Vaio Z Flip Laptop $1,800
Who says a high-end laptop has to be all business? This Vaio combines an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and Intel’s Iris Graphics tech to handle video editing and video game playing with ease. The 256GB solid-state drive loads files with superb speed. And the integrated hinge lets you flip the high-resolution touch screen to transform the laptop into a tablet.
Apple MacBook 12-Inch Laptop MF855LL/A, $1,200
The jewel in Apple’s revived MacBook line, this 12-inch laptop offers an excellent Retina display, a fast, efficient solid-state drive, and more than 16 hours of battery life. There’s no optical drive for handling CDs or DVDs, but it does handle web browsing, video editing, and midrange gaming with effortless speed. Best of all, it weighs only 2 pounds.
Microsoft Surface Book Laptop, $1,500
A hip look, bountiful features, and a detachable screen make this Microsoft Surface a go-to gift for creative types who want a tablet with the power of a traditional laptop. The high-resolution touch-screen display, Intel Core i5 processor, and 8GB of RAM are ideal for photo and video editing. And the included Surface Pen makes old-fashioned drawing and note-taking easy and precise.
Lenovo Thinkpad X1, $1,300
The ThinkPad X1 is a fine tablet. But what makes it really cool is its modular design. You can customize it with all manner of meaningful extras. Add the detachable keyboard and it’s a very good laptop—thin and light, with 11.25 hours of battery life. Another add-on ($130) provides a battery and extra ports. And yet another module ($250) supplies a tiny Pico projector.
27-Inch Dell XPS, $1,500
This all-in-one desktop is flush with features everyone will appreciate. It has a high-resolution touch-screen monitor and plenty of processing power for editing, gaming, and streaming. The 1TB hard drive offers ample room for movies, music, and photos. Plus there’s a DVD burner, a webcam, and a two-piece speaker system with better-than-you’d-expect sound.
Apple Watch Series 2, $650
This dressy version of Apple’s new smartwatch is encased in stainless steel (rather than aluminum) and comes with an elegant Milanese mesh band, elevating the techie timepiece to a fashion accessory. Hardworking as well as handsome, it’s water-resistant to 50 meters, offers built-in GPS, heart-rate monitor and step-tracking features, and allows workout data sharing.
LG OLED55E6P TV, $4,000
This 55-inch 4K UHD TV topped our ratings this past year—a testament to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. Blessed with best-in-class deep black levels and an unlimited viewing angle no LED LCD can match, it delivers excellent high-def picture quality and ultra-high-def performance.