Which gift suits who?
| Who it's for | Gift ideas | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| The traveller | A power bank, a charger and cable, a car charger | Carry-on only; no use or charging on Qantas, Jetstar or Virgin flights |
| The grandparent | A wallet case, a crossbody lanyard, a screen protector, a car mount | The protector and lanyard tab are fitted in store |
| The teen | A tough case, a screen protector, a wrist strap | Learners and P1 drivers under 25 can't use a phone at all while driving |
| The new phone owner | Data transfer and set-up, a case, a screen protector | They sign in to their own accounts |
| The beach-goer | A waterproof pouch, a splash-proof case, a dust plug | A phone's water resistance wears down over time |
| The smartwatch wearer | A new band, fitted in store | You need the watch's case size |
What do I get the traveller?
A power bank, but know the airline rules before you wrap it:
- Carry-on only. Qantas and Virgin Australia both say power banks go in cabin baggage, never checked bags.
- No using or charging it on board. Since 1 December 2025 on Virgin Australia, and 15 December 2025 across the Qantas Group (Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar), a power bank can't be used to charge anything during the flight, and it can't be charged from the seat's power or USB socket either.
- Keep it with you: in the seat pocket, under the seat in front or on you, not in the overhead locker. Qantas allows up to two in cabin bags.
So it's a gift for the airport queue, the hotel and the day out after landing. Our travel power bank guide explains sizes and cruise rules. Add a charger and cable for the hotel room, and a car charger for the road trip.
What suits a grandparent?
- A wallet case: cards and phone in one, with a cover over the screen.
- A crossbody lanyard, so the phone stays on them, not on the café table or the bus seat.
- A screen protector, fitted in store. Here's how to choose one.
- A spare charger and cable for beside the bed.
- A car mount, if they drive. In Queensland, a driver can't hold a phone or rest it on their body, even their lap. Open and P2 licence holders can use one hands-free in a cradle attached to the car, placed so it doesn't block the view of the road.
If they keep missing calls, here's how to make the phone louder.
What about a teenager?
A tough case, a screen protector fitted in store and a wrist strap or crossbody lanyard cover most of it.
Skip the car mount for a learner: in Queensland, learner and P1 licence holders under 25 can't use any function of a phone while driving, even hands-free or Bluetooth.
If the phone itself is the present, eSafety points out that parental controls aren't usually set up automatically, so plan to set them up together. And since 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms must take reasonable steps to stop under-16s from having an account.
Someone's getting a new phone: what helps?
- Data transfer. Our service moves photos, contacts and messages from the old phone and sets up the new one. They sign in to their own Apple or Google account and apps; we don't set up banking apps, email, Facebook or any other app. Here's what moves across and what doesn't.
- A case and a screen protector, fitted on day one, before the first drop.
- A plan for the old phone. Before passing an iPhone on, Apple says to back it up, sign out of the Apple Account and erase it, which also turns off Find My and Activation Lock. Or recycle it.
What do I get someone who's always at the beach?
Christmas in Brisbane means the bay: Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Redcliffe or Bribie.
- A waterproof pouch (a "water sealer bag") for the boat, the kayak or the beach bag.
- A splash-proof case for everyday spray.
- A dust plug for the charging port, to keep sand out. Here's why it helps.
A pouch helps even if the phone is water resistant. Apple says splash, water and dust resistance isn't permanent and may decrease with normal wear, and that liquid damage isn't covered by its warranty (though consumer law may still give you rights). More in our beach guide.
What do you get a smartwatch wearer?
A new band, fitted in store. For an Apple Watch, the case size matters: Apple says bands for 38, 40 and 41 mm cases fit each other, and bands for 44, 45 and 46 mm cases fit each other, with Ultra's 49 mm bands fitting that larger group too. If it's a 42 mm watch, or a Galaxy Watch, check our band guide first. A sport band copes best with a sticky Queensland summer.
What should I check before I buy?
- The exact phone model. Cases and screen protectors are made for one model, so "iPhone 16" and "iPhone 16 Pro" need different ones. It's on the box, or in the phone's Settings under About.
- The watch's case size, for a band.
- Whether it's being fitted. Screen protectors, lanyard tabs and watch bands are fitted in store, so bring the phone or watch, or come in together after Christmas.
- Keep the receipt. The ACCC says someone who receives a faulty gift has the same rights as the person who bought it. You don't need the original receipt, but the seller will usually want proof of purchase, such as a receipt or bank statement. Change of mind isn't covered by the consumer guarantees; that's up to each store's policy, so ask when you buy.
Sources
- Qantas: New safety measures for power banks on flights, effective 15 December 2025
- Qantas: Spare batteries and power banks
- Virgin Australia: Batteries
- Pickr: Australian airlines Qantas, Jetstar ban power banks in flight
- Queensland Government: Driving and mobile phones
- Queensland Government: Provisional licence restrictions
- eSafety Commissioner: Smartphones (gift guide)
- eSafety Commissioner: Social media age restrictions and your family
- Apple Support: What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone or iPad
- Apple Support: About splash, water and dust resistance of iPhone 7 and later
- Apple Support: Change your Apple Watch band
- ACCC: Received a faulty Christmas gift? Use your consumer rights
- ACCC: Receipts, bills, proof of purchase
- ACCC: Consumer guarantees: a guide for consumers
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