Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. Features

You Asked: The Editor’s Cut — The most impactful tech gifts we’ve ever received

By
 
You Asked
You Asked
Each week, we'll hand pick some of the most commonly asked questions and answer them as concisely and helpfully as we know how.
Updated less than 3 days ago

Welcome to a special edition of You Asked: The Editor’s Cut. With the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday in full swing, we thought it would be refreshing to take a step back and reflect on something a bit more personal.

The right piece of tech, especially when gifted, can do more than entertain or simplify life — it can spark creativity, ignite a new passion, or even shape someone’s career in unexpected ways. Whether it’s the thrill of unboxing a gadget you’ve been dreaming about or the surprise of receiving something you never knew you needed, these moments tend to stick with us.

So, we posed a question that takes us beyond the hustle of holiday shopping: What tech-related holiday gift have you received that had a profound impact on you — your love of tech, electronics, or even your career?

Related: 
Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and more

To help answer this, Caleb invited three of his colleagues to discuss their insights on the topic:

So grab your coffee (or your shopping list) and stick around — this one’s going to be a fun trip down memory lane!

Caleb Denison
Caleb Denison
Former Editor at Large
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

You Asked: Sony A95L vs. Bravia Mark II, and iPhone 17 Air battery life
You Asked Ep. 90: A95L in 2025?

On today’s You Asked: Should you go with a 77-inch A95L or 65-inch Bravia 8 Mark 2? Will the expected iPhone 17 Air have poor battery life? And, is burn-in still a problem on some of the latest OLED TVs?

Best 55-inch TV

Read more
You Asked: State of smartphone design, Slate Truck breakdown, and soundbars under $600
You Asked

On today’s You Asked: What's to come with the new Slate Truck and its potential availability? Is it worth the hype? Why does it feel like smartphone design and innovation has stalled recently? And why do directors think that ultra wide 21:9 is a good ratio for movies?
Slate Truck breakdown with John McCann
Some of you have been in touch to ask about the availability of the new Slate Truck. I'll go through the preorder process in a moment, but first, let's get everyone up to speed on this newly unveiled EV. What is it? What makes it stand out? And why is it generating so much buzz?
This is being touted as a sub-$20,000 electric truck after government incentives, and you’ll be able to customize it to your heart’s content. It stands out not so much for what it offers, but for what it doesn’t offer as standard. There’s just one trim and one paint color. No touchscreen, no stereo, no Bluetooth, no electric windows.

So, what do you get? There are two seats. There's a five-meter bed, good for payloads up to 1,400 pounds. There's AC, steel wheels, and hand-cranked windows, plus all the standard driver safety assists you’d expect from a modern vehicle. There’s a rear-mounted electric motor, a roomy frunk, and a battery rated for about 150 miles, according to Slate.
That isn’t great in the world of EV range, but a larger battery will be available to push that figure up to a more reasonable 240 miles. That bigger battery is just one of over 100 add-ons Slate is making available. These will be offered not just at the point of purchase but also at any time during your ownership, allowing you to swap and upgrade as your needs evolve.
Want to add a splash of color? Check out the vast range of vinyl wraps you can apply and remove from the truck at will. There’s also an SUV upgrade kit that converts your two-seater truck into a five-seater car. Inside, infotainment is strictly “bring your own device.” There’s no touchscreen, no built-in CarPlay, not even a stereo. Instead, you get a universal phone mount and a few USB ports. You can also add holders for a tablet if you want a bigger display, and a Bluetooth speaker if you want to listen to music while out for a drive.

Read more
You Asked: Nintendo Switch 2, Best Android Phones, and OLED Upgrades
You Asked Ep. 88: Switch 2, Android, & OLED

On today’s You Asked: What's up with the Nintendo Switch 2? We answer some of your burning questions as preorders are officially underway. In terms of mobile and phone tech, what Android comes most recommended by our Digital Trends expert, and is upgrading your OLED TV worth it for the latest anti-reflective coating?
Nintendo Switch 2 Questions with Giovanni Colantonio
A couple of weeks ago, we posted our first hands-on impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2. I got to attend the first-ever hands-on event for the console, played about 11 games, and now I’m here to answer your biggest questions.

Question from @kennethcheung4938: We haven’t seen much of the new OS yet—is it similar to the original Switch OS, or is it a full overhaul? If it’s the latter, will we still be able to play games from outside our native region? For example, if I have a U.S. Switch, can I buy physical game cartridges in Japan and still play them in English?

Read more