About Targus
Targus built the category it now competes in: the company debuted the world's first laptop case in 1983, founded in Barnes, London, and has spent more than four decades since as one of the default names in mobile-computing carry. Headquartered today in Anaheim, California, Targus runs operations across more than 24 offices and distributes into over 100 countries, with a catalog that has grown from the original notebook case into backpacks, laptop bags, docking stations, and tablet cases.
That scale shows up in enterprise IT closets as much as on Amazon: Targus is one of the brands regularly specified into corporate procurement programs, which is why its bags read as standard-issue equipment rather than a lifestyle accessory. CNET has reviewed Targus notebook cases and backpacks going back to the mid-2000s, and the company's site lists CES and Good Design Award recognition for its accessory lines. In our own testing, the throughline is consistency: padded compartments sized to the laptop dimensions Targus actually publishes, and organizational layouts that hold up after years of daily commuting.
Brand website: targus.com
What Targus makes
Targus's range runs wider than the products we review. The lines we know best from our own testing are marked with a star:
Laptop backpacks
padded compartments sized for 15 to 16 inch laptops, corporate-style organization — featured on DeskRated
Laptop bags & messenger cases
slim shoulder bags with TSA-friendly, checkpoint-openable compartments — featured on DeskRated
Docking stations
USB-C and Thunderbolt hubs for laptop workstations
Tablet & laptop sleeves
slip cases for tablets and ultrabooks
Rolling cases & totes
wheeled laptop bags for travel-heavy professionals
Why we recognized Targus
The DeskRated Top Brand recognition isn't paid for and can't be applied for. We award it to the brands whose products consistently stand out in our hands-on category reviews. Targus earned it on the strength of the products below, evaluated the same way every product on this site is: bought, used at a real desk, and judged on merit.
Targus products we rated highly
Targus 16 inch Groove Laptop Backpack
One of the few sub-$40 backpacks that actually fits a 16-inch MacBook Pro, with a padded compartment depth Targus verifies rather than estimates from screen size alone. Dedicated pen loops, a business card slot, and accessory pouches keep gear organized through daily transit, and the line's two decades on the market mean replacement units and successors are consistently easy to find.
Read the 7 Best Backpacks for Work in 2026 guide →
Targus Classic Slim Laptop Bag 15–16 inch
A TSA-accessible workstation compartment opens flat at the checkpoint so the laptop screens without unpacking the bag, a genuine time-saver for professionals who fly with their work gear. The slim 15-to-16-inch profile slides under an airline seat or into an overhead bin, and a trolley passthrough strap slots over a rolling carry-on handle for hands-free transit. It carries over 12,000 verified ratings on Amazon.
Read the 7 Best Laptop Bags for Work in 2026 guide →What earned Targus the recognition
- Four decades of category-defining history, dating to the first laptop case in 1983, with a catalog that has scaled alongside the laptop itself.
- Verified fit specifications — compartment dimensions Targus publishes and tests against real laptop chassis depth, not inferred from screen size.
- Enterprise-grade organization, from TSA-friendly checkpoint compartments to dedicated pen, card, and accessory pockets that hold their structure over years of daily use.
- Deep review validation, with tens of thousands of verified Amazon ratings across the line and third-party coverage from outlets like CNET going back to the mid-2000s.
- Global reach and stability, with operations across more than 24 offices and distribution into over 100 countries.