Holiday Gift Guide 2022: Laptops, Chromebooks & More! Updated November 2022

Buying a new computer tin can exist a hassle, particularly if you lot're buying a laptop or Chromebook equally a gift for somebody else. And, perhaps more than pertinently for 2021, especially since an ongoing bit shortage is impacting everything from pricing to availability. With many laptops of all stripes either never materializing in large plenty quantities or launching late.

Making matters more than challenging still, at that place simply haven't been as many new computers announced this year but at that place are notwithstanding a plethora of options to choose from.

That'south precisely the conundrum this souvenir guide is intended to accost, specifically every bit that pertains to the best Chromebooks and Windows laptops presently available. From the almost budget-friendly to the expensive and from the large to small, filling in all of the categories in-between. These are not, of course, the best gaming laptops effectually simply for those who demand a reliable machine for simply almost any other purpose, these devices should have you covered.

Product name	Cost	Where to purchase
Microsoft Surface Get iii	From $399.99	Amazon
HP Chromebook x2 11	From $599.99	Best Buy
Lenovo IdeaPad iii	From $595.00	Amazon
Acer Chromebook 317	From $429	Best Buy
Dell XPS xiii	From $899.99	Dell
Acer Chromebook Spin 713	From $629.99	Amazon
Microsoft Surface Pro 8	From $ane,099.99	Amazon
Samsung Milky way Chromebook 2	From $699.00	Amazon, Best Buy
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio	From $one,597.01	Amazon
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5	From $724.99	Amazon

Microsoft Surface Become 3

Price: From $399.99
What this device runs: Windows 11
Where to buy: Amazon

Launching just in time for the holiday flavor is Microsoft'south new lineup of Surface-branded devices and that includes new tablet-style detachable laptops like the Surface Get 3. Similar the Microsoft Surface Become 2, this is a budget-friendly portable PC costing simply under $400. Only this year's model besides has some updates.

Well beyond shipping with Windows xi out-of-the-box, buyers can pick this upwardly with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. With up to a make new Intel Core i3 processor. The included touchscreen comes in at 10.5-inches at a resolution of 1920x 1280 pixels. And the available stylus pen, mouse, and keyboard ensure that hardware tin can exist put to good use. Whether for entertainment or productivity.

Microsoft Surface Get 3 - Amazon

HP Chromebook x2 11

Price: From $599.99
What this device runs: Chrome Os
Where to buy: Best Buy

Those looking for a similar feel to the Microsoft Surface Become 3 laptops, conversely, may desire to have a expect at HP'southward Chromebook x2 11 for the holiday season. Every bit the branding suggests, this i brings many of the aforementioned benefits, with some of the accessories included. Although information technology has a slightly college starting price of $599.99. The primary difference, of course, is Chrome Bone instead of Windows.

8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage are coupled with a adjacent-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Compute Platform bit here. Combined with Chrome OS and packed nether an eleven-inch impact screen with USI stylus support, that should prove more than enough. And an about perfect pairing for the Android apps Chromebooks tin run. Setting aside that the stylus itself is likewise included alongside the detachable keyboard.

All equating to a premium portable experience without the premium price tag.

HP Chromebook x2 11 - Best Buy

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Toll: From $595.00
What this device runs: Windows 10
Where to buy: Amazon

For those who need a guide for the holiday when information technology comes to a large-screen experience, it's going to be hard to go wrong with any laptops or Chromebooks made past Lenovo. But maybe nowhere more and so than with the Lenovo IdeaPad three. At 17.three-inches, in a sleek design with a resolution of 1600 x 900, this is going to be a smashing car for those purposes.

Under the hood, conversely, things don't necessarily go much college in terms of value either. An AMD Ryzen 5 processor, paired with Radeon RX Vega 7 graphics, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 512GB of NVMe SSD storage superlative things off. Providing all of the power that might exist needed for most users. And with enough to spare that an update to Windows eleven should exist more than than feasible.

All, of course, in a parcel that's large on both the screen and value. From a company well-regarded for its loftier-quality laptops.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 - Amazon

Acer Chromebook 317

Price: From $429
What this device runs: Chrome OS
Where to purchase: Best Buy

For entertainment purposes and the largest Chrome Bone screen around — and the largest in this guide — holiday shoppers and gift recipients will appreciate the Acer Chromebook 317. And that'southward not just because this get-go-gen production comes with a bright 17.3-inch FullHD display either. Or considering information technology comes in touch and not-bear on variants.

The latest connectivity whether Bluetooth or WiFi, upwards to 8GB RAM and 64GB of storage, and a full number pad help make this a worthwhile laptop. And, with Chrome Bone coupled with that much RAM, the up-to Intel Pentium Silver processor isn't a letdown at all.

That is, of course, setting aside the all-day battery at 10-hours per charge, Acer's build quality, or the relatively lightweight design, in spite of its size.

Acer Chromebook 317 - Best Buy

Dell XPS 13

Cost: From $899.99
What this device runs: Windows 10
Where to purchase: Dell

Now, Dell is widely known for building solid machines with great service. And with performance to match, those are typically ready to go for either business or home use. Then, looking by its great Chromebooks, its Dell XPS 13.3 series of laptops is going to be a shoo-in on this particular holiday gift guide.

