Christmas gift guides are usually about what you should buy, sensible picks, safe choices, and crowd-pleasers that won’t raise eyebrows. But what if budgets weren’t part of the equation? For this list, we flipped the script and asked the HardwareZone team a simple question: what would we buy for ourselves if we were really indulging this festive season?
The result is a wishlist of dream gadgets, premium upgrades, and little luxuries we’ve been quietly eyeing all year, the kind of gifts that spark genuine excitement and make everyday life noticeably better. From top-tier tech to indulgent lifestyle picks, this guide is a peek into what the HardwareZone staff would unwrap on Christmas morning if we were treating ourselves properly.
The gift list
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
S$2199 (without AppleCare)
Kenny Yeo – I’ve been reviewing iPhones for a long time, and I haven’t got this excited about one in a while. But truly, this year’s iPhone 17 Pro Max is fantastic. It’s powerful, battery life is great, and Cosmic Orange is a bold new colour. But most of all, I love the improved image processing pipeline, which produces noticeably more natural-looking photos. It’s interesting to see where Apple will go from here, but for now, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is what I want most for Christmas. If you’re curious, check out my detailed assessment here.
Lego Icons 10356 Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D
S$559.90
Ken Wong – This marries two of my favourite things: Star Trek and Lego. I want this set so much that I don’t think I’ll be able to open it when it comes, and it will sit mint in the box while I just admire it.
