At CNET, our job is to play with all the new gadgets. It’s fun and cool, but it also gives us the serious responsibility to figure out which ones are actually the best. Hundreds of devices and thousands of hours of testing later, we’re proud to present our Editors’ Choice awards for giftable tech.
The mobile, computing, gaming and home entertainment gear below represent the cream of the 2024 gadget crop. For that reason they make great gifts. Chances are someone on your list wants a new phone, Chromebook, soundbar, streaming device, smartwatch, projector or set of earbuds. Below you’ll find the ones our editors liked best.
Editorial Director — Personal Tech
Best phones and smartwatches to give in 2024
Whether the person on your list wants something iPhone or Android, budget or high-end, foldable or camera-focused, one of these phones will fit the bill. We’ve also awarded the Editors’ Choice to not one but two smartwatches this year, one for Apple users and the other for everyone else.
Why we love it
Apple’s cumulative camera and performance upgrades come together impressively in the iPhone 16, making it the ultimate general-purpose phone.
Who is it best for?
iPhone owners upgrading from a phone that’s a couple of generations old that want a better camera.
What else to know
The iPhone 16’s most notable new addition — Apple Intelligence — isn’t here yet. But if you’re upgrading from an iPhone 13 or earlier, you’ll notice a big leap in camera quality, plus you’ll get other handy features that Apple has added in recent years, like the Dynamic Island and the Action button. The iPhone 16 may not have one big standout feature, but the way all of these gradual improvements come together make it a strong choice for iPhone fans that want something faster with a better camera without splurging on the Pro.
– Lisa Eadicicco, senior editor
Read our full review.
Why we love it
What impresses me the most about the Samsung Galaxy S24 isn’t the new Galaxy AI features, brighter screens or solid cameras. It’s the battery life.
Who is it best for?
If you’re on a Galaxy S21 or S21 Plus (or older) and are inclined to upgrade, the Galaxy S24 will seem like a major improvement in nearly every way. The challenge for the larger, more expensive S24 Plus is that Google’s Pixel 9 Pro has the same price and better cameras.
What else to know
The Galaxy S24 is a wonderful, well-built phone that is excellent right out of the box just as the nearly identical S22 and S23 were before it. This similarity to the S22 and S23 can be viewed as either a strength, because the design reflects three years of refinements, or a weakness, because features like the camera hardware are essentially identical to what came out in 2022. But all of this is overshadowed by the great battery life.
– Patrick Holland, managing editor
Read our full review.
Why we love it
The iPhone 16 Pro’s ability to record high-resolution slow-motion video is the best new iPhone feature I’ve seen in years. OK, I’m a camera nerd. For better or worse, the new slow-mo feature overshadows Apple Intelligence.
Who is it best for?
If you have an iPhone 12 Pro or older, upgrading to the 16 Pro makes a lot of sense. If you’re on a 13 Pro and still have a decent battery capacity, I’d say save your money. And if you’re on a 14 Pro or 15 Pro, there’s no need to upgrade.
What else to know
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have everything we’ve come to expect in a year-over-year upgrade. Even without Apple Intelligence at launch, the 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max have a slew of upgrades including a good battery life, larger displays, outstanding photo and video chops, high-resolution slo-mo, a new Camera Control button and a bunch of iOS 18 goodies. The negatives are as thin as the borders around the new screens: You only get 128GB of storage for a $1,000, the color options are drab and the new camera button that feels like it was designed to be something else entirely.
– Patrick Holland
Read our full review.
Why we love it
The Pixel 8A’s compact design, impressive camera for the price and Pixel software features make it a top choice for Android fans on a budget.
Who is it best for?
Android users who prefer smaller phones and want a great camera without spending close to $1,000.
