If you want to select the best laptops and tablets to give as holiday gifts in 2023, you have a lot of possibilities. Our portable devices have become quicker and more efficient due to the latest hardware from Intel, Apple, AMD, and NVIDIA. Even the most basic iPad may be a fine productivity machine, and gaming laptops can rival the power of their desktop counterparts. And now that Windows 11 has proven to be highly stable over the last year, it’s an excellent opportunity to give someone a nice PC upgrade.
Dell XPS 13
Even though we’ve said it before, the XPS 13 is still one of the best ultraportable Windows computers you can buy. Dell also simplified its design this year, making it thinner and lighter. As a result, the laptop is light enough to carry all day and beautiful to look at, thanks to its exceptionally tiny screen bezels. It has been upgraded to lower-wattage Intel 12th-generation processors, improving battery life without significantly compromising performance.
The XPS 13 may be ordered with an OLED screen, making it an excellent present for someone who would benefit from a bright, color-accurate display. Dell’s new XPS 13 Plus is also a perfect gift option if you want superior performance and an even more eye-catching style. However, the basic XPS 13 will remain an excellent laptop for most customers.
Apple MacBook Air
The M2 MacBook Air from Apple is even better than the M1 because it is thinner, has a bigger 13.6-inch screen, and has four great speakers. If you were tired of Apple’s previous design, this is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. While it still lacks a fan, the M2 MacBook Air is one of the quickest ultraportable available. It’ll handle all of your productivity chores, as well as some media creation, with ease. If you want a better value, Apple’s M1 MacBook Air is still a very appealing notebook, especially when it goes on sale.
Apple iPad
Apple’s newest iPad is a scaled-down iPad Air: It has a unique design with flat edges, a faster processor, and a front-facing camera that is easier to use. It’s significantly more expensive than the previous generation, starting at $449, but the changes make it far more future-proof. The iPad can handle basic typing, email, and productivity tasks when combined with Apple’s new Magic Keyboard Folio. If the higher price (or the $250 keyboard accessory) is too much for you, last year’s $329 model is a steal. It’s quick enough for most users and has a few keyboard accessories for writers.
Amazon Fire HD 10
Amazon’s Fire tablets are video-first Android slates, demonstrating that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get someone a decent tablet. The Fire HD 10 from last year is somewhat faster, has 50% more memory, and has a slightly brighter screen. As a bonus, it comes with a Bluetooth keyboard adapter that can transform into a low-cost productivity tablet. But its main selling point remains the same: it can handle most tablet functions effortlessly and cheaply. (There are also kid-friendly Fire tablets with a sturdier casing and two years of free replacements.)
Razer Blade 15
You can apply all of our praise for Razer’s Blade 15 over the years to the current model. Razer’s premium gaming notebook retains its sleek, antibody metal design and the most recent CPUs and GPUs, including NVIDIA’s top-tier RTX 3080. You may also give models with quick 1,440p displays, which require less horsepower to run than 4K screens, thanks to enhanced screen choices. If portability is more important, consider the Razer Blade 14, a sub-four-pound notebook powered by AMD’s latest CPUs.
ASUS Zephyrus G14
ASUS’s outstanding Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop has returned and now includes a webcam. (This corrects the original model’s fundamental problem.) The G14 is still one of the best 14-inch gaming laptops, thanks to AMD’s Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU and Radeon 6700S or 6800S graphics. That’s quite impressive for a computer weighing only 3.6 pounds. You may choose between 1080p 144Hz and 1,440p 120Hz panels, which both look great. The G14 can seem bright thanks to its optional rear LED screen, but it can also serve as an appealing productivity PC. It’s a gaming machine that doesn’t look out of place in a lecture hall. That makes it perfect for students who want to watch Twitch streams in class without getting too much attention.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
In our review, we termed the Surface Laptop Go 2 “simple, but in a nice manner,” and that pretty much sums it up. It’s a $600 notebook with Microsoft’s excellent Surface Laptop design language and slightly lower-tier specifications. We like how it has a quicker CPU than the previous model, faster storage, and better cooling. It’s the ideal computer for a high school student who doesn’t require high-end components but wants a durable computer that can endure a full day of courses (and beyond!).
Dell G15 Gaming Laptop
We’ve been big fans of Dell’s cheap G15 gaming laptops for years, and the latest model is no different. It costs roughly $900 and comes with a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 graphics. You may upgrade to an i9 CPU and RTX 3070 while staying under the price of many comparable gaming computers. The G15 isn’t as stylish as the Razer Blade, but it’s a solid and dependable machine that will serve any aspiring gamer well.
