have access to over 4,000 titles on the PlayStation Store for downloading. Installed games load at blazing speeds, thanks to ultra-high-speed SSD storage, and can run on 4K screens at 120 frames per second. The console arrives with a DualSense wireless controller, so your sibling can dive right into their favourite games. Any in-game impact will send real-time vibrations to their hands, reeling the gamer deeper into the play. Buyers say it's a powerful console with amazing haptic feedback and speeds.

Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh183.33 for 12 months with select banks.

4. Best Massager: Theragun Mini Massage Gun

Pros

  • Super portable
  • Ergonomic grip
  • Goes up to 2,400 percussions per minute
  • Runs for 150 minutes on a single charge

Cons

  • Comes with a two-pin adapter

Whether it's post-workout cramps or long hours spent at the desk, percussion therapy quickly relaxes tense muscles. The fitness community loves carrying a massage gun in the gym bag, and so will your sibling. This on-the-go tool uses punchy vibrations to relax the shoulders, calves or hamstrings, and it is handheld and compact, so it goes anywhere. Theragun made it to our list of the best massage guns in 2022; this mini version is designed for ultra-portability, coming in a soft case. It has an easy one-hand grip to help you target different muscle groups without straining yourself. Reviewers have wrapped it up as a gift for those who rack up a lot of screen time in a day, have back pain or exercise regularly. Brief your sibling on how to best use the device with advice straight from the experts.

Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh83.02 for 12 months with select banks.

5. Best Belt Bag: Lululemon Everywhere Fleece Belt Bag, Black

Wondering what's trending in the realm of bags? We're nearly 100 per cent sure your sister has her eyes set on a Lululemon Everywhere belt bag. It's dominating the TikTok athleisure scene and made it to the position of our best belt bag of the year, too. Check out its more coveted iteration - the fleece bag, perfect for her winter wardrobe. It can go around the waist and across the chest, giving your sister hands-free access to all her daily essentials, from phone and wallet to lip glosses and keys.

6. Best Reporter Bag: Tommy Hilfiger Men's The City Mini Reporter, Black

A suave, stylish essentials bag for your brother will always be welcome. Tommy Hilfiger's The City Mini Reporter bag is made of textured faux leather and looks every bit premium, exuding a no-nonsense minimalist look. It has a main zippered compartment and a slip pocket in the front, with a strap that can be worn over the shoulder or across the body. Reviewers say the classy bag fits their wallet, keys, sunglasses and phone easily.

7. Best Portable Speaker: Marshall Emberton, Forest Green

Pros

  • Up to 23 hours of play time
  • 360-degree sound system
  • IPX7 - waterproof in up to one metre of water for 30 minutes
  • Fits in the palm of your hand

Cons

  • Reviewers find its notification sounds inconvenient

If your sibling is an audiophile, this portable Bluetooth speaker will hit the sweet spot. The Marshall Emberton is a familiar sight in movies and TV shows, always stationed in the bedroom as a must-have piece of tech. Its unique brick silhouette isn't the only reason for our pick - this Bluetooth speaker was featured in our list previously for best battery life. Play tunes for up to 23 hours from this palm-sized boombox, as long as the paired device is 9.6 metres (32 feet) away. Its 360-degree soundscape makes the listener feel like they're at a private concert with their favourite artist, say reviewers. With an IPX7 waterproof rating, the Emberton speaker can be taken to the pool or beach, with no worries about spills or submersion in water.

Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh55.98 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh40, and a two-year extended warranty for Dh57.

8. Best Women's Perfume: Burberry My Burberry Black, Perfume for Women, 90ml

A warm signature scent for the winter, My Burberry Black deserves a spot in your sister's perfume collection. This intense floral fragrance opens with sweet jasmine notes, leading to a heart of peach and rose, and ends with rich amber patchouli for an ever-lasting scent. Reviewers say it's their go-to autumn/winter perfume, since it stays on all day. It comes in a gorgeous amber-coloured bottle, with a black gabardine knot tied around the neck.

9. Best Men's Perfume: Guerlain L'Homme Ideal L'Intense Eau De Parfum For Men, 100ml

For a brother who prefers an intense spicy scent with a hint of sweetness - the Guerlain L'Homme Ideal L'Intense is going to be his new winter fragrance. Middle notes of leather, Bulgarian rose and labdanum, are compressed between fiery almond and vanilla scents. Little goes a long way, note reviewers, adding that it's a rare perfume that only a few would have in their collection.

Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.