Best Laptops and Tablets to Give as Holiday Gifts for 2023 – CNET

The newer M2 MacBook Air has advantages over its older M1 Air sibling: a larger display (13.6 inches versus the previous 13.3 inches), a faster M2 chip and an upgraded higher-res webcam. However, the entry-level M1 MacBook Air remains our top choice for gift-giving because its performance is good enough for everyday school and home office use, and it’s more affordable. It regularly gets discounted, too. 

Apple MacBook Air M1 review

” imagegroup=”{“alt”:”Apple MacBook Air M1 laptop open on a gray table with a blue sofa in the background.”,”caption”:””,”credits”:”Josh Goldman/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”47917311-3bcd-4a6d-8229-a7fda7bb76e1″,”title”:”apple-macbook-air-m1-01″,”filename”:”apple-macbook-air-m1-01.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2023/09/20/47917311-3bcd-4a6d-8229-a7fda7bb76e1/apple-macbook-air-m1-01.jpg”,”caption”:””,”size”:959460,”width”:4864,”height”:2736,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2023-09-20 18:34:20″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2023-09-20 18:35:02″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”Josh Goldman/CNET”,”alt”:”Apple MacBook Air M1 laptop open on a gray table with a blue sofa in the background.”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”47917311-3bcd-4a6d-8229-a7fda7bb76e1″,”imageAltText”:”Apple MacBook Air M1 laptop open on a gray table with a blue sofa in the background.”,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”Josh Goldman/CNET”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”apple-macbook-air-m1-01.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2023/09/20″,”imageWidth”:4864,”imageHeight”:2736,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”” overridecredit=”Josh Goldman/CNET” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”4b2b239d-73c7-46ce-bcaa-5d335baf0bcb”,”slug”:”apple-macbook-air-m1-late-2020″,”name”:”Apple MacBook Air M1 (Late 2020)”,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1695844705776,”displayDate”:”Wed Sep 27 2023 15:58:25 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)”}” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__779f7d3d-a7cf-4b9e-874e-7d2b2eb9eea5″ index=”1″ imagecredit=”Josh Goldman/CNET” tagslugs=”acer,dell,hp,lenovo,apple” contenttype=”Best List – Precap” isbestlistredesign=”true” filtershortcodetypes totalfilteritems=”0″ pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” tocheadlineitem=”[object Object]” buttoncolor buttoncolorsection class=”c-bestListProductListing” readability=”6.2592233009709″>

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HP packed a lot of value into the Aero 13: Eye-pleasing magnesium-aluminum chassis, strong processing performance, long battery life, a bright, colorful display and a weight of around 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms). Amazingly, with all that it offers though, it has an affordable starting price.

HP Pavilion Aero 13 review

” imagegroup=”{“alt”:”The 2023 HP Pavilion Aero 13 laptop open and facing to the right and sitting on a dark blue couch.”,”caption”:””,”credits”:”Josh Goldman/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”f511b8a1-6be3-498e-afed-3e4e0331c3e5″,”title”:”hp-pavilion-aero-2023-01″,”filename”:”hp-pavilion-aero-2023-01.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2023/08/15/f511b8a1-6be3-498e-afed-3e4e0331c3e5/hp-pavilion-aero-2023-01.jpg”,”caption”:””,”size”:1718254,”width”:5184,”height”:2920,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2023-08-15 19:20:20″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2023-08-15 19:21:44″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”Josh Goldman/CNET”,”alt”:”The 2023 HP Pavilion Aero 13 laptop open and facing to the right and sitting on a dark blue couch.”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”f511b8a1-6be3-498e-afed-3e4e0331c3e5″,”imageAltText”:”The 2023 HP Pavilion Aero 13 laptop open and facing to the right and sitting on a dark blue couch.”,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”Josh Goldman/CNET”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”hp-pavilion-aero-2023-01.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2023/08/15″,”imageWidth”:5184,”imageHeight”:2920,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”” overridecredit=”Josh Goldman/CNET” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__3524dbaa-13d3-48fd-b66d-0baadc93ace6″ index=”2″ imagecredit=”Josh Goldman/CNET” tagslugs=”acer,dell,hp,lenovo,apple” contenttype=”Best List – Precap” isbestlistredesign=”true” filtershortcodetypes totalfilteritems=”0″ pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” tocheadlineitem=”[object Object]” buttoncolor buttoncolorsection class=”c-bestListProductListing” readability=”6.1636363636364″>

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Dell’s G15 has been a favorite budget gaming laptop for the past few years, along with the HP Victus line. It was joined this year by a 16-inch version, the G16. We tested both and were impressed with what each offers. 

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop bargain, the G15 is the way to go. But if you can afford to spend a couple hundred dollars more, the G16 is a better bet for longevity. Either way, you’ll get a good gaming laptop for the money, but we strongly recommend waiting for a sale. 

Dell G15 and G16 Gaming Laptop review

” imagegroup=”{“alt”:”dell-g15-3″,”caption”:””,”credits”:”Dan Ackerman/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”6a650c00-3623-4fda-93b3-d1bf308a37c7″,”title”:”Dell G15 (2022)”,”filename”:”dell-g15-3.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2022/12/14/6a650c00-3623-4fda-93b3-d1bf308a37c7/dell-g15-3.jpg”,”caption”:””,”size”:2447873,”width”:4032,”height”:3024,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2022-12-14 18:23:29″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2022-12-14 18:24:57″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”Dan Ackerman/CNET”,”alt”:”dell-g15-3″,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[“Dell”,”gaming laptop”],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”6a650c00-3623-4fda-93b3-d1bf308a37c7″,”imageAltText”:”dell-g15-3″,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”Dan Ackerman/CNET”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”dell-g15-3.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2022/12/14″,”imageWidth”:4032,”imageHeight”:3024,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”” overridecredit=”Dan Ackerman/CNET” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__9653733c-a167-4be3-ad9b-6692eda9095e” index=”3″ imagecredit=”Dan Ackerman/CNET” tagslugs=”acer,dell,hp,lenovo,apple” contenttype=”Best List – Precap” isbestlistredesign=”true” filtershortcodetypes totalfilteritems=”0″ pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” tocheadlineitem=”[object Object]” buttoncolor buttoncolorsection class=”c-bestListProductListing” readability=”6.3034257748777″>

