So, it’s time to get you or a loved one a new computer. What better time than the holiday season? Now is the time of year when people are doing all of their Christmas shopping, so it might be the perfect opportunity to get a new computer for the tech-savvy individual in your life. Here’s a handy gift guide to show you some of the Chromebooks and computers that you can pick up for yourself or that special someone.

This list is divided into three price brackets. If you’re looking for more budget-friendly options, we have an affordable laptops section. If you don’t mind spending a little more money for a better computer, there’s a section with mid-range computers. Lastly, if you want to go all out and buy the best on the market, then there’s a premium laptops section. So, let’s dive into this gift guide and see what should be your next new computer.

Best affordable laptops

You’re not looking to spend a ton of money on a top-of-the-line laptop for that special someone. It’s okay, there are people who just need a computer to get them through the day. Many laptops on the market are mostly for browsing the web, writing, watching some content, and doing light work. Also, there are laptops that you want to buy as your child’s first laptop.

This is the section that’s all about more affordable laptops. They’re not particularly fast, but they’re good for covering the basics.

A lightweight champ: Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim

Having a cheaper laptop doesn’t mean that you need to settle for a small screen. While the Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim only costs $269, it still comes with a large 15.6-inch display. With that screen, you get a 1080p resolution. That’s pretty standard for more expensive laptops, also that’s a bit of a plus.

The Aspire Go 15 Slim doesn’t come with a ton of power under the hood, but it has enough steam to get you where you need to go. If you’re a person who needs the bases covered, then this computer will suffice. You’re going to want to use this computer if you’re a writer who needs a reliable computer. It has a modest processor, but a good amount of RAM for what you’re going to be doing. The same thing goes for the storage. You’ll be able to download a good amount of programs, videos, and other files. You’ll just need to be careful with how much stuff you download.

The Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim comes with Windows 11S out of the box. This is a more efficient version of Windows that doesn’t use too much processing power. You’ll have access to a ton of programs that will help you be productive.

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Reliable and affordable: Lenovo Chromebook Slim

Lenovo is one of the leaders in the computer space, and it brings its expertise across different operating systems. If Windows isn’t your speed, then maybe you’ll like a Chromebook. These devices are historically more affordable than most other Windows computers. While this is true, Chrome OS has been getting better and better over the years. It’s getting to the point where it can almost rival Windows or MacOS.

This is great for people whose needs are more mild. Again, if you’re a person who’s going to use this computer for more writing or doing light work, then you’ll be right at home with this operating system. A decent computer to consider is the Lenovo Chromebook Slim. Coming in at only $269, this is super affordable. While this computer has modest specs, there are some standouts. The screen gets plenty bright, the speakers are nicely loud, and it has a touch screen.

It comes with the essentials like a decent 64GB of RAM. This is good enough for people who aren’t going to download a ton of files. Also, the processor will get you through the day.

This computer has great battery life as well. With moderate use, this computer will last you a few days on a single charge. Also, it will charge from 0% to 100% in a good amount of time. This is a handy and reliable computer to take with you.

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Best mid-range laptops

These laptops are for people who can spare a bit more money. The person you’re buying the computer for is looking to do some more serious work, and they need a computer that can handle some more demanding tasks. If a $300 notebook just doesn’t cut it, but you’re still not looking for a $1,000+ laptop, then a mid-range laptop is right up your alley.

A mid-range workhorse: Dell Inspiron 15

Dell is a major computer company, and it churns out computers in all price ranges. Coming in at $629.99, this laptop comes in at a decent price point. It has a nice 15.6-inch screen, and that screen looks nice. You’ll enjoy creating content and watching movies on it. It’s not the brightest, so you’ll need to keep that in mind if you plan to use it outside.

It comes with a pretty beefy processor. It’s not flagship-grade, but it’s enough to run some pretty power-hungry programs. If you’re looking to do some video editing or photo editing, then you’ll have more than enough horsepower at your fingertips.

You won’t be able to run all of the most graphically intensive games on the market, but you’ll be able to run some low to mid-range games. You’ll have to get used to turning graphic settings down, but you’ll still be able to get some gaming in.

This is a nice computer for the price you’re paying. It comes with enough power to get some serious work done.

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Versatile and visually stunning: HP Envy x360

The price of 2-in-1 computers has come down over the years. The ability to convert into a tablet was thought of as a luxury feature a few years ago. However, there are budget and mid-range computers that have it. A great option to consider is the HP x360. It comes with a sleek and beautiful design that makes it a treat for the eyes. It’s a pretty thin laptop, which makes it convenient to travel with.

This computer comes with a pretty good processor. You’ll be able to use your favorite applications on it and do work on it. Also, if you’re a content creator, this computer will be perfect for you. The 16GB of RAM is a treat for people who have a lot of stuff going on in the background.

What makes this computer special is the fact that the screen can flip all the way around. This means that you can flip around to use the HP x360 as a tablet. Using it in tablet mode is convenient, but you can also use it in tent mode. The display is large at 16 inches. Also, it’s a high-quality LCD panel that will give you a great viewing experience. So, if you want to relax with some movies or gaming, you won’t have any issues.

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Best premium laptops

Okay, you’re not messing around! You’re looking for a no-compromise computer that can handle everything that you can throw at it. We’re talking about computers that you’ll use for all of your work and play. Yes, computers like these cost more, but you know what you’re getting yourself into. You’re looking to spend top-dollar for a top-shelf computer. Well, it’s time to get your money’s worth.

2 computers for the price of 1!: ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid

You’re conflicted between Android and Windows, but you don’t want to buy two devices. What do you do? Well, there’s a sub-class of computers that can actually boot more than one operating system. The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is one of them. This is a computer that can boot both Windows and Android.

If you need to use one operating system for something, then you have the choice. When in Windows mode, you’ll have Windows 11 and Android 13. This is the most recent version of Windows, but the version of Android is a bit older compared to modern devices. So, this is something that you’ll need to keep that in mind. There’s a chance that the computer will get updates to the Android operating system.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid’s utility doesn’t only come from the software. This computer has some powerful hardware driving it. You can get it with some powerful chips so that it has the muscle to plow through all of your projects. Whether you’re writing, computer animating, editing, or whatever, you won’t need to worry about power.

To top things off, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is compatible with the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus and the Lenovo Universal. This means that you can write and draw on the display.

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A galaxy of possibilities: Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360

Samsung makes amazing phones, but the company also manufactures a line of powerful laptops under its Galaxy Book name. These are Windows-powered computers that bring some of the best specs on the market. If you’re looking for a powerful computer with the added benefit of being in the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, then you might want to look into getting a Galaxy Book5 Pro 360.

This is a computer for all of your needs and then some. It’s a powerful device that comes with some top-of-the-line specs like a fast chip, a lot of RAM, plenty of storage, and a beautiful screen. You’ll be able to use this for whatever tasks you through at it, no matter what you do. It’s an all-in-one computing solution for you.

Since this is a Samsung device, you know that it has an amazing display. You’ll get amazing colors and contrast, so you’ll love editing and watching content along with gaming on this computer. As an added bonus, you can flip the display all the way around so that you can use it to draw on.

This thin and light computer is easy to carry around with you in case you need to work on the go.

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