What else to know
The Pixel 8A impressed us so much, it was hard to find something bad to say about it. While you won’t get the Pixel 9’s new camera features like Add Me and macro mode, you will get a very capable camera packed in a sleek design that will get new versions of Android for years to come. Google also has a tendency to roll out Pixel-specific software updates over time, so we can likely expect the Pixel 8A to gain even more functionality as time goes on.
– Lisa Eadicicco
Read our full review.
Motorola Razr Plus (2024)
Why we love it
From the bold colors and vegan leather back to the cover screen software and widgets, I genuinely can’t remember the last time I used a phone as fun as the Motorola Razr Plus.
Who is it best for?
The Razr Plus is an absolute delight to use and will no doubt appeal to people looking for something more unique and fashionable than the standard rectangular phone slabs offered by Apple and Samsung.
What else to know
The 4-inch cover screen makes the Razr Plus feel like two phones in one. You can use pretty much any app on the outer display as well as respond to messages, watch videos, make video calls and even play games — all without opening the Razr Plus up.
Add to that a long battery life, fast charging, improved cameras and an IPX8 rating that certifies that the Razr Plus will survive temporary dunking and you realize just how much value Motorola has poured into its flagship foldable. Its $1,000 price is steep, but you’re getting one of the best clamshell style foldables you can buy.
– Patrick Holland
Read our full review.
Why we love it
Its camera’s image sensor is much bigger than those found on other phones, allowing it to take stunning images in both daylight and at night.
Who is it best for?
Enthusiast photographers, especially anyone into fast-paced street photography and black and white imagery.
What else to know
The 14 Ultra is a powerhouse Android phone but it’s really the camera performance that sets it apart. I particularly love using the phone’s Pro mode, shooting moody street images using the built-in Leica monochrome mode. At night, its unusual variable aperture allows for sunstar effects on points of light that I’ve never seen possible on a phone before.
– Andrew Lanxon, principal writer
Read our full review.
Why we love it
This is the slimmest Apple Watch yet and has a ticking second hand on some watch faces, which makes it look and feel more like a traditional wrist watch.
Who is it best for?
The Apple Watch Series 10 is best for iPhone owners who want a comprehensive range of health and fitness tracking features, like sleep apnea notifications. Anyone upgrading from a Series 6 or earlier will appreciate the bigger, brighter screen and lighter feel on the wrist.
What else to know
The Apple Watch Series 10 takes a winning formula and updates it for the Apple Watch’s tenth birthday. The wide-angle OLED screen makes it brighter when looking at it off-axis and the LTPO3 technology adds a ticking second hand to the always-on display. Battery life is still rated for 18 hours, though you can push it to a day and a half with lighter use and it charges faster than earlier Apple Watches. Overall, it’s an incredibly polished smartwatch and the best choice for most iPhone owners.
– Lexy Savvides, principal video producer
Read our full review.
Why we love it
The Pixel Watch is the best-looking Android smartwatch period, and it gets even better in its third generation.
Who is it best for?
Android phone owners and Fitbit fans who want a general purpose, stylish smartwatch for tracking workouts and receiving phone notifications on your wrist.
What else to know
The Pixel Watch was already my favorite Android smartwatch. But the third generation gains new tools for building custom runs, two size options, a larger screen and a bunch of other improvements that help address shortcomings from the previous models. Plus, Google no longer requires a Fitbit Premium subscription for one of its best features, the daily readiness score, making it an even more compelling fitness tracker.
– Lisa Eadicicco
Read our full review.
Best headphones and portable speaker gifts
Headphones have come a long way. The most popular models today aren’t huge over-ear cans but instead little rechargeable buds that nestle into your ears. Our list of EC winners encompasses every price range and include with and without noise canceling, as well as one that uses bone conduction. Bonus: This year we’re awarding our favorite Bluetooth speaker too.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Why we love it
With improved sound quality and a slightly more compact design, the AirPods 4 ANC are the first open buds to have active noise canceling that actually works.
Who is it best for?
People who want earbuds with an open design or just don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears.
