Buying guide: 18 best laptops and desktop computers to gift this holiday season

November 27, 2019

By Kim Komando

You’ve made your list and checked it twice as you prepare to take advantage of the deals, specials and doorbusters this holiday season.

With less than a month until Christmas, you indeed have viewed several ads touting the deep holiday discounts on the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

To make your buying decision a bit easier, we created a few buying guides that cover TVs, smart speakers, home gadgets and this, our latest edition: computers. Happy holidays and happy shopping! Tap or click here for our buying guide on the best tech gifts under $100.

Desktops

Lenovo 510-151CB desktop

This Lenovo 510-151CB desktop is the perfect system for any serious multi-tasker. With an Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, you will have plenty of power to work within multiple apps while you watch your favorite movie.

And, thanks to the 1TB hard drive storage and a built-in media reader, you’ll have no trouble transferring photos, documents or other data.

Dell Inspiron desktop

For those whose space is limited, Dell’s Inspiron desktop is designed to take up less room, yet it offers the performance and storage of its desktop counterparts.

In addition to its 1TB of storage, this unit boasts six USB ports, a built-in DVD drive and a front-access 5-in-1 media card reader.

All-in-ones

Apple iMac 27”

For those who are interested in working with Apple products, the Apple iMac is the perfect gift. With a stunning 27” Retina 5K display, your images will be sharp and your text? Razor-sharp.

Additional features include two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard.

HP Pavilion 24” all-in-one computer

With the Intel Core i5 processor, 12GB RAM, advanced graphics and HP Audio Boost, your family won’t have any trouble surfing, streaming or gaming on this HP Pavilion all-in-one system.

This model also offers an ultra-responsive touchscreen, a tilt stand, a pop-up HD camera and secure Wi-Fi connectivity.

Dell Inspiron 23.8″ all-in-one

You won’t have to pick between productivity and play with the Dell Inspiron all-in-one. The LED touchscreen will display your movies in striking Full HD while Waves MaxxAudio Pro delivers professional sound quality.

An 8GB system memory, a 256GB solid-state drive and an AMD A9 processor ensure smooth multitasking. Other features include 2 USB 2.0 ports and a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse.

Laptops

HP Spectre x360 Convertible 2-in-1

Here’s an ideal laptop for any digital content creators on your shopping list. In addition to a 15.6” multi-touch screen and IPS technology that offers wide viewing angles, the HP Spectre x360 Convertible 2-in-1 has a 360-degree flip-and-fold design that allows you to switch between laptop, tabletop, audience, presentation and tablet modes.

A Thunderbolt port makes it simple to connect a secondary monitor or an external drive, and the built-in fingerprint reader ensures quick system access.  

Acer Aspire 5 Slim

Work and play with the Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop. With Acer Color Intelligence, colors come alive on the 15.6” Full HD IPS display. Acer TrueHarmony and its innovative speaker design deliver a deeper bass to your music.

With the 7.5 hr. battery life, HDMI, USB 3.1 and USB 2.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a backlit keyboard, you can get to work whenever and wherever.

Microsoft Surface Go 10″

Multitaskers take note, Microsoft Surface Go 10″ offers the performance of a laptop and the portability of a tablet. With the Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor 4415Y, two built-in HD cameras and the ability to sync with devices including iPhone and Android, you can take your multitasking to another level.

Additional features include the built-in kickstand and a PixelSense touchscreen that is compatible with Windows Ink and Surface Pen.

Gaming

Dell Inspiron gaming desktop 5680

For gamers on a budget who are ready to upgrade their current system, the Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop 5680 strikes the right mix of features.

The 8th Generation Intel Core i5 8400 (6 Core) processor ensures exceptional performance and responsiveness, while the 8GB DDR4 2666MHz memory meets demanding multitasking needs.

This system allows for optimal airflow to help safeguard your equipment from long playtime and hosts a PCle x16 expansion slot and up to four bays for future storage.

iBUYPOWER gaming desktop

Know a gamer who wants all the bells and whistles? The loaded iBUYPOWER gaming desktop comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive and a 240GB solid-state drive.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card ensures quick image rendering and the 6 USB 3.0 ports allow you to connect to the latest high-speed devices.

Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop

It’s “game on” anywhere, anytime with the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop. With the combination of a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and features including PredatorSense, Killer DoubleShot Pro and MAXXAudio technology, this system offers you a full gaming experience.

The Predator Helios 300 further boasts AeroBlade 3D fan technology to help maintain optimal temps while playing, a 15.6” Full HD widescreen, a backlit keyboard, and it’s VR ready.

Chromebooks

Acer Chromebook Spin 11

No more Windows 10 hassles with the Acer Chromebook Spin 11. The model, which relies on the Chrome operating system, features a flexible, foldable touchscreen.

You can surf, work or play from anywhere with the Intel Celeron Dual-Core processor, 2 USB 3.0 ports, an HD webcam and a 3-cell Li-Ion (3490 mAh) Lithium-Ion Battery that ensures a battery life of up to 8 hours.

Lenovo Chromebook S330

The Lenovo Chromebook S330 is designed for those who are looking for a performance laptop. With Chrome OS, a powerful processor, LPDDR3 memory and 100GB cloud storage via Google Drive, you will find multitasking effortless.

Other features include a 14” Full FHD display, USB-C, micro SD, USB 3.0, webcam and a selection of apps.

ASUS Chromebook

Stay productive with the portable ASUS Chromebook. The 360-degree flip-and-fold design provides versatility with mode options for laptop, desktop, audience, presentation and tablet modes. This model offers a 14” Full HD touchscreen and on-processor graphics with shared video memory.

Additional features include built-in cloud support, a media reader and a webcam with a microphone.

Budget computers

HP 14” laptop

No need to spend a fortune this holiday with this HP 14” laptop. Designed with a micro-edge bezel and long-lasting battery, this laptop will keep you productive and entertained anywhere. With Intel Optane Memory and solid-state storage, apps will load and run at fast speeds.

Take this laptop from 0% battery to 50% in about 45 minutes with the HP Fast Charge. Included is a variety of bonus software ($315+ value): GRFX Studio Pro, Painter Essentials 6, Farming Simulator 17, Goat Punks, Iris, Grid Autosport, World of Tanks and Dashlane.

Lenovo IdeaCentre desktop

If it’s time to upgrade your desktop with a budget model, this Lenovo IdeaCentre desktop is the perfect solution. The Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM and 1TB hard drive allow you to multitask efficiently.

The built-in media reader, DVD/CD burner and Bluetooth 4.2 interface will make transferring, reading or writing media simple.

Dell Inspiron laptop

If you’re budget-conscious and want a workhorse, this Dell Inspiron laptop will meet your needs. With a 15.6” touchscreen, you can make the most of Windows 10. The Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB system memory and solid-state drive allow for advanced multitasking.

Other features include a built-in media reader, webcam with microphone and HDMI output. A 30-day trial of Microsoft Office is also included.  

With the wide selection of computing options, you are sure to find the right gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.