Created in the United States in the early 20th century as a response to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June to honour fatherhood and the influence of fathers in society. Like any other annual holiday, however, in the age of consumerism, it has become one of many occasions to show affection to one’s parents by giving them something useful or simply enjoyable.
So, even if the holiday is only a few days away, you can use the following tips to make up for it at the last minute and give your father an object that will make him happy. Ten high-tech tips, varying in price but united in the possibility of finding the item that best satisfies a man’s passions: headphones, watch, smart glasses, camera, eBook reader, smartphone, TV, but also a unique monitor for those who love camping, or an unusual XL speaker, or even a console for those who love DJing.
If it is true that the smartphone has replaced the point-and-shoot camera, things change when you go underwater. This is where the Kodak PixPro WPZ2 comes in, an underwater model that is waterproof to a depth of 15 metres and resistant to shocks and dust thanks to its armouring. The latter makes it easy to hold, while the operation is as intuitive as any compact model, with good-quality shots thanks to its 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, 6x digital zoom and Full HD video. Just enough to get you those summer holiday snaps, in and out of the water. Price: 184 euros.
Father’s Day 2024
One passion that unites almost all dads is music, each with their favourite genre. That’s why a pair of headphones that reproduce sound more faithfully than the ubiquitous earphones could be a good option to make dads everywhere happy. Among the many models on the market, I recommend JBL’s Tour One M2, which I tested and found to have an excellent hybrid True Adaptive ANC system that automatically adapts to the environment in real-time, eliminating distractions and providing a very good listening experience. There is also voice recognition to manage track sequencing, pause music and activate Ambient Aware. Price: 329.99 euros.
Not all fathers are fashion-conscious, but the Ray-Ban Stories 2, also known as Meta’s Smart Glasses, will not leave them indifferent. The product is the result of a partnership between Essilor-Luxottica and Mark Zuckerberg’s company, and the second generation has been improved with a 12MP camera integrated into the front of the glasses and open-ear audio that allows you to listen to music and converse seamlessly during calls. Voice commands allow you to control the device hands-free, but most importantly, the glasses make you feel a little bit like James Bond, as you can film videos and take photos with a touch of the stick, making you feel like a secret agent for a change. Hard to find anything more exciting. Price. 329 euros.
Adulthood often coincides with the rediscovery of reading, so giving an e-reader is also an invitation to immerse oneself in literary classics, novels or essays on current affairs. In this case, the choice is the Kindle, the most popular model with an e-ink screen to replicate the experience of reading on paper. Amazon offers a wide range of models, from the basic version, which costs 90 euros, to the Kindle Scribe, the best on the market because it has a 10.2-inch screen and a stylus for underlining the most interesting parts of a work, taking notes and creating alongside the pages you read, preferably using the backlight to reduce eye strain. Price: 369 euros.
Tech gifts
I mentioned music, which can often be synonymous with celebration. So why not go for something out of the ordinary that will please dad and the rest of the family (friends included)? Yes, because Sharp’s SumoBox Pro is an XL portable speaker (450 x 690 x 350 millimetres) that is splashproof and, thanks to two integrated woofers and two tweeters, has a sound output of 108 dB. Ideal for creating a buzz in the garden or by the pool, it has a battery life of around 10 hours, allows you to adjust various effects and can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. I tried it out, and it’s the bomb, even if it’s not cheap: 568 euros.
Wearing a smartwatch on your wrist is something that many fathers would like to do, even if they prefer models that have the aesthetics of a traditional watch rather than something with a strange shape. Another alternative is the Scanwatch Nova by Whitings, a hybrid with a digital face for notifications and an analogue face for the pedometer. It also has a blood oxygen meter, an ECG, a temperature sensor and even the ability to go underwater. Its 30-day battery life on a single charge is as remarkable as practical. Price: 569.50 euros.
With so many choices in the world of technology, picking up a TV on sale can be the ideal gift for a dad. It’s even better if it’s a 65-inch QLED 4K model by HiSense. To clear up any misunderstandings, it’s good to know that the Chinese brand shipped 25.9 million TVs in 2023 (behind only Samsung with 36.4 million), making it the only one of the top brands to grow for the sixth year. In this case, we have a TV with bezels reduced to a few millimetres, vibrant colours, and excellent contrast levels characterising the viewing experience. It incorporates the VIDAA U6 Smart platform, with voice control via Alexa and a 20W Dolby Atmos sound system. In contrast, the remote control allows quick menu management and instant access to the most popular video streaming platforms. Price: 599 euros.
Is betting on a smartphone a given? Yes, it is. But it is still the most desired and often useful object because it is our daily assistant. In the whirlwind of proposals, looking at the latest novelties, you can bet on the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, the top of the range of the latest series launched by the brand that invented the mobile phone. The variant with a wooden rear body stands out.
Still, there is also a thin aluminium frame with Corning Gorilla Victus protective glass and a triple rear camera with few rivals in terms of zoom and colour reproduction, not least because this is the first series with a Pantone-certified camera and display. An insurance in terms of hues, which, for example, replicate the colours of human skin in shots with subjects in the foreground. Available in Forest Grey, Nordic Wood, and Beach Fuzz, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is on sale for 999 euros.
Smart gifts
Play it safe with LG’s StanbyME Go if you want to impress dad. This briefcase hides a 27-inch tilting screen with a touch interface that connects via Wi-Fi and uses the webOS platform to watch films and TV series on video streaming apps, listen to music, play games and browse the web, from social media to your favourite sites. Dolby Atmos is available for audio, while battery life is weak at around three hours. When you are done, the screen folds away, and the case protects it from bumps and bruises—price: 1099 euros.
It is not the right gift for every dad, but it is perfect for those who like to play to feel like a DJ. Omnis-Duo is a portable all-in-one system with compact dimensions and low weight that can be carried comfortably in a backpack. The 2-deck + mixer layout facilitates the user experience, while the Light and Dark modes allow you to accurately see the information displayed on the touchscreen even in very bright environments.
The battery life is 5 hours (then make up for it with a USB-C power bank), and the Bluetooth audio output (there is also a professional XLR output for performing in clubs) allows you to play anywhere: from camping to the beach, any occasion is good for having fun and bringing joy to others. Various sources can be used for music playback, as the console connects to USB-A drives and SD cards and PC and MAC with USB-C to use rekordbox and Serato DJ Lite. Price: 1599 euros.
