We're bringing you a tech-focused Christmas gift guide every day up to the big day itself, to help fuel your present buying inspiration.
Day 1: Apple fans | 2: Photographers | 3: Switch gamers | 4: Xbox gamers | 5: PS4 games | 6: Retro gamers | 7: PC gamers | 8: Lego fans | 9: Music lovers | 10: Mobile gamers | 11: Home cinema dreamers | 12: Home cooks | 13: Smart home starter kit | 14: Tech for kids | 15: Fitness fans | 16: Creatives | 17: Runners | 18: Commuters | 19: Pet owners | 20: Those who have everything | 21: Next-day delivery | 22: Gift Vouchers
Been a bit busy? We know the feeling – Christmas felt like weeks away, and now it’s suddenly got its rosy face right up in your grill, with an accusing eye staring at that bare spot under your tree. You know, where the presents should be.
Fear not – thanks to the magic of modern-day Santa (otherwise known as Next Day Delivery) it’s still possible to pull off a one-day Christmas shop, even at this very late stage in the Christmas shopping calendar.
Of course, you still want your presents to be good and not carry the giveaway scent of last-minute panic, so we’ve hand-picked the best ones around that are still available with next day delivery.
The simple option: Wax & Stamp subscription
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The easiest solution to your last-minute gift quandary is to defer it until next year with a subscription service, and pretend that was your plan all along. One of the best, particularly if your loved one has a turntable, is a subscription to the vinyl service Wax & Stamp. For £30 per month, they'll send your gift recipient two records (one album, and one EP or single) that have been hand-picked to help broaden their musical horizons. You can cancel at any time too.
While this makes for a lovely gift, sometimes it's good to have something tangible to hand over during Christmas too. If that's what you need, here are some of the finest physical gifts around with Next Day Delivery.
The best last-minute Christmas gifts with Next Day Delivery
Christmas delivery cut-off: 9pm, Sunday 22 December (Currys)
One day all of our last-minute Christmas gifts will be delivered by drone, but until then we'll be playing with this excellent mini drone. The Ryze Tello is a cut above other toy drones because it uses DJI's vision positioning tech to keep it hovering steadily. It also shoots 720p video, making it ideal for some novel Christmas videos of the in-laws, and can also teach kids (and big kids) the basics of coding thanks to compatibility with the Scratch coding software. Just don't call it fun-ducational.
Christmas delivery cut-off: 9pm, Monday 23 December (Amazon Prime)
If you know someone who prefers a last-minute espresso on their commute rather than a painstakingly home-brewed latte, get them this nifty, hand-pumped portable machine. The Nanopresso doesn't need any batteries or charging – you just creating the 18 bars of pressure through hand-pumping, a process that produces some surprisingly great-tasting coffee. While it does takes a little practice, there's no other portable coffee solution quite like it.
Christmas delivery cut-off: 9pm Sunday 22 December (Currys), or 9pm Monday 23 December (Amazon Prime)
A recent price slash has made this pocketable printer an even better candidate for Christmas gift duty. The Sprocket 200 is a fun addition to any social gathering, letting its owner and their guests connect to their phones to the printer via Bluetooth and print off little souvenirs of their reunion memories (or drunken, gurning faces). Because it uses Zink (or Zero Ink), you don't have to worry about ink refills or cartridges either, as the ink is stored in the paper itself.
Christmas delivery cut-off: 8pm Sunday 22 December (John Lewis)
If your gift recipient is as forgetful with their possessions as you are with Christmas presents, then get them these handy Bluetooth trackers. This two-pack of waterproof discs use 3M adhesive to help them stick to virtually anything, from keys to bags and gadgets like cameras. Despite being smaller than Tile's other trackers, they still have a 150 foot range, and you can use the app to 'ring' the sticker to help you track down your lost possession.
Christmas delivery cut-off: 9pm, Sunday 22 December (Amazon)
Our number one instant camera for most people, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is a cinch to use, lots of fun at parties, and a great last-minute gift for anyone, even if they're not particularly into photography. You'll need to add Instax Mini film if you're going for the Amazon deal, but choose the pricier John Lewis deal above (which also offers Next Day Delivery) and you'll also get a 10-shot pack of film with the camera. These shots will be credit card-sized photos with the signature Instax look, which have much more retro charm than Zink photos produced by the likes of the Canon Zoemini range.
