Micro Center Presents: Holiday Gifts for Laptop Fans

Whether it’s a work machine, a budget-friendly web browser, or a high-end gaming powerhouse, there’s at least one laptop in just about every house. That makes laptop accessories the perfect slam-dunk of a gift for everyone on your list. 

Photo: Jacob Bobo 

Docking stations make great tools for the work-from-home set, cooling pads are a hot gift for gamers, and any music lover deserves a nice set of speakers. But which is right for the people on your shopping list? Let's break down some popular recommendations, ranging from accessories everyone can use to expert upgrades that are a bit more niche.

Everki Titan Checkpoint Friendly Backpack fits Screens up to 18.4" - Black

Photo: Micro Center 

The wonderful thing about laptops is that they’re designed to be portable. The problem is keeping them safe while in transport. Thankfully, there are backpacks like the Everki Titan Checkpoint. Backpacks created with laptops in mind offer extensive padding and protection, ensuring your expensive tech makes it through airport security without getting dinged up. And even better, this one fits even massive 18-inch desktop replacement laptops.

Logitech M650 L Signature Wireless Mouse Graphite

Photo: Micro Center 

Trackpads have gotten noticeably better over the decades, but there’s still no competing with the ease-of-use and accuracy of a traditional mouse. A small, uncomplicated mouse like the M650 from Logitech is a great gift for any laptop user, whether they have a mouse already or not. Powered by a single AA battery, it connects via Bluetooth LE or an included USB receiver. It's the perfect travel mouse -- just throw it in a laptop travel bag (like maybe the Titan bag above) and they'll never be without one. 

Thermaltake LUXA2 EnerG Bar 65W Universal Laptop Adapter

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Many laptops use USB-C cables for power, but not all. You'll still find tons of different barrel-style power connections, which can be hard to replace. That's important because it’s hard to overstate how often laptops move. Whether it's to and from work or just to and from the couch, there are a lot of opportunities for cords and cables to break or get lost. Having a spare cable handy can be a lifesaver. That college student who’s cable just broke, has a paper due tomorrow, and is watching their battery life slowly tick down will be incredibly thankful to have a backup charger ready to go, especially one with 65W of power output and ten interchangeable power interface tips. 

Logitech Z313 2.1 Channel Computer Speakers - Black

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Laptop speakers aren’t the same grainy, echoey sound system they were in the early 2000s, but that doesn’t mean they have the same oomph as a standalone set of speakers. The 25-Watt Z313 2.1 speakers from Logitech deliver a rich, clear tone that can fill a room better than just about any built-in laptop speakers ever could. And, with an included subwoofer, you won’t just hear these speakers, you’ll feel them too.

Crucial 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5600 PC5-44800 CL46 Dual Channel Laptop Memory Kit CT2K16G56C46S5 - Black

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RAM needs are constantly on the rise. Once upon a time, 8GB was more than enough for the average user, but today's default recommendation has doubled to 16GB. However, for someone whose laptop isn’t just for emails, 16GB still might not be enough. This 32GB DDR5-5600 kit from Crucial offers the upgrade gamers, content creators, AI wizards, and visual editors need to keep their hobbies and projects running smoothly. Internal RAM is upgradable in many more laptops than you might think -- check with the Micro Center Knowledge Bar if you want to know for sure.

Accessory Power ENHANCE Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad Stand with LED Cooler Fans - Blue

Photo: Micro Center 

Heavy laptop users know that their devices have the potential to get hot. Games, Photoshop, and even big Excel spreadsheets have the very serious potential to get laptop fans running at full force and still not lower the temperature enough to have it sit comfortably on a lap. Cooling pads like the ENHANCE from Accessory Power don’t just add a layer of distance from the laptop and the user's rapidly-heating legs, but add additional fans to help boost airflow and protect skin from those high temps.

j5create USB Type-C Dual HDMI Docking Station (10-in-1)

Photo: Micro Center 

Docking stations are very common in offices, but they can be incredibly useful in homes as well. The j5create Dual HDMI Docking Station connects to any laptop via USB-C and instantly boosts the number of available ports, including HDMI and Ethernet ports. Whether used for adding a second display  or just a few more USB hookups, a docking station adds extra connectivity features to any laptop. Plus, when plugged into a power outlet via a USB-C power adapter, it provides up to 100W of passthrough power to your laptop. 

These gift picks just scratch the surface of laptop accessories; we didn’t even get into the various colors of mice, cooling pads and backpacks! For everything else, stop by your local Micro Center, recently rated the #1 Tech Retailer by PC Mag. Our associates are knowledgeable and ready to help find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Or, if you’re looking for more gift ideas, follow the links below for other great options this holiday season. 

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