'Tis the season to buy gadgets, gear and games for loved ones -- or, hey, why not yourself, too. And in 2015, there’s no shortage of amazing tech toys to suit varying tastes and budgets.

Whether you’re looking for something shiny and new for under the tree or perhaps a stocking stuffer surprise for the kids, the following is a brief look at the gadgets and gear I showed on Canada AM on Friday, Dec. 18.

Happy holidays!

Samsung Galaxy View

Samsung Galaxy View

Consider it the granddaddy of all tablets. Samsung’s Galaxy View ($699.99) is a huge and stunning Wi-Fi tablet that delivers an immersive and interactive viewing experience for all of your movies and TV shows. In fact, preloaded onto the device is Bell’s Fibe TV app that lets you access up to 300 live and on-demand channels. Its massive 18.4-inch display offers a full 1080p HD resolution for a TV-like experience everywhere you go, and the display is complemented by travel handle and a two-way stand that provides you with completely hands-free viewing at two different angles. Running on Android’s 5.1 (“Lollipop”) operating system, the Galaxy View has an easy-to-use touch interface, as well as access to a wide range of Google Play apps and games through the tablet’s Wi-Fi connectivity.

Swagway X1

Swagway X1

Electric skateboards, or “hoverboards,” are one of the hottest tech toys of the year - but be aware of the many copycat brands out there with cheap materials and low-grade batteries. Instead, the Swagway X1 ($539.00) is a high-quality zero-emission self-balancing electric skateboard that only uses Samsung and LG batteries. Go forwards and backwards up to 16 km/ hr by simply leaning in a given direction. Steering and stopping are equally as easy thanks to its internal gyroscope and acceleration sensors that react based on your center of gravity. LED lights automatically flash to indicate which direction you’re turning. Each Swagway lasts up to 28 km before it needs to be charged up again. Available colours are red, dark red, white, blue, green, black, and pink.

Sphero BB-8 Droid

Sphero BB-8 Droid

You might’ve heard about a little ‘ole movie sequel that debuted on Dec. 18 -- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - and with it will come some pretty cool merchandising, as you might expect. One that’s garnering a lot of buzz, and deservedly so, is Sphero’s BB-8 ($189.99), an app-enabled Droid that recognizes your voice, responds to your commands, display a variety of expressions, and can patrol its surroundings autonomously. BB-8 also allows kids (er, or kids at heart) to record, view and share cool virtual holographic videos. The rechargeable lithium polymer battery allows for one hour of drive time. It’s smaller than you might think, though, at only 4.5 inches tall.

Leapfrog Epic

Leapfrog Epic

Give your child a tablet they can call their own - and for parents, the peace of mind knowing the content is fun, appropriate, and centred around learning, personalization and creativity. Designed for kids age 3 to 9, the LeapFrog Epic ($169.99) gives kids a first-of-its-kind playable homescreen; rather than small icons against a static background, kids can see their virtual town come to life, including changes in weather, day to night cycles, and daily surprises. This 7-inch Android-powered is preloaded with LeapFrog-exclusive content, such as games, activities and ebooks, and access to more than 1,000 educator-approved apps from the LeapFrog Store (and with no in-app purchases or third-party ads). A LeapSearch Browser offers specially curated websites, games and videos for your child.

Xbox One Rise of the Tomb Raider Bundle

Xbox One Rise of the Tomb Raider Bundle

Xbox is on a tear. About a dozen Xbox One bundles are now available, which includes a game or two to get you playing out of the box, and the latest one announced is the Xbox One Rise of the Tomb Raider Bundle ($449.99). This includes a 1-terabyte Xbox One console, wireless controller and headset, and full-game downloads of Rise of the Tomb Raider -- one of the most critically acclaimed games of the year -- as well as a copy of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, with the exclusive Tactical Survival Kit Content Pack. Developed by Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal and published by Microsoft, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a prequel that follows the iconic adventurer Lara Croft in her first tomb-raiding expedition. Played from a third-person perspective, Lara is in search of an ancient artifact that is said to hold the secret of immortality.

Gameband + Minecraft

Gameband + Minecraft

If you’re not a fan of the game Minecraft, you know someone who is. Downloaded more than 21 million times, the hit indie game was bought by Microsoft for $2.5 billion late last year - and now it’s playable on your wrist. Called Gameband + Minecraft ($99.99), this USB bracelet with integrated memory holds the game inside, so all gamers on the go need to do is plug it into a PC and you can play it off the device itself - including access to all your worlds, maps, texture packs, and saved data. This is especially ideal for kids who don’t have their own computer, as it allows them to plug and play without installing the software on other computers. And yes, it tells time, too.

Microsoft Band 2

Microsoft Band 2

Speaking of wristbands, Microsoft Band 2 ($329.99) is much more than an activity tracker. Oh, sure it can calculate your steps, calories burned, distance traveled, and heart rate, but 11 advanced sensors track data specific to running, biking and golfing, and technology from the Microsoft Health app gives you actionable insights based on your data. It’s also a sleep tracker that can tell you if you woke up throughout the night, when and for how long. Keep your phone tucked away in your pocket or purse as its small OLED screen gives you notifications about your emails, texts, and calendar alerts. Microsoft Band is available in multiple sizes.

For all the latest tech news and reviews, follow Marc on Twitter: @marc_saltzman