From Apple AirPods and Squishmallows to 'Encanto' toys, here are some of the most anticipated gifts this holiday season, according to Adobe
- Online holiday sales in 2022 are expected to produce $209 billion, according to Adobe.
- Discounts of electronics and toys are anticipated to reach all-time highs.
Online holiday sales in the US are expected to hit more than $209 billion this year, according to Adobe's 2022 holiday season online shopping forecast.
The forecast anticipates shoppers will spend 2.5% more this year than the 2021 holiday shopping season. According to Adobe, sales will be driven by anticipated record-high discounts this holiday season — with the biggest sales expected to hit between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — as retailers confront oversupply and a softening consumer spending environment.
"The shape of the holiday season will look different this year, with early discounting in October," Patrick Brown, Adobe vice president of growth marketing and insights, said in a statement. "Consumers have already spent over $590 billion online this year, highlighting the resiliency of e-commerce demand."
Here are the toys, gaming devices, games, and other gifts that Adobe predicts will be the most popular items this holiday season.
Toys
The 2021 hit Disney movie, "Encanto," spun a magical tale of a family in Colombia with a fantastical cast of characters with unique powers. Fans of main character Mirabel and her family can participate in the magic through costume sets and wigs, plush dolls, sound books, and musical figurines.
A favorite among fantasy-loving children, this handheld toy lets children find fairies and watch magical light shows with the Got2Glow Fairy Finder. There is a Find My Fairy mobile app and secret codes to unlock new fairies that are released throughout the year.
Beloved toys from popular brands like Disney, Rubik's, and Crayola can now be found in miniature-form inside of mystery capsules. There are more than 60 mini toys, including several super rare toys, to be collected and played with.
The stuffed animals come in all sizes, shapes, and colors and are expected to once again be popular this holiday season. The brand even recently introduced new Halloween-themed Squishmallows like Dante, Cam the Cat, and Emily the Bat.
From the makers of Bratz dolls, LOL dolls (LOL stands for "Little Outrageous Littles") are entering their sixth holiday season and feature dolls that come with new add-ons, including clothing, shoes, accessories, and even pets.
Based on the popular television show, "Bluey," the puppy character comes in toy forms like talking stuffed animals and mini action figures. There are also an assortment of Bluey accessory sets including puzzle and board games, family packs, and interactive play books.
"CoComelon" is an American show featuring modern takes on traditional children's nursery rhymes. Children can sing and dance along with the popular interactive learning JJ doll, the CoComelon musical basket, number-and-letter bus, and even a sing-song electrical toothbrush.
Gaming Devices
The newest member of the Nintendo family, the Nintendo Switch OLED has a seven-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) screen, 64 GB of internal storage, a dock with a wired LAN port for TV mode, enhanced audio, and an adjustable stand for easy viewing.
Whether it's worth upgrading from your current Switch and paying roughly $50 more (at $349 versus $299, on average) will ultimately be up to the player, since the display is the same size as the previous generation and there aren't 4K capabilities.
The PlayStation 5 console touts lightning-fast loading with multiplayer support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio technology to support an all-new generation of PlayStation games.
After struggling to keep up with demand in recent years, Sony plans on producing more PlayStation 5 consoles this year with 400% more shipments made to the US, according to IGN, a video game media outlet.
The Xbox Series X is the fastest, most powerful Xbox yet, per Microsoft. The 16 GB-console features updated software for faster, more streamlined gameplay and reduced load times. The Xbox Series X allows for 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second, 12 teraflops of processing power, and advanced 3D spatial sound.
Games
Overwatch 2 is a first-person, team-based shooter game released in 2022 as a sequel to the 2016 game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. Overwatch 2's premise is based in the future and players are challenged with battlefield brawls and matches. The game can be played on Playstation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, and Microsoft Windows.
Developed for the Nintendo Switch and released earlier this year, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are the first open-world, role-playing games in the Pokémon series. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have some key differences but will be largely identical games, in terms of the way that they play, the setting, and story, according to entertainment website GamesRadar.
The ice hockey simulation video game was developed by EA Vancouver and will be the 32nd installment in the NHL video game series. For the first time ever, cross-platform matchmaking is coming to NHL 23, and players across same-generation consoles can face off against each other. The game is available for pre-order for PlayStation and Xbox.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
To be released on October 28, the first-person shooter game will be the 19th Call of Duty in the game series, and involve players fighting in a global conflict alongside the Task Force 141 operators. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will be available for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
Other
The Dyson Airwrap Styler is engineered to curl, shape, and hide flyaways — without the use of extreme heat. The hair styler relies on Enhanced Coanda airflow, which uses aerodynamic technology to dry hair faster. Dyson offers attachments for different hair lengths and textures.
Celebrity hairstylist Erinn Courtney told Vogue that the styler "gives the bounciest curls and waves with so much body" and she has "never experienced heat damage using this iron." The Airwrap Styler comes in Vinca blue and Rosé colors.
The new Apple Watch Series 8 comes in eight different colors, with either a 41-millimeter or 45-millimeter case. Meanwhile, the Apple Ultra Watch is protected by a 49-millimeter titanium case and has a water resistance rating of up to 100 meters (meaning it could be used for recreational scuba diving). Both watches have always-on Retina displays, electrocardiogram apps, and heart rate notifications. The Apple Ultra is also packed with a 86-decibel Siren to attract attention.
The AirPods Max and Pro are two different generations of Apple AirPods. The AirPods Max headphones have personalized spatial audio with active noise cancellation and transparency mode. The Max has a listening ttime of up to 20 hours on a single charge. The AirPods Pro is the second generation in the earbud family. They are sweat and water resistant and have a listening time of up to six hours on a single charge.
The stainless steel tumblers have double-walled vacuum insulation and lid technology that makes the thirst quencher ideal for travel, workouts, and day trips. The tumbler, which comes in different sizes and colors, can keep drinks hot for seven hours, cold for 11 hours, and iced for two days.