Starting out at $899.99 and running Windows 10 out-of-the-box, with updates to Windows 11 coming, the Dell XPS is a powerhouse at all levels of the mid-range. Starting with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, these tin can be purchased with upward to an i7 and 16GB of memory. And with up to a 1TB M.2 solid-state drive on the storage front. That's with a 13-inch FullHD impact screen, to boot.

Dell XPS 13 - Dell

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W)

Toll: $629.99
What this device runs: Chrome OS
Where to purchase: Amazon

On the other side of the laptops coin, starting at $629.99 and running the aforementioned Os institute on other Chromebooks, is Acer's third-gen Chromebook Spin 713. Like the Dell machine higher up, this i comes with an Intel Evo Core i5 processor to start, backed by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The biggest departure here is going to exist in the display, rated at 2K resolution with USI stylus back up in a 2-in-1 folding format. That's as well a slightly bigger panel at 13.five-inches. And, of course, that comes packed into a more rugged frame than nigh competitors, consummate with a Gorilla Glass screen and touchpad covering. A backlit keyboard is included every bit well for those who need 1.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W) - Amazon

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Price: From $1,099.99
What this device runs: Windows 11
Where to purchase: Amazon

Of course, if you're looking to souvenir laptops that avert the OS on Chromebooks, and, instead, looking to run Windows eleven out of the gate, this next guide entry does only that. And information technology runs it well also. As it should, given its price point. At 13-inches and with configurable options starting at $1,099.99, Microsoft Surface Pro viii is a powerful laptop that gets the work done. Regardless of what work needs to go done.

At the bass end, buyers can purchase this detachable laptop — with an optional pen and keyboard — with an Intel Evo Platinum Core i5 processor. That's backed by 8GB RAM and 128GB of SSD storage. Just that can be bumped all the way upwardly to an i7 processor from the same series. And with as much as 32GB of memory with a 1TB storage option.

A 2K impact screen and all of the latest Windows eleven features are just icing on the cake.

Microsoft Surface Pro viii - Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

Cost: From $699.00
What this device runs: Chrome OS
Where to buy: Amazon, Best Buy

Conversely, if Google's Chrome Os is more your flavor, the Samsung Milky way Chromebook ii is another option. Albeit at a cheaper toll than another entries.

For the purposes of this gift guide, the Milky way Chromebook ii stands out amid both laptops and Chromebooks with its 13.3-inch FullHD QLED display panel. Offer arguably the best visuals on the platform despite the lower resolution.

And that's coupled with up to a 10th Gen Intel Cadre i3 processor as well. Alongside 8GB RAM and up to 128GB of storage. Premium audio, stylus support, a great keyboard, and a stunning design are joined with that underpinning hardware in addition to a backlit keyboard in a 2-in-one frame. Easily making this one of the most high-value offerings bachelor in either Fiesta Crimson or Mercury Gray. Setting bated that this is easily ane of the slimmest laptops on the market, despite its operation prowess.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 - Amazon

Samsung Milky way Chromebook 2 - Best Buy

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

Price: From $1,597.01
What this device runs: Windows 11
Where to purchase: Amazon

If the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 or Chromebooks simply aren't enough, Microsoft has one more set of laptops that go well beyond meeting the minimum requirements for this gift guide. Namely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. As shown in the epitome above, the biggest benefit to this flexible laptop is going to exist its unique course factor.

The keyboard on Surface Laptop Studio doesn't come up away from the frame like the other gadgets here. But it does act as a stand for a comfortable tablet or drawing slate mode. And the 14.4-inch touchscreen is besides prepare to exist paired with Microsoft'south new Surface Slim Pen two. With a refresh charge per unit of 120Hz to top things off.

On the within, quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core H Serial processors max out at an i7 with an i5 at the more affordable cease of the spectrum. And Microsoft has paired that with up to 32GB of memory and upwardly to 2TB of the fastest storage. For graphics, the new creator-set motorcar comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU. Just to proper noun a few of the things you become for your money.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio - Amazon

ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5

Price: From $724.99
What this device runs: Chrome OS
Where to buy: Amazon

Now, the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX9 really should be mentioned in this final entry in this guide for laptops and Chromebooks for the holidays. Chiefly because of its trackpad-implanted number pad, upward to i7 processors, USI stylus support, and other aspects. But that machine is a bit harder to detect than the CX5. Then instead we've opted to include the next best thing and a device that however really rivals that. The premium level ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5.

Announced at the aforementioned time as the CX9, the CX5 comes at an exceptional value with upwardly to an Intel Cadre i7 processor from the 11th generation of chips. And with upward to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. And so it should, paired with Chrome Bone, have merely about as much power as could be put to use for the operating system.

What'southward more, this computer comes with a garaged stylus congenital correct into the frame, a rugged aluminum design in a slim form gene, and a foldable 360-degree hinge. So it can be used as a tablet instead of a clamshell laptop if needed. Intel Iris Xe on the graphics forepart and its FullHD resolution, tied in with WiFi 6 and Harmon Kardon speakers, conversely, are simply a few of the benefits that ship with what is arguably the best Chromebook of 2021.

ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 - Amazon