Micro Center's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

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The holiday season is here! Whether you're waiting till the last minute to shop, picking out those final stocking stuffers, or just grabbing a great gift for yourself, we've got the hot gifts that are sure to be a hit. It's our 2021 Holiday Buying Guide!

Gifts for the Gamer:

PXN Universal Racing Wheel

If you've got a racing fan on your list, the PXN Universal Racing wheel is the perfect gift. Working with almost any gaming system, including Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, the PXn comes with everything you need to take your racing game to the next level. A full 270/900 degree wheel, 3 pedals, and shifter make it a driver's seat in a single box. It's even compatible with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, if you really want to feel the twists and turns of Rainbow Road!

Oculus Quest 2 - 128GB

Virtual reality has come a long way from the days of the Virtual Boy. The Oculus Quest 2 is a fully stand-alone VR headset, so you're ready to cruise the virtual world as soon as you open it. No need for other systems, hookups, or wires at all! The Quest 2 is entirely wireless, so you can take it wherever your holidays take you. Shoot zombies in your backyard or go bowling in grandma's kitchen, the VR world is yours, and it's coming with you.

ASUS VG248QEZ 24" FHD 144HZ Gaming Monitor

Is the gamer on your list still using the family's old 4:3 60Hz monitor? It's time to upgrade. The ASUS VG248QEZ is a fantastic 1080p full HD gaming monitor that'll help them bring their game to the next level. With a 144Hz refresh rate, they'll be winning matches before their opponents even realize they're there. Give them the gift of winning this holiday season, and score some extra cash for yourself with $30 off!

Gifts for the PC Builder:

Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

Not every computer builder has a computer yet. Some are still dreaming of that first build. There's no better way to start to make that dream a reality than with the heart and soul of any build: the processor. Both the Intel i7-12700k and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X are stellar CPUs that'll support the newest games for years to come and are a fantastic starting point for any builder. If you need help choosing between the two, check out our guide on Choosing a Processor, or ask one of our associates!

Samsung 980 SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe

Every PC builder has their unique desires when building their PC, but we can all agree on one thing: faster is better. Give the gift of speed this year with a Samsung 980 SSD M.2 NVMe drive, and watch how fast they sprint away to install it. With blazing-fast read and write speed, NVMe drives are the fastest way to boot, game, and work. And 1TB of space should last them quite a while!

Lian Li Lancool II Tempered Glass eATX Computer Case

Gone are the days of the blocky black box computer. Now it's a point of pride to show off everything your computer has to offer, and a tempered-glass window is the best way to do just that. Lian Li is known for making easy-to-build-in cases with eye-catching designs and great airflow. The Lancool II even has customizable front-panel RGB to really ensure the build shines.

Gifts for the Mac Fan:

Apple MacBook Pro with M1 Pro Chip - Late 2021

Apple's MacBook Pro's get better every year, and 2021 is no exception. Featuring the absolutely stellar M1 Pro Chip processor, the latest iteration of the MacBook Pro is their strongest yet. 16GB Unified RAM, 1TB SSD, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 14.2" Liquid Retina XDR display make this a must-have for Mac fans.

Apple Mac mini (Late 2020) Desktop Computer

If you're looking for something a bit more "plug it in and never worry about it again," then the Mac mini is the way to go. Featuring Apple's trademark easy-to-use interface, the Mac mini is designed to be simple and ready, right out of the box. Its no power slouch either - with an Apple M1 chip, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 256GB SSD, and an Apple 8 Core GPU, it's ready to handle all the family computing needs!

Apple iPad mini (Late 2021)

Need something small and compact for art, streaming, mobile gaming, or just browsing the internet? The Apple iPad mini is the perfect tablet for all that and more. Especially with its absolutely gorgeous Liquid Retina display, ensuring you see every inch of whatever you may be doing in perfect quality.

Gifts for the At-Home "Worker":

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15.6" Laptop Computer

Our highlighted gift of the year, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 may be the perfect mid-range laptop. Powerful enough to handle all your daily work, internet browsing, and even some light gaming, the IdeaPad 5 can seamlessly transition from work mode to 5 o'clock free time. Featuring an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 15.6" touchscreen display, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD, the IdeaPad is ready to work and play.

ASUS ROG Strix GA15 GA15DK-MB571 Gaming PC 

We've talked a lot about the Micro Center Platinum Collection on the community, and the ASUS ROG Strix GA15 is a perfect example of what makes the Platinum Collection the pinnacle of computing power. Featuring a configuration unique to Micro Center, the ROG Strix GA15 is a powerhouse of a PC whether you're working, gaming, or both. Boasting a Ryzen 5 5600X Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, the GA15 is ready and willing to handle the newest games with their visuals cranked up. Or, if you are working, it'll handle video and photo editing with ease, to say nothing of spreadsheets and text documents.

HP Pavilion 15-ec2121nr 15.6" Gaming Laptop Computer

But why leave your Platinum Collection gaming (or work) at home, when you can take it with you? We went in-depth with the HP Pavillion 15-ec2121nr on the Community before, but the short version is that it's a killer gaming laptop. With a Ryzen 5 5600H processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 video card, and a 512GB SSD, it's a quick, snappy, powerful, and most importantly, portable machine. They may be gaming all holiday season, but at least they'll be able to game in the same room as everyone else.

Gifts for the Smart Home Innovator:

Nanoleaf Canvas Smarter Kit

We've gushed about the Nanoleaf system before, and the holidays are the perfect time to break them out. Add an accent light to your tree, create a wonderful back glow for your fireplace, or give your holiday movie viewing some serious POP by syncing them up to your screen!

Wyze Plug Outdoor

Adding Smart Home tech to your holiday getup doesn't have to be big, showy, or expensive! The Wyze Plug Outdoor makes all of your outdoor decorations smart by syncing up with Alexa and Google Assistant, meaning you'll never have to go out in the cold to turn your lights on again.

Philips Hue Ambiance A19 Starter Kit

If your in-laws keep dropping hints that they "love your lights" and "wish they could do the same thing in their house," they're asking you to set them up with a Smart Home Starter Kit. And you'll be hard-pressed to find a better one than the Phillips Hue A19. Featuring four bulbs and a bridge, this starter ket is everything you need to lay the groundwork for a fantastic smart home. Plus, it syncs with music, TVs, and games!

Looking for other gift ideas? Be sure to check out our Holiday Sales page, featuring over 150 great gifts!