By Tae Kim

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Buy Now. Hi everyone. The holiday shopping season is upon us. There's an added wrinkle this year with President-elect Donald Trump threatening to raise tariffs on imports as soon as his first day in office on Jan. 20. They could affect the price of consumer electronics in a significant manner, given that many of the products are primarily manufactured abroad.

That makes this holiday season an even more opportune time to buy gadgets -- either for friends and loved ones, or to effectively get a discount on 2025 prices.

Because I'm here to help, I've compiled a list of my favorite higher-end technology products -- things I bought and use myself on a near-daily basis-that are well worth the cost even at full price. All three of them are currently on sale.

They come with my highest recommendation, and each of them would make a great gift for friends or family members, or as a purchase for yourself.

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Console ($375)

The Sony PlayStation 5 has emerged as the winner of this generation's console wars. It boasts the best library of high-quality AAA games with even Microsoft now pledging to port some of its previously exclusive Xbox franchises to the PS5.

This holiday season, the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console is being offered at its lowest price ever, with a $75 discount through Christmas. It's the perfect opportunity for new and old gamers to jump in. I recommend pairing the console with the recently released Astro Bot title, Sony's delightful take on the classic platformer genre that rivals the best 3-D Mario games.

Kanto ORA Powered Reference Desktop Speakers with Bluetooth ($300)

After a decade of use, my old computer speakers died earlier this year. I decided to go upscale in my search for a replacement and discovered the Kanto ORA. These speakers aren't just beautifully designed. They also offer modern connectivity options, including Bluetooth for pairing with your smartphone, USB-C for connecting computers, and a traditional analog RCA cable input.

The ORA speakers have exceptional sound quality. The clarity and accuracy of the audio make them perfect for enjoying music, listening to podcasts, and playing games. For anyone looking for a high-quality upgrade to an audio setup, the Kanto ORA speakers are a great choice. They're available now for $50 off the original $350 price.

Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SD 32" 4K Monitor ($950)

The Samsung G80SD monitor delivers stunningly vivid colors, inky blacks, and fast, twitch-like response times for gaming, similar to OLED televisions. It also comes with a convenient remote control, which is useful for adjusting volume on its built-in speakers and switching between different devices.

The G80SD stands out from its predecessors by incorporating the latest QD-OLED display technology. While earlier OLED monitors had issues with fuzzy text for office work, the Samsung monitor delivers sharp text on an expansive 32-inch screen size, making it well-suited for both entertainment and productivity.

The monitor launched at a price of $1,300 but is currently available for $950. While that might seem steep, the performance and visual quality are worth it for technology enthusiasts. It's the best monitor I've ever used.

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Write to Tae Kim at tae.kim@barrons.com or follow him on X at @firstadopter.

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November 27, 2024 15:15 ET (20:15 GMT)

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