Christmas is less than three weeks away and there’s still time to nail the perfect tech present with the help of the Tech Guide 2025 12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide.
Today we’re focusing on smartphones.
Be sure to come back and check out the different categories we’re covering over the full 12 days of the Christmas gift guide.
Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas:
Day 2: Smartphones
Day 3: Wearables/smartwatches
Day 4: In-car gadgets
DAY 5: Gaming
DAY 6: Tablets/e-readers
DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets
DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices
DAY 9: Headphones/speakers
DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K
DAY 11: Appliances
DAY 12: Computers
DAY 2: SMARTPHONES
iPHONE 17 – From $1,399
Apple’s new iPhone 17 is probably the pick of the entire line-up because it delivers on design, performance, camera, features and value.
The iPhone 17 has inherited many of the Pro features including the Super Retina XDR ProMotion display with 120 Hz variable refresh rate and an improved camera system.
On the design side, the iPhone 17 has maintained a fresh look with an anodized aluminium frame and bright new colours.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD7 – From $2,899
Samsung has absolutely hit its stride with its foldable range. The new Galaxy Z Fold7 is a marvel of engineering that has come a long away even from last year’s model.
Since the first Galaxy Z Fold was unveiled in 2019, it has a niche product favoured by a small yet passionate group of customers.
Samsung paved the road for other companies to drive when it comes to folding smartphones.
The technology has blossomed over these seven generations. The Galaxy Z Fold7 makes that first generation model look like a brick.
Even the improvement from the Z Fold6 to the Z Fold7 is nothing short of remarkable.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
iPHONE 17 PRO and iPHONE 17 PRO MAX – From $1,999
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are bold and powerful updates that underline why they are called Pro in the first place.
They’ve received a slick design update and that already excellent camera system is even better and even more useful for professional users.
These phones have always attracted customers who want a premium iPhone along with premium features.
A new feature of the design is the camera plateau which not only makes room for the camera system but also allows Apple to relocate some of the circuitry and architecture to open up space within the main body for a larger battery and a thermal cooling system.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
SAMSUNG GALAXY S25 ULTRA – From $2,149
The new Samsung S25 Ultra is the culmination of years of state of the art hardware and software development and the power of those features have now been remarkably enhanced with AI.
It’s a complete package that will suit every type of user whether they are a mobile professional, an avid photographer, content creator or just your average user who wants to get the most out of their device.
There are hardware improvements and an all new One UI 7 platform along with the next-gen Galaxy AI that is now supplemented with Google’s Gemini AI.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
GOOGLE PIXEL 10 PRO FOLD – $2,699 (256GB), $2,899 (512GB), $3,249 (1TB)
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has all the features of the Pixel Pro devices and has a 6.4-inch Actua front display that’s 11 per cent brighter than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold with up to 3000 nits peak brightness.
On the outside it maintains the look and feel of a regular smartphone, but it opens up to the 8-inch Super Actua flex inner display for multitasking and enjoying your content in a large format.
It has a gearless high strength hinge for added insurance along with improved drop performance and, for the first time on a Pixel Fold, IP68 water and dust resistance.
The hinges are made from spacecraft grade materials and can handle more than 200,000 folds.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has an upgraded camera system which includes a 48-megapixel wide camera, a 5x telephoto lens with up to 20x and an ultra-wide lens with macro focus.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT HERE
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP 7 – From $1,799
When it comes to Samsung’s folding devices – the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip – are aimed at completely different users. While the Fold7 is the flagship high end device the Flip7 is sleek and built for fun.
The Galaxy Z Flip7’s unique form factor means you’ve got a large screen fully-fledged smartphone that literally folds in half to easily fit in your pocket or purse.
The inner display is 6.9-inch and the device is ever so slightly taller and wider than the Flip6 but the difference is hardly noticeable.
The Flip7 is 1.2mm thinner when it’s in the folded position which again is hardly noticeable.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
iPHONE AIR – From $1,799
The iPhone Air is a stunning device that is a marvel of design and engineering – it is just 5.6mm thick and tips the scales at a featherweight 165g.
It is the iPhone to own if you want to get noticed and to make a statement.
And you can only really appreciate the slim design when you get it in your hands.
The iPhone Air is made with a titanium frame and, according to Apple, it is the strongest and most durable iPhone you can buy.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
BOOST MOBILE REFURBISHED SMARTPHONES
Boost Mobile has been a leading player in consumer awareness and education around refurbished smartphones since entering the market in 2019. In partnership with Assurant, which processes over 20 million devices globally each year, Boost Mobile offers refurbished devices that are perfect for those seeking quality devices this Christmas without breaking the bank.
With a rigorous 72-point check to test the battery, screen, camera, and everything in between, each refurbished device comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and 12-month warranty and is bundled with a Boost Mobile $39 SIM for a quick and convenient way to connect.
Available from select Coles Supermarkets, the most popular refurbished models include iPhone 15 Pro Max ($1,409), Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 ($729) and iPhone 13 ($569)
HONOR 400 PRO 5G – $999
The Honor 400 Pro 5G is a smartphone with on-device AI-powered intelligence.