What else to know
The AirPods 4 ANC are equipped with Apple’s H2 chip, the same chip that powers Apple’s AirPods Pro 2. Also, Apple has upgraded the buds with a new acoustic architecture and amp along with a charging case that’s a little more compact than the AirPods 3’s case case.
– David Carnoy, executive editor
Read our full review.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3
Why we love it
Some users were critical of Samsung for changing the design of its earbuds, adding stems and making them more like the AirPods Pro 2. But they’re all-around impressive earbuds that feature a comfortable fit, excellent sound, decent noise canceling, built-in voice controls and top-notch voice-calling performance.
Who is it best for?
Samsung Galaxy device users and Android users.
What else to know
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro feature dual drivers — a 10mm dynamic driver paired with a Planar tweeter that enhances treble performance. They also have dual amps, which helps reduce wireless hiccups.
– David Carnoy
Read our full review.
Why we love it
Shokz has finally cracked the code on bone-conduction sound quality with a novel dual-driver design in its new flagship OpenRun Pro 2 headphones.
Who is it best for?
Runners and bikers looking for neckband-style wireless earbuds that fit securely and have an open design for safety reasons.
What else to know
The OpenRun Pro 2 also work well for making voice calls, with good background noise reduction, including wind noise.
– David Carnoy
Read our full review.
Why we love it
Once again Earfun has delivered a set of well-designed earbuds that deliver strong sound, a robust feature set and solid good noise canceling for their modest price.
Who it’s best for?
Apple or Android smartphone users looking for quality noise-canceling true-wireless earbuds that don’t cost too much.
What else to know
The Earfun Air Pro 4 earbuds have better battery life than their predecessor — up to 11 hours with noise canceling off and 7.5 hours with it on. They’re also good for making calls.
– David Carnoy
Read our full review.
Soundcore by Anker Boom 2
Why we love it
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better sounding portable Bluetooth speaker for the money. I also liked the size and design of the speaker — it’s neither too big nor too small and has some built-in LED lights to help create that party vibe. Last, but not least, it’s fully waterproof and floats.
Who is it best for?
Anybody looking for an affordable Bluetooth speaker that’s relatively compact and delivers impressive sound for its size.
What else to know
The speaker’s battery life is rated at an impressive 24 hours at moderate volume levels (it charges via USB-C) and you can tweak the sound and customize the lighting with the Soundcore app for iOS and Android. There’s also a USB-out port to charge your devices.
– David Carnoy
Read our full review.
The best laptop, tablet and gaming gifts
So many cool toys. Like phones, laptops are roughly divided between Apple and OTHER (a.k.a. Windows and Chromebook), so CNET’s editors have chosen their favorites in those three categories. We also awarded a two-on-one tablet/laptop as well as our favorite standard tablet (spoiler: it’s an iPad) and two of our favorite gaming devices to debut this year: a sweet PC/Xbox controller and an affordable AR/VR headset.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
Why we love it
With the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, we finally get a true Windows rival to Apple’s MacBook Air. It has the build quality and design that puts it on equal footing with the Air, and it not only closes the battery-life gap that the Air had enjoyed over its Windows competition but actually surpasses it. The Surface Laptop 7 is a well-built ultraportable with unbeatable battery life and is one of the best Windows laptops we’ve seen this year.
Who is it best for?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is a great choice for anyone looking for a Windows laptop that offers a similarly sleek design and solid build as a MacBook along with an even better battery life. Based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor, this Copilot Plus PC offers strong overall performance and can run for nearly 20 hours on a single charge.
Our favorite thing
The luxuriously long battery life is the best aspect of the Surface Laptop 7, but my favorite physical feature is the haptic touchpad. For an input device that you interact with hundreds, if not thousands, of times a day, the quality of a laptop’s touchpad is often overlooked. The Surface Laptop 7’s haptic touchpad offers a lively and customizable click response that’s far superior to the feel you get from a basic mechanical touchpad.