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Despite not being the latest and greatest iPad, the ninth-gen entry-level iPad is still our pick for gifting, and not just because it’s the least expensive. It improved a lot over its predecessor, doubling the base storage to 64GB, adding a faster A13 chip and better cameras (most importantly, a wider-angle higher-res front-facing Center Stage camera that tracks your face via digital pan and zoom). It still uses the first-gen Apple Pencil, which is fine for the money, and it’s still compatible with a range of keyboard cases. ” imagegroup=”{“alt”:”iPad Mini and 9th Gen iPad”,”caption”:””,”credits”:”Scott Stein/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”2f16e616-9612-4940-92c1-af2eb14d0d84″,”title”:”ipad-2021-and-ipad-mini-cnet-2021-review-06-horizontal”,”filename”:”ipad-2021-and-ipad-mini-cnet-2021-review-06-horizontal.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2021/09/21/2f16e616-9612-4940-92c1-af2eb14d0d84/ipad-2021-and-ipad-mini-cnet-2021-review-06-horizontal.jpg”,”caption”:””,”size”:1930292,”width”:2000,”height”:1333,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2021-09-21 19:42:12″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2022-08-27 11:53:47″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”Scott Stein/CNET”,”alt”:”9th Gen iPad with accessories sits on gray surface with green background.”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:{“date”:”2021-09-22 13:00:00″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”2f16e616-9612-4940-92c1-af2eb14d0d84″,”imageAltText”:”iPad Mini and 9th Gen iPad”,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”Scott Stein/CNET”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”ipad-2021-and-ipad-mini-cnet-2021-review-06-horizontal.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2021/09/21″,”imageWidth”:2000,”imageHeight”:1333,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”” overridecredit=”Scott Stein/CNET” linktext=”Read our Apple iPad 2021 review” linkurl=”https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/apple-ipad-9th-gen-review-the-safest-ipad-bet-makes-more-sense-than-ever/” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”e7a47882-c918-433e-a47b-f99b3443d661″,”slug”:”apple-ipad-2021″,”name”:”Apple iPad (2021)”,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1695844705657,”displayDate”:”Wed Sep 27 2023 15:58:25 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)”}” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__0f31736a-195e-4df9-b3d6-af11e8fa5e10″ index=”4″ imagecredit=”Scott Stein/CNET” tagslugs=”acer,dell,hp,lenovo,apple” contenttype=”Best List – Precap” isbestlistredesign=”true” filtershortcodetypes totalfilteritems=”0″ pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” tocheadlineitem=”[object Object]” buttoncolor buttoncolorsection class=”c-bestListProductListing” readability=”6.2030769230769″>

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The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 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 the Chromebook Duet 3 is a good pick if you’re looking for an affordable ultraportable device to get some work done on the go, sketch or jot down notes in class or do simple stuff like email, web browsing, mobile or cloud gaming, reading and streaming video.” imagegroup=”{“alt”:”Lenovo Duet with a colorful splash image onscreen”,”caption”:””,”credits”:”Dan Ackerman/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”9af20212-0c42-4b90-af4b-a5e39fb9a49a”,”title”:”lenovo-duet-1″,”filename”:”lenovo-duet-1.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2022/09/23/9af20212-0c42-4b90-af4b-a5e39fb9a49a/lenovo-duet-1.jpg”,”caption”:””,”size”:2602538,”width”:4032,”height”:3024,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2022-09-23 17:09:23″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2022-09-25 11:47:09″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”Dan Ackerman/CNET”,”alt”:”Lenovo Duet with a colorful splash image onscreen”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”9af20212-0c42-4b90-af4b-a5e39fb9a49a”,”imageAltText”:”Lenovo Duet with a colorful splash image onscreen”,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”Dan Ackerman/CNET”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”lenovo-duet-1.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2022/09/23″,”imageWidth”:4032,”imageHeight”:3024,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”” overridecredit=”Dan Ackerman/CNET” linktext=”Read our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review” linkurl=”https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/lenovo-duet-3-review-more-than-i-expected-from-a-budget-laptop/” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”1e35c1f9-3eaa-4ff6-82f1-7e565e417c09″,”slug”:”lenovo-ideapad-duet-3-chromebook-11-0-2000×1200-touch-2-in-1-tablet-snapdragon-7cg2-4g-ram-128g-emmc-with-keyboard-misty”,”name”:””Lenovo – IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook – 11.0″” (2000×1200) Touch 2-in-1 Tablet – Snapdragon 7cG2 – 4G RAM – 128G eMMC – with Keyboard – Misty Blue””,”productType”:”PRODUCT”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1695759905026,”displayDate”:”Tue Sep 26 2023 16:25:05 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)”}” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__ae646bcf-16c7-4b9e-8e66-d6cd435fb883″ index=”5″ imagecredit=”Dan Ackerman/CNET” tagslugs=”acer,dell,hp,lenovo,apple” contenttype=”Best List – Precap” isbestlistredesign=”true” filtershortcodetypes totalfilteritems=”0″ pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” tocheadlineitem=”[object Object]” buttoncolor buttoncolorsection class=”c-bestListProductListing” readability=”6.5992366412214″>

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