Hypable’s 2016 Holiday Gift Guide: What to get a fandom lover

Don’t know what to get your fandom-loving friend for the holidays this year? We’ve compiled a 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for geeks of all types.

From TV subscriptions, to the latest technology, to… waffle makers. We have you covered.

Hypable’s 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

For Harry Potter fans: ‘Chamber of Secrets’ Illustrated Edition

Sure, the Potter fan in your life may have the first editions of every Harry Potter book, but do they own the newly released illustrated editions? The beauty of every single page of these books can not be overstated. Most Potter fans may not have heard of these reissues, so they make a perfect surprise gift for the Harry Potter loving person in your life. As of right now only the first two books are available, with the rest rolling out over the next few years.

You can purchase Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Amazon for $23.99, but we highly recommend going to a local book store, leafing through the beautiful pages yourself and then buying!

Honorable mentions: With Fantastic Beasts just hitting theaters, there’s plenty of merchandise related to the movie now available. We recommend the script book and The Case of Beasts for anyone who’s obsessed with the movie.

For techies: Amazon Echo Dot

Home automation is all the rage this year. But the Amazon Echo Dot stands out because of its cute design, abundance of use and small price tag. The Echo Dot, which does the same thing as the Echo but without the giant speaker, is a hands-free, voice-controlled device that uses Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, provide information, read the news, set alarms and more. Consider it a smarter Siri. A few of us at Hypable have used this for a few months and absolutely love it.

You can buy the Amazon Echo Dot on Amazon for $49.99, or pick one up at a local Best Buy, WalMart or Target.

For cable-cutters: Sling TV

Cable-cutters, rejoice! If you’ve dropped your cable box, or are considering it, Sling TV is a good transition into the cable box-less lifestyle. Starting at $20/month, Sling TV offers a slew of channels including CNN, HGTV, Disney Channel, Freeform, AMC, and ESPN without the high cost of cable. Best of all, there are no hidden or additional fees (besides the need to pay for internet). If you’re looking for even more channels, you can upgrade your subscription with additional “extras” that suit your needs.

Honorable mention: On Wednesday, November 30, DirecTV launched a competitor to Sling TV called DirecTV Now. They’re offering a very enticing introductory offer: Commit to three months of service (for as low as $35 per month) and you get a free Apple TV — the new one Apple unveiled last year. What’s more, you can lock in DirecTV Now’s 100-channel plan for only $35 per month, and it’ll stay at that price for as long as you keep your subscription active. Normally the 100-channel package is $60/month, so you better act fast!

DirecTV is still missing key features like a virtual DVR, but AT&T says it’s coming.

For cable-cutters: Hulu’s No Commercial plan

Another solution for cable-cutters: Earlier this year Hulu dropped their free service, and the announcement stung. But honestly? Hulu is worth paying for these days, because their “No Commercials” plan is fantastic. For $11.99 you get to watch current TV shows (save for CW shows — ugh) as if they were on Netflix. You hit “Play,” and it begins to play without pesky ads. No commercial breaks. Just the TV show. Shelling out $11.99 per month is worth the TV bliss.

Hulu also has an impressive lineup of movies, including the latest James Bond movie Spectre, Mockingjay, Part 2, and Creed.

This is a cable-cutters dream come true, and something we’d recommend over Sling TV. And if you need those CW shows, download the CW app and stream ’em for free.

For party people: UE BOOM 2 Bluetooth Speaker

If you need a portable bluetooth speaker for parties, vacations, etc., look no further than the UE BOOM 2. Yes, it’s available in a variety of colors and offers unique features like an app that lets multiple people contribute songs to a single playlist, but this is the most important part: It sounds great. Seriously, seriously great. You won’t believe the amount of sound that comes out of the little thing.

The only problem is it’s a little pricey: From $169 to $199. But trust me, if you want to impress your friends and your ear holes, this is the first and last bluetooth speaker to consider.

(By the way: It can hook up with that Amazon Echo Dot)

For the organized Potter fan: A Divination Planner

Ruskerville has the best planners for any and every Potter fan. I would know; I’ve ordered a planner from this Wisconsin-based Etsy seller every year for the past three years. Ranging from daily to weekly and encompassing all of the Hogwarts houses, these planners have the perfect amount of flair to make every day of the year a great day to celebrate Harry Potter. You can choose your starting month and what layout you like best for your planner, which is really handy if you forget to buy one before the start of the year. Best of all, the planners are well-made and durable, even if they spend most of the year jostling around in your over-stuffed purse.

You can buy the Divination planner here for $24.00. Be sure to check out Ruskerville’s Etsy shop to see all of the Harry Potter planner options. — Danielle Zimmerman

For the Star Wars fan who loves breakfast: A Star Wars Death Star Waffle Maker

Do we even need to say anything here? If you love Star Wars and waffles, you can’t possibly go wrong with this. With Rogue One coming out very soon, this is the perfect gift for your Star Wars loving friend.

You can buy the Death Star Waffle Maker for $39.99.

For the nerdy political junkie: Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy

Fans of politics and political history can find their passions combined with Star Wars in Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy. A gorgeous in-universe art book, Star Wars Propaganda tells the story of galactic politics through the evocative persuasive posters produced throughout all seven episodes. With “scholarly commentary” from Jaynor of Bith (the text is actually written by Star Wars mastermind Pablo Hidalgo) and ten beautiful art prints, this rich fictional history is a treat for both the eyes and the mind.

You can purchase Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy for $28.54.

For the Tyrion Lannister in your life: Valar Dohaeris/Valar Morghulis Beer Set

Ommegang Beer takes the edge off the holidays (and the wait for Game of Thrones season 7) with their Valar Dohaeris/Valar Morghulis beer set. The Valar Dohaeris Tripel Ale is a new addition to the the brewery’s Game of Thrones line, and Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale is a re-release of a popular bottle from 2014. Packaged in beautiful House of Black and White-themed box, the set comes with a commemorative glass and a delicious way to remind your friends and family (over the legal drinking age!) that no matter what, all men must serve.

You can learn more about the Game of Thrones beer set here. You’ll have to shop around at your local liquor stores to get your hands on it.

Do you have a favorite fandom gift that you know fans would love to receive as a holiday gift? Add a link in the comments below!

Andrew Sims, Michal Schick and Danielle Zimmerman contributed to this article.

Hypable’s 2016 Holiday Gift Guide: What to get a fandom lover