Best laptops to give
M4 MacBook Air (15-Inch)
Apple's latest MacBook Air is one of the best laptops you can buy and it's a great choice for someone who wants a machine that's thin and light but doesn't compromise on speed. The smaller, 13-inch model is perfect for students. But if you're using it for work or just want a bigger display, the 15-inch version is definitely worth it.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16
A gaming laptop makes the perfect gift for anyone who's obsessed with leveling up their gaming setup. Thanks to its large screen, powerful GPU and good port selection, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is our top pick for the best gaming laptop of 2026. Whether you're buying for a casual gamer or a serious pro, this gaming laptop is a solid gift for players of all levels.
Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10
Gaming laptops are rarely inexpensive: The components needed for good performance are simply not cheap. However, that doesn't mean you can't find a good deal like the Legion 5i. The 15-inch laptop has a bright and colorful OLED display, along with excellent midrange gaming performance, all for a starting price that's less than $1,500.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
If the person on your list is in the Windows camp, consider Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 is a CNET Editors' Choice Award winner and our top pick for the best Windows laptop of 2026. CNET's Matt Elliot appreciated its durable, polished design, long battery life and cool haptic touchpad. It's perfect for anyone who likes the look and performance of a MacBook Air but prefers Windows.
Acer Aspire 14 AI Copilot Plus PC
For less than $600, Acer’s Aspire Go 14 Copilot+ PC holds its own against other budget models that cost much more, which is why it lands on our list for the best cheap laptops of 2026. While it may not turn heads for looks, it delivers where it counts: Its Intel Lunar Lake processor offers a good balance of performance, strong battery life and competitive AI functionality. It's a perfect pick for students or professionals who want a dependable machine in a no-frills package.
Best tablets to give
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
Available in 14.6- and 11-inch sizes, the S11 is at the top of Samsung's tablet lineup and it shows. Its high-end design is matched with a beautiful display, and performance is excellent for entertainment, gaming and work. With pen and keyboard support and a battery life longer than 11 hours in our tests, the S11 has it all.
Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3
Tired of killing your phone's battery while gaming? Lenovo's 8.8-inch gaming-focused tablet is larger than a phone but still small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, while packing the performance of a larger tablet. The screen is gorgeous and the battery will give you a lot of playtime. Plus, the box includes some useful accessories and it's regularly discounted for much less than its regular price of $550.
Apple iPad (11th Gen)
Apple dominates the tablet market and the 11th-generation iPad is our top pick for giving because it's a great choice for most people and kids. Not only is it affordable but it's improved a lot over its predecessor, doubling the base storage to 128GB and adding a faster A16 chip. Sure, you're not getting all the bells and whistles of the iPad Pro, but you'll have everything you need for basic content creation, education and simple home office tasks.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11
The Lenovo Chomebook Duet 11, a CNET Editors' Choice Award winner, is an awesome little 11-inch ChromeOS tablet with a detachable keyboard and touchpad. Its small size and performance aren't ideal for full-time use but it's a good pick if you're looking for an affordable, ultraportable device that will let you get some work done on the go, jot down notes in class or do simple stuff like email, web browsing, mobile or cloud gaming, reading and streaming video.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition
If you're shopping for a tablet for little ones, Amazon's Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is a worthy choice. This 10.1-inch tablet has the biggest display in Amazon's lineup. It also features a rubber bumper in case of drops and other mishaps, as well as plenty of parental control options.
