The XtremeSkins Christmas Gift Guide 2026
Their favourite tech.
A look chosen by you.
Buying for someone who already owns the console, the phone and the fancy headphones? Give the tech they love a new look, rather than buying another gadget.
Finding Christmas gifts for gamers and tech lovers can feel like a guessing game. Have they already bought that game? Will they use another accessory? And how many charging cables can one person reasonably unwrap?
A device skin takes a different approach. Choose a colour or texture that suits them, match it to the right device and turn something they already use into a more personal gift. Bonus: it is considerably easier to wrap than a gaming chair.
Here are our ideas for choosing a skin this Christmas, from a subtle phone makeover to a coordinated gaming setup.
Start with their device, not your favourite colour
The most important part of buying a skin as a gift is getting the exact model right. “A PlayStation” or “a MacBook” is a starting point, not enough information to choose the fit.
Check the original box, ask someone who knows their setup or get the full model name from the recipient. A small question now beats a beautifully wrapped skin for the wrong device on Christmas morning.
Our guides to identifying a PS5, finding an iPhone model and identifying a MacBook explain what to check. Buying for a new device they are getting at Christmas? Match that model, not the one they currently own.
For the gamer who already has the console
Rather than guessing which game they want next, think about how they want their setup to look. We would start with Carbon Fibre-effect vinyl for a darker setup, a Wood finish for a warmer look, or contrasting colours for someone who likes their gaming corner to stand out.
Our PlayStation skins cover supported PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro models, with separate options for compatible controllers. Selected products let you choose individual sections, including middle-only coverage, rather than changing every panel.
Shopping for an Xbox owner? Browse the Xbox skin range and match the precise console version. A coordinating controller skin could make a thoughtful extra; check and select it separately rather than assuming it comes with the console skin.
For the gamer who takes it everywhere
A handheld skin is worth considering for someone whose favourite gaming spot is wherever they happen to sit down. Explore Nintendo Switch skins or Steam Deck skins, then choose their specific model and available sections.
Do not treat Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite and Switch 2 as interchangeable. For Steam Deck, confirm LCD or OLED and check any dock separately. Once that is sorted, a favourite colour is a good place to start.
For the person who loves their phone
A phone skin is our pick for someone who enjoys changing their style without replacing their handset. Think a favourite colour, a restrained textured finish or a design that fits their personality.
Start with our phone skins, including supported iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. On selected products, the live customiser lets you combine compatible finishes across independently selectable sections.
Think about how they use their phone, too. Someone who always uses an opaque case may get more enjoyment from a skin for their laptop, console or headphones, where the design stays on show.
For the laptop lover with a carefully arranged desk
Know someone whose desk is better coordinated than the rest of the house? A laptop skin is a gift that can fit into that setup rather than adding more clutter to it.
We would choose a restrained colour or Leather-effect finish for a quieter look, a marble-style design for contrast, or something colourful for a more expressive workspace. Pick for their taste, not the colour of your Christmas wrapping paper.
Browse MacBook skins for supported models. Match the model, generation and size, then check which sections are included in your selection. A lid-only choice and a multi-section configuration are not the same order.
For the music lover who lives in headphones
They have chosen the headphones. You can help them choose a different look.
Our headphone skins include supported Sony, Bose, Beats and gaming headset models. Depending on the product, compatible cups, bands and smaller accents can be customised separately.
For a gift, we like the idea of picking up a colour they already wear or matching their phone. Check the full headphone model and generation first, rather than choosing by brand or appearance alone.
For the iPad user, note-taker or digital artist
An iPad skin is another route for someone who uses their tablet for drawing, studying or everyday browsing. A complementary keyboard or Pencil skin can carry the same colour idea across their accessories, where supported.
For a smaller extra, explore an Apple Pencil Pro skin when that is the model they own. Identify the iPad, keyboard and Pencil individually; the tablet name alone does not confirm which accessories they have.
Choose a finish that feels like them
For an understated look: start with Textured Matt in a colour they already like. A quieter finish can still make the gift feel considered.
For texture: compare Carbon Fibre, Leather and Wood finishes. These names describe vinyl appearances, not replacement carbon-fibre parts, animal leather or wooden shells.
For someone who loves colour: try a bright finish, a graphic design or a contrasting combination on the sections their model supports. You do not need every part to match.
Our finish comparison guide is a useful starting point. Check the actual product options before settling on a combination; not every finish is offered on every section.
Plan the delivery, not just the wrapping
For physical skins, leave time for dispatch and delivery rather than planning around the shortest estimate. Check our shipping information, the options shown at checkout and any Christmas ordering notices before buying.
Check the final price of your chosen configuration and delivery service too. A smaller detail piece, a full skin and a matching set of separately selected items can have very different totals.
Christmas gift questions
Should I fit the skin before giving it?
We would usually leave it on its backing in the supplied packaging so the recipient can enjoy the makeover. Keep it flat and avoid folding it to fit a smaller gift box. Include a link to our fitting guides and let them work through the instructions for their exact model and material.
Is a skin a replacement for a protective case?
No. A skin helps protect covered surfaces against light scratches and scuffs, but it is not a substitute for a case designed for impact protection. Our skins versus cases guide explains the difference.
What should I do when I cannot confirm the device?
Choose a gift card rather than the closest-looking model. They can check compatibility and choose the finish they want when they are ready.