— Matt Elliott, senior editor
Read our full review.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
Why we love it
While we’ve always liked the MacBook Air for its portability and battery life, the addition of Apple’s M-series chips really took the Air to the next level. It is a laptop that meets the needs of most people. And now that it comes in 13- and 15-inch sizes, you don’t have to move up to a pricier MacBook Pro just to get a larger display.
Who is it best for?
The M3 Air is a great pick for those who need a highly portable laptop for home, work or school that is not limited to the basics. It’s an even better choice if you’re an iPhone or iPad user.
Our favorite thing
The performance and battery life are great, but the fact that you get those in a slim, fanless body is why the M3 Air is our go-to recommendation for many people.
– Josh Goldman, managing editor
Read our full review.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
Why we love it
The flashy slash programmable-LED on the cover plus solid performance make it an excellent well-rounded laptop for gaming, creating and everyday-ing — without sacrificing style.
Who is it best for?
Thanks to smart design and tradeoffs for its 14-inch size plus an excellent OLED screen, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is a content creation crowd pleaser that has plenty left over for good gaming.
What else to know
The laptop has a surprisingly full set of ports for its size, with sufficient space between them that you shouldn’t have any issues with larger-than-normal connectors. Asus also includes factory-calibration display profiles for sRGB, D65 P3 and DCI-P3, but not Adobe RGB. You can probably get away with a cheaper model (than the one we tested), with an RTX 4060 and 16GB RAM, if you play games at 1080p or lightweight ones at 1440p.
– Lori Grunin, senior editor
Read our full review.
Why we love it
It’s a great overall package for the price. In addition to the sturdy build quality, the keyboard is comfortable and quiet and the port selection is varied and useful. Based on an AMD Ryzen 8000-series processor, the Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 also delivers good performance for the price and lengthy battery life. It’s the two-in-one I recommend for most people for the value and versatility it provides.
Who is it best for?
With a great design, strong overall performance and outstanding battery life, the Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 is a well-rounded two-in-one laptop. It can regularly be found for less than $1,000 where it provides a ton of value and is a great fit as a versatile machine for home use and students.
Our favorite thing
Getting a solid, all-metal chassis at this price is our favorite part of the Yoga 7 14 Gen 9. Many sub-$1,000 models feature flimsy plastic designs, but this Yoga 7 14 boasts rigid, aluminum surfaces along with a firm display hinge that make it a pleasure to use in both laptop and tablet modes.
– Matt Elliott
Read our full review.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11
Why we love it
Some tablets are good for entertainment, others for productivity and still others are good for creative pursuits. The 11-inch Duet somehow ably does all three for around $350 (and that price includes a keyboard cover). Plus, it lasted for 11 hours on our battery tests.
Who is it best for?
Anyone who wants a small secondary device for work and entertainment from anywhere. It’s also good for people who just need a simple computer for typical daily online tasks like shopping or chatting with friends and family.
Our favorite thing
Lenovo packs in a lot of functionality at a reasonable price. Even if you get it maxed out on specs and bundled with its keyboard cover and pen, it’s still under $400.
– Josh Goldman
Read our full review.
Apple iPad (10th generation, 10.2-inch)
Why we love it
The least expensive iPad is often the best iPad for most people, especially since so many iPads are for kids. This one’s getting old and may be upgraded next year, but it’s still the most affordable way to do iPad things, and its upgraded design, better-positioned front-facing camera for video chats and Apple keyboard case accessories make it feel a lot newer than older iPads before this.
Who is it best for?
Kids, families and anyone else who simply wants a basic, functional tablet to do things online, watch videos, play games and casually connect. Apple’s step-up iPad models have faster processors, support for newer, more fully featured Apple Pencil Pro styluses and, in the case of the Pros, better displays, but if that doesn’t matter to you, this is the iPad that will still do you just fine.
