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Make your Mother's Day with a laptop, PC or tablet

Our top picks for saying "thanks, mom!" with gear.

Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Lori Grunin
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1 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

LG Gram (13-inch, touch)

This 2-pound superslim laptop has enough battery life to last an entire day, looks sleek and won't weigh mom down.

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2 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

HP Spectre x360 (15-inch)

Does mom like extra space to work when she's on the go? This durable, stylish machine is a dynamite balance of design, performance, long battery life and a crisp 15.6-inch backflipping touchscreen.

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3 of 27 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

For moms who really value a great screen, the Tab S3 is the gift to get. The Android tablet is the first with an HDR-ready AMOLED display and, paired with its great speakers, it's a top choice for indulging in binge-watching style, wherever you go.

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4 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Samsung Chromebook Pro

A Chromebook two-in-one offering great value, features and performance for a budget-priced laptop. Perfect for moms who live 24/7 on the web and want a pen-enabled tablet and a notebook.

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5 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple iPad (2018)

Now that it supports the Apple Pencil and a power upgrade, the mainstream 9.7-inch model offers more flexibility than ever before for surfin', streamin' and managing her life.

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6 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1

This slimmer two-in-one version of the XPS 13, a favorite ultraportable, is an excellent full-time laptop and part-time tablet.

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7 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lenovo Miix 520

This tablet PC will help mom get her work done, take handwritten notes, stream favorite shows and explore her creative side.

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8 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft's finely tuned tablet PC will let mom travel light without sacrificing the full Windows 10 experience. Add a keyboard cover to turn it into a laptop. And now there's an option for LTE for when she's away from Wi-Fi.

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9 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

The 13-inch version of the XPS 2-in-1 is great, but sometimes you just need more screen. Plus, this is a more powerful model thanks to an option with the new Intel/AMD combo chip. And avoid the 4K screen if battery life matters.

Apple Macbook 12-inch 2017
10 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple MacBook 2017

It's the ultimate coffee-shop laptop for Apple fans. The updated 12-inch MacBook is a can't-miss gift.

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11 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Samsung Chromebook Pro

This Chromebook makes a great alternative to a Windows or Mac laptop for the mom who doesn't need a whole lot of applications.

Acer Aspire E15 E5-576G-5762
12 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Acer Aspire E15 E5

It's a bit bulky, but this budget notebook has a ton of features, including discrete graphics and a DVD drive, for its can't-be-beat and eminently giftable $600 price.

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13 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

HP Spectre x360 (13 inch, late 2017)

If you want mom to flip for a convertible laptop, this is a great choice, and 13 inches is frequently a more manageable size than 15.

Dell G series
14 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dell G3 15

With an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU, you can help mom level up to Dell's newest G series gaming laptops without breaking the bank. 

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15 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

LG Gram 15 (2018)

It's a bigger and heavier than its 13-inch brother, but if mom needs more screen real estate, it's quite light for a 15.6-inch model. And it shares the same all-day battery life, a great feature if mom can't find an outlet while she's on the go.

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16 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Asus Zenbook Flip 14

Discrete graphics in a thin design make this convertible stand out from the crowd and give it a little more muscle than a typical competitor.  

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17 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Asus Zenbook 13

Small but powerful thanks to its discrete graphics, this travel-friendly laptop will get mom through the busiest days.

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18 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

HP ZBook x2

For the artiste in your life, this incredibly flexible detachable workstation with pro-level, color-accurate Adobe RGB graphics and a great-feeling screen for sketching shows mom you understand that art requires power.

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19 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (2018)

Mom can take work outside with this one, a great backflipping laptop with higher-than-usual screen brightness and broader spectrum of colors.

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20 of 27 Josh Goldman/CNET

Lenovo Yoga 720

Another really nice 13-inch backflipper, the Yoga 720 might be a little more budget friendly.

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21 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dell XPS 13 (2018)

The updated clamshell version of its two-in-one sibling bests even itself and is a great, lightweight Windows alternative to the MacBook.

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22 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Asus ROG Zephyrus GM501

Thin and light for a gaming laptop, this GM501 doesn't overdo the flash so it'll fit right in if mom's a closet gamer.

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23 of 27 HP

HP Chromebook x2

Like the Chromebook Pro, this detachable model for grownups offers extra flexibility and a premium design mom will love.

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24 of 27 Josh Miller/CNET

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 370

A solid 360-degree backflipper at a more budget-friendly price.

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25 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple iMac 27

If your mom appreciates minimalist design, the iMac is a go-to all-in-one computer.

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26 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

HP Curved Envy AIO 34

For even more room for work (or play), this HP's curved 34-inch display is great for the mom who needs a lot of screen space for her job.

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27 of 27 Josh Miller/CNET

A bag is indispensible

If a new laptop isn't in the cards -- or the budget -- help spruce up the old one with a great new bag

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