The TechRadar editorial team spends all year testing and writing about gadgets so that you, the consumer, know about the best tech to buy. And there's no more important time for us than Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's when we see our tech buying advice put to the use most.

Problem: It's really difficult to know what to buy when everything is on sale. We see millions of dollars worth of transactions go through TechRadar to various retailers this weekend, but this page is dedicated to pointing out the very best gadgets, according to our editors' recommendations. 

To answer that question 'what's the best tech?', we put together this Holiday Gift Guide to properly spotlight the best gifts that you should consider purchasing. This includes all of the usual categories we cover: laptops, phones, home theater, PC components, wearables, and game consoles (including individual video games). 

Back by popular demand is the Cool Stuff category aka 'The Big Gift' from newer devices: drones, electric scooters, and smart home devices. We also have a toys section if you're buying for kids (or yourself, a kid at heart). Rest assured, you can't go wrong with these great presents.

Disclaimer: TechRadar's Holiday Gift Guide is powered by Razer, so while its laptop, phone and headphones appear within our list, all other picks are completely editorially and independently driven.

Join us as we celebrate our best picks for a tech-savvy audience.

Laptops

Huawei MateBook X Pro

Rarely, a laptop arrives that completely blows everything out of the water. This year, that’s the Huawei MateBook Pro X. It doesn’t do anything altogether new, but it perfects elements from competitors to produce one of the best laptops ever. It’s a perfect gift for anyone that needs a laptop this season.

Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch

For the Apple fan that wanted a MacBook Pro, but wanted to wait until it was more up to date, this is their year. Packed with 8th-generation Intel Core processors, speedy SSDs and an improved Butterfly keyboard, the 2018 13-inch Macbook Pro is the best MacBook yet.

Asus Chromebook Flip C302

Sure, there are more powerful Chromebooks out there. There are even cheaper ones. But, there is no Chromebook on the market that quite hits the price-to-performance ratio that Asus does with the Chromebook Flip C302. It’s the perfect 2-in-1 Chromebook for any students on your Secret Santa list.

Razer Blade (Base Model)

Sponsored Pick
There are few manufacturers as beloved in the PC gaming space as Razer, and the Razer Blade 2018 (Base Model) is a perfect example of why. With all of the same guts inside as the mainstream model with more storage and Ethernet at a lower price, it’s a gaming laptop to beat.

Microsoft Surface Go

The Microsoft Surface line of tablets has long been the pinnacle of what Windows tablets should be, but we always wanted a cheaper model. Our prayers were answered with the Surface Go. It’s an affordable Windows tablet that’ll be the perfect gift for any students on your list.

iPad Pro 11

Apple released two new iPad Pros this year, but the new iPad Pro 11 hits the sweet spot. It’s more affordable, more portable, but equally as powerful as its bigger sibling. With support for keyboard covers and Apple Pencil, the new iPad Pro 11 is an excellent creative tool and potential on-the-go laptop alternative.

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Phones

Google Pixel 3

For a phenomenal Android experience, look no further than the phone designed by the Android maker. The Pixel 3 offers not only a powerful phone running a bloatware-free version of Android, but it also see fast updates over its lifespan. All that, and it has one of the best smartphone cameras around, making it an all-around wonderful gift. 

Razer Phone 2

Sponsored Pick
The Razer Phone 2 is the ideal phone for RGB-loving gamers who wants to live that overclocked life at 120Hz everywhere they go. With the 120Hz refresh rate, it has the most fluid screen we've ever seen on a smartphone, and it's backed up by plenty of speed and dual front-facing speakers. It's going to be good for 3D gaming for years to come.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 takes everything to the max. It has a massive, Super AMOLED screen, offering one of the best smartphone displays around. Plus, it’s packs high-performance internals into a stunning design. Then there’s the dual-sensor camera system, which also ranks among the best, especially with Samsung’s dual-aperture technology. The Note 9 would make a truly premium present.

iPhone XS Max

Given the popularity of iPhones, it’s almost a no-brainer that a new iPhone will make a great gift this holiday season. And, the iPhone XS Max is the biggest and best. It offers a massive 6.5-inch OLED display, has incredible cameras, and packs a processor that blows the competition away.

OnePlus 6T

OnePlus has made a name for itself in large part by offering premium devices at sub-premium prices. The OnePlus 6T has nailed this with a great price paired with specs that challenge the best smartphones out there and a design that even puts some flagships to shame. If know someone who doesn’t want a smartphone notch this holiday season, the OnePlus 6T has a notch that’s easy to ignore.

Consoles

Nintendo Switch

A bit of a handheld, a bit of a console: the Nintendo Switch is the most unique gaming device on the market. With a host of brilliant family-friendly games, like Super Mario Party and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Nintendo Switch is the perfect gift for the entire family.

PS4 Pro

Sony has had a great run this year with PS4 exclusives, like Spider-Man and God of War. Plus, games like The Last of Us: Part II or Ghost of Tsushima are down the pipe, and there’s PSVR to consider. All of that is made that much better by powerful hardware inside the PS4 Pro, making it an excellent holiday gift this year.

PlayStation Classic

Nintendo’s retro consoles have made for delightful gifts, offering a host of classic video games that easily play on modern TVs. This year, Sony’s joined the bandwagon with the PlayStation Classic, and it’s sure to make a fine gift for anyone that grew up playing games on the original console.

Oculus Go

The best virtual reality experiences sit behind a massive paywall, that being expensive headsets and computers. But, the Oculus Go breaks that wall down with stunning VR at an affordable price – no expensive computer required. For anyone that’s been dying to dive into immersive VR experiences, the Oculus Go will be a perfect gift.

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Video games

Super Mario Party

If your family loves to have fun together, Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch is an ideal holiday gift for your family. A board game filled with fun mini-games and silly jokes, Super Mario Party is a blast for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Spider-Man (PS4)

Over the last decade, Marvel has seen a resurgence, with fans of all ages embracing its heroes. Marvel’s Spider-Man for PS4 is the closest we’ve been to feeling like a part of the universe. The ideal gift for any Marvel fans in your life — they’ll be able to do anything a spider can.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Epic, realistic and just plain fun, Red Dead Redemption 2 puts its players in the shoes of an outlaw making ends meet in the wild west. It’s one of the most immersive and detailed games ever made, and will make any western fans on your holiday shopping list extremely happy, no matter the age.

Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII

Treyarch may have stripped a proper first-person campaign out of this year’s Call of Duty release, but Black Ops IIII has brilliant Zombies and multiplayer modes, and it tops that off with a Battle Royale mode. Thanks to excellent execution, the game plays beautifully and will offer plenty of fun to anyone who games this season.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

The history-loving gamer in your life is going to absolutely fall in love with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. As Kassandra or Alexios, you’ll journey across ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War seeking your long-lost parents. It’s a fine holiday gift for anyone looking for adventure.

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is bigger in 2018 with the newest DLC, Forsaken, in addition to past expansions, Curse of Osiris and Warmind. Whether the gamer in your life already has the base game or has yet to dive into the epic universe, Destiny 2 can make a great holiday gift. The Forsaken expansion can be purchased on its own for anyone who already have the base game, or everything can be bought together.

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Components

WD Black NVMe SSD

For those building the perfect gaming PC this season, they’re going to need a speedy SSD that won’t break the bank. The WD Black NVMe SSD from Western Digital is the perfect SSD for such a build. Fast, reliable, capacious and – most importantly – affordable.