For the past week MacRumors editors and writers have been sharing gift guides featuring hand-picked items for the holidays. Thus far, we've seen gift guides from Juli, Joe, Mitchel, Marianne, Eric, Matt and one featuring your holiday suggestions. Today, I end our series of gift guides with my own.

This gift guide was written by me, Husain Sumra, and it's filled with items that I either really love and use frequently or items that I'm lusting for in the hope that they make my day easier.

Anker PowerCore+ mini - $9.99

ankerWhile there are a lot of small external batteries, there are none that I enjoy using more than the Anker PowerCore+ mini. It comes in a small, lipstick-sized package that has plenty of power for my iPhone 6.

It's small enough to slip into your pocket or purse, but it also has a premium metal finish that's oddly fun to hold. It feels sturdy and solid rather than a cheap toy, which makes it a nice companion to the iPhone if you care about the feel of your products.

The best feature of the PowerCore+ mini though is its price, which gives it a huge advantage over similar external batteries on the market.

Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection - $89.99


With Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening on December 18, there's no better time to revisit the complete Star Wars collection. Yes, even the prequels.

While The Digital Movie Collection doesn't include the unedited original trilogy, it is the most convenient way to watch these movies. Not only can you watch them on your Apple TV or Mac, but you can watch them on your iPad Pro or iPhone, too. Furthermore, you can use Disney Movies Anywhere to watch five of the six movies on non-Apple devices. The only exception to this is A New Hope due to rights issues with 20th Century Fox. They also come with brand new behind-the-scenes bonus features giving even the biggest Star Wars fan new insight into the creation of some of the most loved movies of all time.

If you, or someone you know, likes to watch their media on multiple devices there's no better way to watch the incredible highs and lows of the complete Star Wars saga.

Shure MOTIV MV88 Digital Stereo Microphone - $149.00

shureI use my iPhone for recording interviews and quick podcasts a lot, but my iPhone 6's microphone is fairly basic and tends to produce a more hollow sound. So I've been lusting for a small, easy-to-use mic that I can use on the go and the one I've centered on is the Shure MOTIV MV88.

It's the one mic I've found that seems to fall into the perfect mixture of size, audio quality and price. It also comes with a simple app that allows you to adjust your mic's settings, letting you see exactly how it'll affect the sound. Those settings transfer over to any recordings you do with GarageBand or other third-party audio and video-recording apps.

HBO Now - $14.99/Month


There is no content provider I turn to more often than HBO. Whether it be hit shows like Game of Thrones, smaller dramas like The Leftovers, documentary series like The Jinx or weekly shows like Last Week Tonight, there is no one I trust more to provide me with great content.

With HBO Now, you don't have to subscribe to an expensive cable or satellite subscription either. You can get all of their content on your own terms for $14.99, making cutting the cord easier than ever if you don't care about live sports.

iPad Air Smart Cover - $39.00

smartcoverWhenever I purchase a new device, whether it be an iPhone, iPad or Macbook, I usually opt to not purchase any kind of case or protection. I find the vast majority of cases aesthetically unpleasant compared to the device's natural look, and most cases hamper the feel of the product in my hand.

However, I make an exception for the Smart Cover line by Apple. Not only does it allow my iPad Air's aesthetic and feel to shine, but it's actually got some versatility outside of protecting the display when it's not in use. It can fold itself up, allowing the iPad to stand. Additionally, the soft material on the inside of the cover is a good way to quickly wipe off any dust or fingerprints on the display.

AirPort Extreme - $199.00

airportextremeThe AirPort Extreme isn't the most fully featured or complex router available on the market, but it is the one I'd recommend to the vast majority of people.

I've owned Apple's previous AirPort Extreme in addition to the newest one, and I've never had a problem with either. In fact, the last time I even looked at my AirPort Extreme is when I went through the very simple setup process. The AirPort Extreme has provided a reliable and strong Wi-Fi signal in my home with absolutely no problems, and there's no better option for people who want a no-hassle solution for their networking needs.

The new version of the AirPort Extreme provides 3 times the speed of the previous model and transmits at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies at the same time, allowing your device to connect to the fastest connection it can at most times. It can also transmit further than the previous model, as I found I've been able to hold a viable connection from around 30 yards away from my home.

MoviePass - From $30/Month

moviepassAs a huge movie buff, I tend to visit movie theaters a lot to check out the latest new releases. However, watching at least one movie in theaters a week quickly becomes a very expensive hobby, so I was very pleased to subscribe to MoviePass, a subscription service for watching movies in theaters.

The subscription starts at $30 a month, though it can rise to $49 a month depending on your area (you can check how much a subscription costs in your area at MoviePass' website). You're allowed to see a new release, non-3D movie in theaters every 24 hours. Since I see at least a film a week, and sometimes two or three a week during the summer and fall, I've found that MoviePass actually saves me money and has been a good value overall.

To use the service, you must download the MoviePass app and check-in to a movie at the theater of your choice. Once you've checked in, you take your MoviePass card to the box office and request the movie you've checked into. The cashier then slides the card and you receive your movie ticket.

Correction: An earlier version of this gift guide indicated that the Anker PowerCore+ mini could provide two full charges for an iPhone 6. As pointed out by readers, it cannot.

Top Rated Comments

nick42983 Avatar
121 months ago
Seriously???
I see no point in watching them, Lucas deserves all the scorn he's gotten over the years. Here's something interesting for Star Wars fans by some real aficionados and technical masters : http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/18/6030725/star-wars-hd-despecialized-edition
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Davejackson Avatar
121 months ago
Thank you both for pointing this out. I regret the error and have corrected the guide.
No worries !!

Still an excellent article . Thank You .
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...