2026 Holiday Tech Gift Guides: PCMag, Lifehacker, and Popular Science Reveal Top Picks

Key points

• PCMag’s first-ever Gift of the Year awards highlight 12 categories, emphasizing affordability and performance.
• Lifehacker selects 15 winners, focusing on value and broad appeal, including the iPhone 17e and Steam Deck.
• Popular Science highlights 12 gifts that enhance lifestyle, such as the LG Gallery TV and Google Home Speaker.
• Gear Patrol offers a broader holiday edit with 125+ ideas, ranging from tech to fashion and home goods.
• All sources note that affordability is a key consideration for 2026 holiday shopping.

Background

This is the first year PCMag has released a Gift of the Year award, joining sibling sites like CNET and ZDNET. The 2026 holiday season is marked by a focus on affordability, with many outlets highlighting budget-friendly options. The release of these guides coincides with the start of the holiday shopping season, as consumers look for tech gifts that offer value and performance.

How outlets are covering it

PCMag emphasizes affordability and performance, selecting the Dell XPS 13 and Apple Mac mini M6 as top picks. Lifehacker focuses on accessibility and broad appeal, choosing the iPhone 17e and Steam Deck. Popular Science highlights lifestyle integration, featuring the LG Gallery TV and Google Home Speaker. Gear Patrol offers a broader range of gifts, including fashion and home goods. While all outlets agree on the importance of affordability, they diverge on specific categories, with PCMag favoring Windows laptops and Lifehacker choosing Apple’s entry-level iPhone.

Why it matters

These gift guides provide consumers with curated, expert-reviewed options for the 2026 holiday season. By highlighting affordability and performance, the guides help shoppers make informed decisions. The diversity of categories and price points ensures that there is a suitable gift for every budget and recipient. The focus on value and performance reflects the current economic climate, where consumers are more cautious about spending.

What to watch

Consumers can expect more gift guides and product reviews from tech publications in the coming weeks. As the holiday season progresses, retailers will likely offer discounts and promotions on the highlighted products. PCMag, Lifehacker, and Popular Science may update their guides to include new releases and deals. Consumers should monitor these sources for the latest recommendations and pricing.