TechSpot Tech Gift Shortlist 2017

With a near bezel-free display, the Galaxy S8+ looks gorgeous, and its design makes most other phones look last generation in comparison. The S8+ is immaculately crafted, with premium materials throughout, while retaining popular features from previous handsets like water resistance, a microSD card slot, and the 3.5mm headphone jack. And the 6.2-inch curved AMOLED display is just about the best-looking screen on any smartphone.

As reviewed by TechSpot

Apple unveiled a trio of new iPhones on September 12th. The handsets are the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs, the 6.1-inch iPhone XR and the flagship 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max.

The LG G5 didn’t impress us last year as a flagship contender. But let’s be real here. At $230, the hardware you’re getting in this phone is far too hard to pass up. The Snapdragon 820 inside still stacks up very well against modern flagships and the LG G5's compact 1440p display is also bright, crisp, and clear. If you want the best camera and the best performance at a highly affordable price, the LG G5 is as good as it gets today

As reviewed by TechSpot

It's true that the iPhone 6S will show its age a lot quicker than the iPhone 8 or the iPhone X. But look at it this way: When the iPhone 6S becomes too slow for your day-to-day use in, say, two years' time, you could upgrade to the iPhone 8, which cost less than the brand-new 2019 model. The iPhone 6S is an example of how recent iPhones have longer life spans when it comes to performance — and that we don't need to spend top dollar for the new models.

As reviewed by Business Insider

This isn’t a phone that’s going to blow your mind with chip performance. It’s not here to be a mobile news reporter’s best friend for high-quality photos and/or video. But it’ll get you your emails and it’ll let you send a Tweet like nobody’s business. And it’ll do this for hours, and hours, and hours on end.

As reviewed by SlashGear

The ZenBook UX330UA is one of the best laptop values you can get: It packs a speedy 256GB SSD, a fast Core i5 CPU and a sharp, 1080p screen into a 2.7-pound package. To get a notebook with similar features at that size, you normally have to pay well over $900. Fortunately, Asus' 13-inch laptop looks good on more than just paper, as it provides over 10 hours of battery life, strong performance and wide viewing angles.

As reviewed by LaptopMag

With the base model sitting at $1,399, it's pretty expensive even considering the decent array of hardware. This is another one of those cases where if you want the best on the market, you’ll have to pay a premium. Whether or not you can stomach the price is up to you, but as far as I’m concerned, the Blade Stealth is the best ultraportable currently available.

As reviewed by TechSpot

It’s still very expensive, still lacking a USB-A port, there’s still a question of whether it’s “pro” enough for professionals and now there are more powerful eighth generation Intel chips available in rivals. But the 13in MacBook Pro is still one of the nicest computers you can buy. Using it is a genuine pleasure, and thankfully it now lasts long enough I can finish my work without reaching for a plug.

As reviewed by theguardian.com

Lenovo's signature business ultraportable is now in its 5th generation, adding new Intel Kaby Lake processors and a larger battery without sacrificing portability. And after using this laptop for a few weeks now, it's clear that Lenovo's minor year-on-year improvements have led to a stunning device that's the best ThinkPad ultraportable yet.

As reviewed by TechSpot

Acer's 15.6-inch multi-talented multimedia machine smoothly renders current computer games on its glossy Full HD display. It makes a good impression in every other aspect too, regardless of the kind of application. The device never grows particularly warm or loud. The new ULV quad-core processor provides plenty of power. A solid-state disk ensures a fast running system and an excellent battery life tops off the package.

As reviewed by NotebookCheck

The Asus ROG Zephyrus is the flagship model for Nvidia's Max-Q initiative. It packs a fully-fledged GTX 1080 with 8GB of GDDR5, a Core i7-7700HQ and 16GB of RAM, inside a chassis that's 17.8mm thick and 2.3 kg heavy. This makes the Zephyrus the slimmest GTX 1080 laptop on the market, and by a significant margin, too.

As reviewed by TechSpot

If you’re looking to purchase a pre-built gaming desktop that prioritizes performance over ridiculous designs and over-the-top liquid cooling, the HP Omen Desktop is a great choice. It’s not ludicrously expensive, yet it provides solid hardware, decent thermals, and loads of configuration options to suit a wide range of budgets.

As reviewed by TechSpot

Very few computers make a statement just by sitting on top of your desk. HP's latest update of the Envy 34 all-in-one is one of them. A breathtaking display of technology and design that's as impressive whether it's on or off. Great performance. Unparalleled display in the all-in-one space.

As reviewed by Wired

The newest 27-inch Apple iMac is a gorgeous machine with a brilliant display and a handful of modern upgrades at an appealing price. It's not revolutionary, but it's the best version of the iMac to date.

As reviewed by PC Mag

The Corsair One is one of the best small form factor gaming PCs you can buy right now, period. Corsair has hit the nail on the head with just about every aspect of this machine, from its design to its cooling solution. Its fantastic level of upgradeability and beautiful design is enough for me to highly recommend it.

As reviewed by TechSpot

The HP Z2 Mini G3 is the first mini PC we've seen that pushes the capability envelope into workstation territory, thanks to its powerful processing, ISV-certified Nvidia Quadro graphics, and combination of spacious and speedy storage. If you need basic workstation-class performance for uses like CAD or financial analysis, the Z2 Mini packs that power into a surprisingly small package that's well worth the price.

As reviewed by Tom's Guide

If you use your laptop just to browse the Web, watch videos, write, listen to music, and perform other basic tasks, then the iPad Pro is an excellent gadget for you. It can do most of these things without breaking a sweat – but so could the less expensive iPad (2017).

As reviewed by Gadgets360

Even with the pricing premium, the Surface Pro is a compelling option. It is especially ideal for creative professionals and college students who could put the optional Surface Pen and Dial to use, whether it is for taking handwritten notes in class or creating artwork. Of course, even outside of those demographics, anyone looking for a hybrid, detachable laptop might want to give the Microsoft Surface Pro serious consideration as well.

As reviewed by HotHardware

Since the iPad Mini 4 was first released, Apple has shifted and streamlined its iPad lineup. There are now three core options if you're in the market for an Apple tablet: The iPad Pro, the (simply titled) iPad, or the iPad Mini 4. As you can probably guess, that puts the Mini 4 as the smaller, cheaper alternative to the other two models.

As reviewed by Expert Reviews