(Image credit: Future)
Let’s be honest: between soaring memory prices and the endless barrage of tech buzzwords, building the ultimate setup in 2026 hasn't been easy. But amidst the chaos, hardware makers gave us some of the most genuinely exciting, boundary-pushing gear we’ve seen in a decade.This year, "compromise" became a dirty word. Laptops gained dual OLED screens without losing all-day battery life, budget peripherals delivered soundscapes usually reserved for four-figure studio setups, and on-device processing finally evolved from a gimmick into everyday horsepower.We sifted through the noise, ran hundreds of lab benchmarks, and tested dozens of contenders to death. Here are the 21 standout winners that earned a permanent place on our desks for the 2026 Tom’s Guide Computing Awards.LaptopsDell XPS 13
(Image credit: Future)The Dell XPS 13 is a true MacBook Neo rival and easily the best budget laptop you can buy right now. Despite its low $699 starting price, it doesn’t skimp on luxury features you’d find on more expensive laptops, giving you quality with few compromises.The thin, light aluminum chassis not only looks great, but it also makes the XPS 13 ideal for travel. The sharp 13.4-inch 2K touch display is bright and colorful, while the Intel Wildcat Lake chip inside gives you plenty of performance for everyday work. And if that wasn’t enough, it has more than enough battery life to last you for a full workday. — Tony Polanco, Senior WriterAsus Zenbook Duo (2026)
