- The top Christmas gifts every decade since the 1980s
- Computer sales in the US amounted to $11.39bn
- Amazon's kindle dominated in 2012
Every year, a new tech product hits the market just in time for Christmas. Given the demand and limited stock, the high streets are usually full of shoppers scrambling to get the last product off the shelf.
Search volume for “christmas tech gifts” has increased by 113% in the last week with 78% of US adults expected to buy tech devices as gifts this holiday season. Join us as BanklessTimes.com goes back over the last five decades to reminisce on some of the most popular tech presents.
CEO of BanklessTimes.comThe best thing about a tech gift is that the receiver will continue to get value from the item all-year round. Tech items are suitable for all sorts of celebrations, including Christmas. Additionally, with seasonal deals dominating everyone’s inboxes, now is the perfect time to pre-order your gifts and search for last-minute bargains online to save money.
CD Players – 1982
The Sony CDP-101 was the first CD player to be commercially available, which was exciting for anyone living in the 1980s. The player was introduced outside Japan in early 1983, although it was launched there in 1982. Even by today’s standards, the initial price of about $700 is very high, but the sound quality was reportedly excellent.
The following year, over 400,000 CD players were sold in the US.
The Laptop – 1992
The timing of the invention of the first laptop is the subject of heated debate. While several laptop-like technologies were developed in the 1970s and 1980s, the IBM ThinkPad was the product that popularized laptops.
Laptops would eventually surpass desktops in the market because they were more adaptable, portable, and almost as powerful.
In 1992, computer sales in the US amounted to 11.39 billion dollars.
Digital Cameras – 2002
Digital cameras were a very popular Christmas gift in 2002. In December 2002, one particular camera, the Kodak EasyShare DX3700 digital camera, was flying off the shelves. The 3.1-megapixel camera had good image quality and was suitable for beginners. However, the suggested retail price was $299.
When the first digital cameras appeared on the scene, they were expensive and available only to professionals, but thanks to technological development, they became available to the general public in the mid to late 1990s. The development of digital photography also paved the way for a cultural shift in the photography industry.
In 2002, 16% of digital cameras were purchased in order to replace film cameras.
Kindle – 2012
In 2007, the first Kindle was launched. As the most widely used e-readers, Amazon’s Kindles account for an estimated 67% of the electronic book market. Of course, E-books have been around for some time, but until the Kindle came along, only some people were interested in them.
Like any ground-breaking invention, the Kindle soon had other competitors making similar products. The Nook from Barnes & Noble was one of the most well-known examples. Over time, all Kindle devices became smaller and less expensive.
In 2012, the most popular Kindle was the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite which retailed at approximately $119.99.
Furthermore, in 2012, Amazon reportedly shipped 14.9 million e-book readers.
iPhone – 2022
Like previous years, Apple adds another premium smartphone to its impressive line-up of iPhones. The Apple iPhone 14 Pro offers the same all-day battery life, slick screen, and professional-caliber camera setup.
This phone may be worth the hefty price tag if having the best mobile camera and a really smooth display is essential to you. However, this item will cost the buyer $1329 on average. Despite the cost, iPhones remain a popular choice, with $42.63 billion in revenue in the final quarter of Apple’s fiscal year alone.
