This gift guide offers our top picks for phones and other smart devices for holiday 2016. These are affordable. Buy them for yourself, get extras for gifts. We’ve picked four that are not just high performance but that also have something extra.
Do they seek freedom from chargers with dangling cords? Would they like to make a fashion statement while protecting their smart phones? A chic tassel charger might just win over that young at heart woman, and a”road warrior” who need essential tech accessories will love a set that won’t make them “snore.”
We adore, these four!
Advicesisters.com will be featuring more “tech ideas” in other gift guides. Keep reading!
A Very Unique Power Charger – Thinium ReCharge+
Part power bank, part wall charger, and we can’t find a more unique way to charge a smart phone than the Thinium Recharge+ ($69.99) all in one charger.
Most power chargers are tethered to your phone with a cord which makes it awkward to use when you’re trying to make a phone call, the phone has to be charging, and the power bank is in your hand while the cord dangles (unless you can juggle all three of these things).
When our pricey power bank fell off our phone and broke while we were talking (and juggling phone,charger and it’s cord), we were delighted to find the Thinium ReCharge.that is touted as the world’s thinnest 2-in-1 portable battery and wall charger for smartphones. It’s lightweight, completely cord-free (goodbye awkward dangling cords) and secure. Your phone charges by being held firmly to it by suction cups and the pop-up micro USB or Apple lightening connector.
Now you can actually comfortably hold and use your phone while it’s charging or charge two devices at once (a phone held in place with suction cups via wall charger) and a device attached to the USB connector plug.
This power bank charges either with prongs in a wall socket or by the attached USB plug that fold back into the unit. The high-density 3000mAH Li-Polymer battery pack can provide your device with two “lightening” (that’s fast) charges from one charge of the Thinium . This is approximately 13 hours of talk time or 11 hours of browsing time.
A row of four tiny lights on the side shows the battery level and charge status.
This ReCharge has won all sorts of design awards (no wonder). Thinium ReCharge is available in black or white.
It does so much and it’s affordable. Get one for all your talkative friends, and anyone who uses smart devices on the go. At Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and Thinium.com
Tether Like a Rock Star! – Claire’s Tassel Charging Cable
Claire’s has all sorts of wearable bling, beauty and teen/tween products to win hearts. What we didn’t know (and maybe you didn’t either) is that they also have a lot of smart phone cases and accessories for electronic devices.
One that immediately caught our eye is the Tassel Charging Cable ($16.99) that lets you carry a phone charger for your device that’s not just service-able, but gorgeously glamorous.
Tether your phone or other i-device in style with a cable/USB combo that is enclosed by a stunning, glittery, faux leather tassel with a big ‘lobster claw: style clip that lets you do more than just charge a device (that’s the practical side). It’s also a fun, glitzy accent clipped to a handbag, keys, computer bag or even your jeans. It will be there when you need it and look good even when you don’t.
Gift one of these to every single one of your “girlz.” Visit your favorite Claire’s store or order online.
Fashion with Protection – Incipio Design Series “Stripe It Rich” Phone Case/T-Mobile
These days we know that phone cases are like shoes and lipsticks — you can’t have enough of them. Phone cases show your personality and style.
But there’s a more serious reason to get a good phone case:
While taking a selfie, our phone slipped from our hand and the glass cracked on our T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S7Edge. The price to fix the glass cost us more than we had anticipated/. A cheap phone case will protect your phone at least a little, but a better-constructed case can save your phone from ruin as well as the mere dings and bumps.
Add some style to your phone security with the glitzy Incipio Design Stripes Series “Stripe It Rich” Phone Case that we found at T-Mobile ($34.99). You can get these phone cases for all sorts of iPhone and other android models, but we love it because it’s lightweight but the plastic is high quality to really help keep your phone protected from daily wear and tear (not to mention accidents).
The case has a metallic foil design (we’re showing the rose gold sample we received but there’s also gold, silver, or black). The side of the case is clear, but the back has a combo of translucent and sheer glitter.It is coated in a premium scratch resistant finish so it stays beautiful and shiny.
The best thing? We can find it in our tote, and when we take it out, heads turn!
Get this for just about anyone who uses a phone and that’s just about everyone (your shopping is done)! There are plenty of other cases and tons of phone-friendly gadgets (even if you aren’t on T-Mobile).. Check out the selection of Accessories at T-Mobile and T-Mobile.com

