5 Gadgets To Expect By Christmas

The iPhone 6 event may be over, but tech companies will continue to ship new products in time for the holiday shopping season. Read on for a glimpse of what's likely on the way.

1. iPad Air 2

Little is known about the highly-anticipated iPad Air 2, but rumors suggest that it will arrive in November. This would keep the Apple AAPL tradition of upgrading or releasing new tablets every October or November. The iPad Air 2 is rumored to offer Touch ID. It is also likely to feature the same A8 and M8 processors that were introduced with the iPhone 6.

2. Galaxy Note 4

Samsung SSNLF preempted the Apple assault when it unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 a few days before the iPhone 6 event. The 5.7-inch phablet appears to be very similar to its predecessor. Quad- and octa-core processors will be available when the phone arrives, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Samsung will reportedly ship the new handset in October, but it does not yet have a specific release date in America.

3. The First 12- Or 13-Inch iPad

Apple's last event included three separate announcements: The iPhone 6, Apple Pay and the long-awaited Apple Watch. If the rumors are accurate, the Mac maker could do the same at its next event by announcing the iPad Mini 3, iPad Air 2 and the mysterious 12-inch iPad. Apple has been rumored to be developing a 12-inch iPad for more than a year. It is expected to be the ultimate laptop replacement -- a device that's big enough to get work done but convenient enough to use in any situation. In other words, it could be Apple's answer to the Surface Pro 3.

4. New Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo NTDOY is starting to look a lot like Apple. The company, which is famous for developing the "Mario," "Zelda" and "Super Smash Bros." franchises, plans to release a new version of the three-year-old Nintendo 3DS. The upgraded units come in two sizes (standard and XL) and feature an improved 3D display, more buttons, longer battery life and an enhanced processor. These systems will also be compatible with a plethora of faceplates. While the company is known for releasing different versions of its hardware, it is rare that Nintendo physically upgrades old devices. The new Nintendo 3DS will go on sale in Europe in 2015, but the device is expected to arrive in Japan this year. It is not yet known when it will ship in the United States, but it could be in time for Christmas. In the meantime, Nintendo plans to release three custom Nintendo 3DS units in North America that are based on the old version of the system.

5. Another Surface?

Microsoft MSFT reportedly killed the Surface Mini earlier this year. If the rumors are true, however, the company might have returned to the project. Microsoft is also rumored to be working on a slimmer and lighter version of its standard Surface tablet. The new unit could arrive this October -- just in time for Christmas and just in time to compete with Apple's next iPad. Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report.