Giving generously: 4 finds, all under $500
Got someone on your holiday gift list who deserves a bit of a splurge? Or maybe you just want something really nice for yourself. These four devices are some of the best gifts CNET editors have found for under $500.
HP Chromebook x2
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The x2’s compelling design makes it simple to shift from laptop to tablet and back. Stylus and keyboard included. The touchscreen looks good and is responsive. It has two cameras, and great speakers. There’s a sufficient array of ports and connections. Battery life is respectable.
The bad: Integrated storage is limited to a measly 32GB. The keyboard is a bit mushy. Awkward stylus holster.
The cost: $435 to $527.99
The bottom lie: HP’s Chromebook x2 raises the bar for the two-in-one category, combining effective design, peppy performance and a fine display at a killer price.
Yamaha YAS-209
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Yamaha YAS-209 offers excellent sound quality in a compact soundbar. The addition of Amazon Alexa is useful and the mics work well in loud environments. The soundbar’s implementation of DTS Virtual:X offers a rich surround effect. The subwoofer is more articulate and offers more headroom than the competing Polk soundbar.
The bad: There’s no multiroom music feature. There’s no onscreen display and the LEDs on the top are too small to see from your chair.
The cost: $299.95 to $349.99
The bottom line: The Yamaha YAS-209 is a worthy smart soundbar that offers excellent sound quality, whether it’s playing music or movies.
Apple iPad (10.2-inch)
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The 10.2-inch iPad has a larger display than before. Smart Connector supports a few snap-on keyboard accessories. One of the most affordable devices in Apple’s gadget lineup. iPad OS works better than expected and is well-optimized for the A10 processor.
The bad: The base 32GB of storage isn’t enough, meaning you’ll really be paying $429 for the 128GB model unless you can find a sale. It’s bigger and heavier than older model. The older A10 processor is the same as the previous iPad’s, which you can still get on sale. The cost: $379.99 to $429
The bottom line: The basic budget iPad is good, and makes a strong case for spending as little as possible on an Apple tablet.
DJI Spark
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The DJI Spark delivers a tiny, lightweight design; excellent mechanically stabilized camera; USB charging and advanced features like gesture controls and obstacle detection. It travels well and is great for aerial photos and video.
The bad: Flight time can be as short as 10 to 14 minutes. The app can be frustrating to use, especially on smaller screens. And you should expect to buy batteries and possibly the optional controller.
The cost: $344.95 to $395.86
The bottom line: The DJI Spark delivers all of the camera drone features most people will ever need in an impossibly small package.