Our favorite thing
This was the first iPad to get a shifted front camera placement. It’s on the long landscape edge, instead of the shorter portrait edge. In short, it means that video chats when a keyboard is attached, or when standing the iPad up on a table in landscape mode, look centered and like a laptop. Actually, better than most laptops, since Apple’s iPad cameras tend to be upgrades compared with what Macs offer.
– Scott Stein, editor at large
Read our full review.
Why we love it
Razer’s fine-tuning of its Wolverine controller for Xbox and PC puts it in another league. Borrowing features from the PlayStation version, the V3 Pro has everything from two extra claw grip bumper buttons and four back paddles — all remappable — to Hall Effect thumbsticks and high-speed ultralow-latency wireless.
Who is it best for?
True to its name, the features and $200 price are aimed at serious gamers who want a competition-level wireless controller or who simply like to have the best of the best for gaming. If you can do without the wireless, Razer also has a wired Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition that has all the core features of the V3 Pro, but for $100 less.
Our favorite thing
The sheer amount of controls the Wolverine V3 Pro has without feeling too cluttered or like you’re constantly hitting the wrong buttons. Plus, they can all be tweaked to your liking with Razer’s straightforward app.
– Josh Goldman
Read our full review.
Why we love it
There may not be a $300 device this year that offers more fun and upside than Meta’s mixed reality capable VR headset. The replacement to our longtime Editors’ Choice Quest 2 is a budget version of Meta’s slightly fancier Quest 3 that came out last year. The 3S is $200 less expensive and has the same upgraded graphics and processing chips as the 3, plus much better color cameras that show the world around you more clearly than the Quest 2 did.
Who is it best for?
The Quest 3 is still our favorite VR headset thanks to its better, clearer lenses and higher resolution display, but the Quest 3S is a perfect choice for anyone who’s curious about VR or doesn’t want to spend a lot to try VR games, connect to a PC for VR experiences, or try fitness games and apps that add mixed reality (where the camera view of the world is mixed with VR graphics to make it feel like your worlds are mixing). It’s a great fitness device if you’re okay with wearing a headset during workouts: several great apps already work surprisingly well for cardio exercise.
Our favorite thing
The price for the performance and functions of this headset is sort of astounding, and right now Meta’s including a free game (Batman: Arkham Shadow) as well. Also, the improved color cameras really make being in VR and still being aware of the world around you feel possible.
– Scott Stein
Read our full review.
Our favorite TV, streaming device and home audio gifts
Home entertainment is a huge category, and let’s face it: cheap TVs are a dime a dozen. That’s why we focused our awards this year on two high-end TV models, both of which use OLED technology. To go with that a sweet new TV there’s our favorite streaming device, soundbar and over-the-air DVR – all very affordable — as well as a couple specialty items for the vinyl fan and projector enthusiast on your list.
Why we love it
OLED TVs have the best picture quality, and Samsung’s best OLED TV for 2024 is the S95D. Unlike competitors, it has a matte screen to reduce reflections in bright rooms.
Who is it best for?
The Samsung S95D is best for viewers who want the superior image quality of OLED and are willing to pay extra for a picture that doesn’t reflect brighter objects in the room, such as windows, lamps or other light sources, as brightly.
What else to know
The Samsung S95D’s image quality is superb in both dark home theater situations and bright rooms. It has the brightest image we’ve tested on any OLED TV, exceedingly accurate color and all of the gaming features we expect at a TV of this level. It’s available in only three screen sizes (55-, 65- and 77-inch) so if you want another size OLED TV, this isn’t for you. Its design is also unusual, with a separate external box for HDMI and other connections to allow the TV itself to be extremely thin.
– David Katzmaier, senior director of content
Read our full review.
Why we love it
The C4 delivers the superior image quality of OLED at a price that isn’t incredibly expensive, and it’s also available in a wide range of sizes from 42 to 83 inches.
Who is it best for?
The C4 is best for people who want OLED’s image quality benefits, including excellent contrast and off-angle viewing, without having to pay through the nose.
