CLAIRE PULPHER checks out all the latest gadgets that will be appearing on a Christmas list near you...

Grab the winter coat, dig out the wellington boots and throw away the bikinis – Christmas is coming.

l think 2012 has been a record actually – l saw ScS Sofas show their first Christmas advert in September. September.

l thought their Christmas sofa sale was still running from 1987, never mind this new one.

Now they’re spreading like wildfire and everyone is on to it.

Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the (for some) last minute Christmas shopping. And what’s on everyone’s list this year? I can almost guarantee it’s going to be something that requires a battery or two. Here’s my lowdown on what you can expect to be shelling out on this year...

l Beats By Dre When it comes to fashion this year, the 80s are definitely coming back. This is the geek generation, it’s almost cool to be a nerd. Kids are choosing to wear big glasses, slick their hair back and don backpacks with their top buttons done up. Believe it or not, fashion plays a big part in technology too.

The accessory that every music lover will put on their Christmas list this year will be a set of headphones by Monster branded Beats By Dre.

They’re designed and endorsed by too-cool-for-school producer and rapper, Dr Dre, which is enough to make the entire urban generation want a set.

But if that wasn’t enough, they’re actually of first class sound quality.

I bought my first pair of Dre’s earbuds several years ago when Lady Gaga designed her own set and I remember predicting great things for the brand. Low and behold, they’re now not just an accessory, they’re a must-have, they’re a fashion statement and they’re status.

Be warned though – picking up a set of these is probably going to give your wallet a run for its money (pardon the pun) as they go for around £100 for the buds and a minimum of £169 for the over-ear sets.

l iPhone 5 If you have a child of any age – whether that’s a four year old or a 40 year old – they’ve probably talked about the iPhone. Hey, maybe you’re craving a bite out of Apple’s new handset yourself. But these gadgets definitely don’t come cheap.

First there was the Macintosh, the Mac book and then the generation of iPods. Then came the iPhone – one of the most innovative mobile phones ever. Being an Apple product it was of course very stylish and glamorous with a unique design and it immediately took the lead and started a whole new generation of smartphones.

Apple have kept their following for five years now, while picking up many more fans along the way and therefore the iPhone 5 was highly anticipated.

However, with an eight megapixel camera (the same as the 4S), hardly any difference in the processor speeds or battery life and only half an inch bigger, it was – to me – a complete disappointment. I know size shouldn’t matter but one thing I do know is that half an inch doesn’t make enough difference for me to change models...

l iPad Yet another creation from Apple that keeps us all interested. I think I speak for every geek when I say that the announcement of the first iPad was astounding and impressive and we all wanted it. Even if we didn’t really need one.

Tablet PCs had been around before. They would make a brief appearance but then get a bad press and disappear again until they’d been improved. Apple were arguably the first people to get it right – in their own way of course. It’s light and compact so it’s perfect for students or commuters, it takes seconds to start up and it has exceptional battery life. And with the ability to buy a full scale keyboard, you can even turn it into a proper little computer. The only flaw I find with it is the lack of CD disk drive. But with the new announcement of the iPad Mini at under £300 it looks like Apple will continue to claim the attention of the public.

l Furby Lastly for the younger generation, the furry friend that doesn’t know how to shut up is making a comeback. It’s been ‘improved’ to the point that by downloading an application on your smartphone you’re able to teach it new commands.

Unfortunately they still haven’t given it an ‘off’ switch.