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The Best Gifts Under $500 for 2022
Whereas a significant reward does not essentially should be costly, typically it feels good to spend somewhat extra on our family members and provides them one thing distinctive. Whether or not you are looking for a particular birthday, commencement, vacation or simply as a result of, these are among the finest presents within the $200 to $500 worth vary.
Prepared to seek out the right reward? This listing will enable you to discover simply the appropriate factor to order and ship. One factor to notice although: As a result of they’re unlikely to be straightforward to seek out over the approaching weeks, we have left the PS5 ($400 to $500) and Xbox Series X ($500) and Series S ($300) off this listing. If you will get your fingers on one, nonetheless, it might make an awesome reward.
Scott Stein/CNET
Fb’s Oculus Quest 2 could possibly be the machine that makes digital actuality mainstream. It is not solely higher than the unique but additionally cheaper, beginning at $300 for the 128GB model (the 256GB model is $400).
CNET’s Scott Stein praised it for being lighter and sooner, with revised controllers and longer battery life. The show decision is notably crisper and remarkably straightforward to learn textual content on. The one draw back: You now should have a Fb login in to make use of it.
Scott Stein/CNET
The ninth era of Apple’s entry-level iPad got here out final fall with an up to date A13 Bionic chip processor that offers it a pleasant efficiency increase (a keyboard or case will not be included). In any other case it is just about the identical as final yr’s entry-level iPad, which stays the perfect worth in Apple’s iPad line. Whereas costs begin at $396, you get double the storage over the earlier yr’s mannequin, at 64GB (and $479 for the 256GB model), search for particular provides as this iPad typically will get the flash-deal remedy.
Theragun
The Theragun Prime is a brand new Theragun included within the firm’s rebrand and launch of four new massage guns. Its prior equal was the Theragun Liv, which is reviewed in-depth here.
Just like the high-end Theragun Professional ($599), the Theragun Prime’s foremost spectacular characteristic is that it is a lot quieter than its now-retired predecessor. In actual fact, the Prime rivals the famously quiet Hypervolt Plus by way of quantity stage — that is an enormous enchancment from the Liv.
The enhancements do not cease there, although: The place the Theragun Liv solely had two preprogrammed speeds and got here with two closed-cell foam attachments, the Theragun Prime has 5 built-in speeds (from 1,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm) and comes with 5 closed-cell foam attachments.
David Carnoy/CNET
Sony has launched its new WH-1000XM5 however the WH-1000XM4 stays on sale. Whereas I choose the WH-1000XM5 — it is somewhat extra snug, has improved noise canceling, extra refined sound and considerably higher voice-calling efficiency — the WH-1000XM4 continues to be an awesome headphone and a few folks could choose its barely extra energetic sound and the way it folds up right into a smaller case than that of the WH-1000M5. It additionally prices much less and we should always see some good reductions on it going ahead.
Sarah Tew/CNET
No, you possibly can’t get a very high-performance TV for lower than $500, however with TCL’s 55-inch 55S535 you will get an awesome reward with a pleasant measurement display, very strong 4K image high quality and the perfect streaming system accessible (Roku) for $500. In order for you beneath $400, TCL’s newest 4-series 4K line is a decent selection.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Hypervolt Plus is the next-generation Hyperice percussive massager, and rivals the marginally better-known Theragun in effectiveness. Regardless of being fairly forceful, due to a 90-watt high-torque motor, it is notably quiet, so it is not annoying to make use of — to your self or others. It is cordless, after all, and the lithium-ion battery offers you about two hours per cost. It comes with 5 head attachments and options three pace settings.
Sarah Tew/CNET
So possibly your reward recipients have already got a pleasant TV, however they’re caught listening to its horrible built-in audio system. A soundbar is the simplest option to repair that drawback, and this $350 Yamaha is one our favorites on this worth vary. As a bonus it additionally works with Alexa, so you possibly can ask Amazon’s voice assistant to play your tunes, even when the TV is turned off.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Nintendo’s massively in style platform could have a more recent, cheaper entry within the Switch Lite at $200, however the unique bought a minor enchancment within the V2 model with improved battery life. The large distinction between the 2? The Swap Lite has a smaller display and is strictly transportable, with out the big-screen TV dockability and removable controllers that make the V2 so distinctive. We break down the differences here; the principle factor to know is we nonetheless take into account the larger Swap to be the higher selection.
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