The device can take professional quality photos and convert them into shareable video clips without the need for third party apps or any editing experience.
The device is running MagicOS 9.0 on top of Android to deliver a smooth and intuitive experience with AI features onboard including AI Translation, AI Recorder, AI Format and AI Summary.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT HERE
GOOGLE PIXEL 10 PRO XL – From $1,999
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a flagship grade smartphone that’s had an incremental improvement over last year’s model and a boost in Gemini’s power and reach.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL – and the other models in the range – are ideally not meant for someone who invested in the Pixel 9 but for someone with a much older device.
Design-wise there has been hardly any change but it still maintains its solid build quality and an assured in-hand feel.
Google is very much staying in the lane that its devoted customers love with pure Android onboard and no other UI layer.
The 6.8-inch display has a 120Hz variable refresh rate and is sharp and bright and easy to read in all conditions – even in direct sunlight.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT HERE
SAMSUNG GALAXY S25 EDGE – From $1,849
The Samsung Galaxy S25 edge has set a new smartphone trend – thin is back in. But the good news is there’s very little compromise to bring you a smartphone that’s just 5.8mm thick while still offering flagship features and performance.
Naturally, the biggest selling point of the device is the fact that it is super slim at just 5.8mm thick.
The first time we got it in our hands we marvelled at the engineering that could still pack in all those features in a chassis that’s about the same size as the thickness of two 20 cent coins or three 10 cent coins.
The S25 Edge feels great in your hands – it is so slender and light and will amaze anyone who sees it.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
SAMSUNG A56 5G – From $699
Samsung has set a new and higher standard for mid-tier smartphones with the release of the Galaxy A56 5G which is packed with features and AI you’d expect to find on a more expensive flagship device.
Priced at $699 (128GB storage) and $799 (256GB), the Galaxy A56 offers remarkable quality and value.
It has a simple yet sleek design with a metal frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus along with IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
NOTHING PHONE (3) – From $1,509
The Nothing Phone (3) is a major evolution for the company’s first true flagship device that still showcases the design trademarks of the brand while adding useful and unique features to offer a whole new experience for the user.
The device’s design is unmistakably nothing with its transparent panels and shapes that were inspired by modern architecture.
The Nothing Phone (3) has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of up to 4500 nits (HDR) and 1600 nits (HMB).
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT HERE
GOOGLE PIXEL 9A – From $849
The Google Pixel 9a is the just right affordable smartphone which ticks the boxes in terms of display, camera and battery life. It’s an attractive package.
The Pixel 9a has taken a departure from the typical design language of the Pixel series with flatter edges and more compact shape.
It is also tougher with a sturdy metal frame with IP68 protection for water and dust resistance.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
HMD FUSE – $799
HMD has released the HMD Fuse – a smartphone designed for young children with AI protection onboard designed to block nude content from the camera and across all installed apps.
The device has been developed in partnership with online safety experts and is the first smartphone that can stop nude content from being filmed, seen, shared and stored.
The on-device protection is provided by HarmBlock+ – an AI-powered system that gives parents the control on what apps and features of the device can be accessed.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT HERE
OPPO A5 5G – $299
Oppo has released its latest affordable smartphone – the A5 5G – which offers a sleek design, IP65 water and dust resistance and a massive 6,000 mAh battery.
Priced at $299, the Oppo A5 5G is built for the Australian lifestyle with military grade shock resistance and a double tempered glass screen whether you’re outdoors, on the move or on a job site.
The Android device has a 6.67-inch display and is running the ColorOS 15 user interface.
It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 Mobile Platform with 4GB ram and 128GB storage.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT HERE
SAMSUNG GALAXY S25 FE – From $1,099
Is it Fan Edition or Flagship Experience? Samsung says it’s the latter. We’re talking about the new Samsung Galaxy S25 FE – a smartphone that’s like a highlight reel of some of Samsung’s best Galaxy features that’s been packed into a more affordable device.
This is a remarkable new smartphone that makes it one of the best pound-for-pound offerings in terms of features, design, camera and value.
It is an opportunity for customers to get a taste of the larger Galaxy ecosystem and sample flagship features while enjoying a premium design.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REVIEW HERE
TEAMGROUP MAGSAFE PORTABLE SSD – $189 (1TB) $299 (2TB)
Extra storage is always something we need for our smartphones and TeamGroup has come up with a solution – a MagSafe compatible portable SSD.
The PD20M Mag portable SSD drive has a rounded design and is just 8.2mm thick and weighs only 40g. It is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities.
It attaches securely to the back of an iPhone, the latest Pixel smartphones and other Android devices with a magnetic case.
The included short USB-C to USB-C cable connects the PD20M to your phone but it still offers very little interference with using your phone and camera.
READ TECH GUIDE’S FULL REPORT HERE
CMF PHONE 2 PRO – $449 (128GB), $509 (256GB)
CMF Phone 2 Pro, at just 7.8mm thick and weighing 185g, is the thinnest and lightest smartphone Nothing has ever produced.
The phone’s sleek design is highlighted with an aluminium camera surround and includes stainless steel screws to give it a unique look.
The device also has increased water durability with an IP54 rating.