What else to know
TVs that have OLED screens routinely beat any other kind of television, including LCD and mini-LED TVs, in our side-by-side tests. The LG C4 didn’t perform quite as well as the Samsung S95D in our comparison, but this LG costs hundreds less so we wouldn’t blame you for choosing it instead. Of course the C4 has spectacular picture quality in its own right, anchored by the perfect black levels of OLED, and includes all of the important features and extras available on other high-end TVs.
– David Katzmaier
Read our full review.
Why we love it
The Roku Express 4K Plus does all of the 4K streaming you want for the lowest possible price.
Who is it best for?
If you have a smart TV that is getting older, and some of the apps don’t work any more, then the Express 4K will upgrade it instantly.
Our favorite thing
The Roku Express is great as it is, but it can be upgraded too. Add wired internet with an external USB Ethernet hub adapter, or get the improved Voice Remote Pro with backlit keys.
– Ty Pendlebury, editor
Read our full review.
Why we love it
The Audio-Technica AT-70x is easy to setup and use, plus it sounds great. It’s the best budget record player you can buy.
Who is it best for?
This record player is well suited to beginners due to its simple operation, but it will also appeal to people who want a set-and-forget turntable.
Our favorite thing
The AT-70x boasts automatic operation meaning you can press a button and music plays — no fiddling around with the tonearm or removing the platter to change speeds.
– Ty Pendlebury
Read our full review.
Why we love it
The “new Tablo” is affordable at $100, easy to set up and doesn’t require an ongoing subscription fee. The app is available for most phones and TVs and enables you to watch live TV anywhere in the house you want (and outside the home has also been promised).
Who is it best for?
If you’re a cord cutter who doesn’t want to pay for a live TV streaming service, the Tablo offers plenty of live content for free. It’s a great companion to FAST TV and Netflix.
Our favorite thing
The Tablo includes 128GB of storage onboard — which is enough for 50 hours of HD content — so it’s ready to go out of the box. However it also enables you to add a USB hard drive as well (up to 8TB).
– Ty Pendlebury
Read our full review.
Vizio 2.1 Soundbar SV210M
Why we love it
The Vizio 2.1 soundbar offers dynamic movie sound with clear dialogue in a very compact form-factor.
Who is it best for?
The Vizio 2.1 Soundbar SV210M is great for people looking to upgrade their TV’s sound but don’t want to pay very much. It includes HDMI connectivity so it’s easy to hook up to your TV, and it has Bluetooth for music streaming.
Our favorite thing
The system boasts a great-sounding wireless subwoofer but it’s so small that you can basically put it anywhere you want.
– Ty Pendlebury
Read our full review.
Why we love it
With a 4K resolution, high brightness and built-in Android TV, the X500i is ready to go out of the box. It has one of the best contrast ratios we’ve ever seen, which helps boost its excellent picture quality.
Who is it best for?
The BenQ X500i is a short-throw projector, which means it can cast a large image from 5 feet away. It’s great for people who can’t pipe cables across the floor or who don’t want to pay through the nose for an ultra-short-throw design.
Our favorite thing
While TVs gave up on the technology years ago, the BenQ is still capable of showing 3D movies with a pair of compatible glasses. It also plays regular 2D movies really well!
– Ty Pendlebury
Read our full review.
Methodology: How we made this list
The CNET Editors’ Choice badge represents the strongest recommendation of a product or service evaluated by CNET experts. The award distinguishes the products and services that have made a lasting impression on CNET’s editorial team.
To earn an Editors’ Choice distinction, a product or service must be a top pick in its category, score a minimum benchmark when rated or be selected by a CNET expert based on hands-on testing of the product and its competition. Awarded by our experienced editors, enhanced by lab testing in dedicated facilities and more selective than a best-list inclusion or a positive review, readers can know that Editors’ Choice Award recipients are the best of the best.
