Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
March 3, 2026: With this update, we added the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6 (27-Inch) as our latest Best All-in-One Desktop for Business, replacing the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Gen 5. We also removed the Lenovo Yoga AIO 32i; it has been discontinued. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability. Since our last update, we have reviewed and evaluated five new desktops for potential inclusion in this story and our other desktop roundups. We currently have five new desktops in PC Labs for evaluation, from makers including Dell and Lenovo.
- Powerful performance
- Impressive screen, with flexible stand adjustments
- Simplified port access
- Solid speakers
- Sharp webcam
- Wireless peripherals included
- No alternative mounting options
- Tops out at 16GB of RAM
- Touch screen is not standard on all models
With a reasonable starting price, configuration options tailored to different needs and budgets, and a versatile design, the Lenovo Yoga AIO 27-Inch has broad appeal for most shoppers. It delivers faster performance than many AIOs, features a superior adjustable display, and includes decent speakers. The Yoga’s webcam is sharp, it comes with wireless peripherals, and its ports are easily accessible. You’ll find a lot to like here, with a range of features useful to a wide audience.
Everyday PC users: This is an ideal all-in-one PC for casual users and families. This Yoga AIO comes with everything you need for inputs and connectivity, making it a breeze for even less tech-savvy users to set up. Its memory does top out at 16GB, so look elsewhere if you need a more powerful machine.
Single-PC owners: This is a good AIO choice if this is the only PC you’ll own. The Yoga’s screen is sharp, fast, and suitable for both work and entertainment. The computer also comes with everything you’ll need for productivity right out of the box, including a quick processor for working and a sharp webcam for video calls.
Desktop Class
All-in-one
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
Processor Speed
2 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
All-in-One Screen Size
27 inches
All-in-One Screen Native Resolution
2560 by 1440
All-in-One Screen Type
Non-Touch Screen
Graphics Card
Intel Arc 140T
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Learn More
Lenovo Yoga AIO 27-Inch Review
- Wireless peripherals included
- Excellent webcam clarity
- Useful port variety and Wi-Fi 6E support
- Modern aesthetic
- Underpowered CPU in test model limits performance
- Disappointing speakers
- Screen could be a bit sharper
- Stand design limits placement
With an affordable starting price, configuration options tailored to different needs, and a tidy design, the Dell 24 AIO is an excellent option for budget-conscious shoppers. It comes with wireless peripherals in the box, a sharp built-in webcam, plenty of ports, and a roomy 23.8-inch screen. It would be ideal if the processor had more power, but it’s sufficient for daily productivity and general home use. You can’t have it all when trying to buy the cheapest system. You’ll also find worthy upgrade selections available if you scout Dell’s configurator, including a modest discrete GPU option. Our inexpensive test configuration struck a decent balance between affordability and efficiency.
Casual PC users on a budget: This AIO is ideal for anyone with basic everyday computing needs who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money. If you know you don’t need a lot of processing power and just want a big-screen PC for your home, strongly consider this Dell. It comes with everything you need in one package to set up a home office or living room PC, allowing you to browse the web, shop, watch videos, and more.
Parents seeking a family PC: This is a great AIO choice if you want a plug-and-play PC for your kids to use for homework or entertainment in a living room, den, or home office. It’s also fast enough for you to use in your own downtime.
Desktop Class
All-in-one
Processor
Intel Core 5-120U
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
All-in-One Screen Size
23.8 inches
All-in-One Screen Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
All-in-One Screen Type
IPS touch screen
Graphics Card
Intel Graphics
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Learn More
Dell 24 All-in-One (EC24250) Review
- Powerful M4 processor tops past iMac chips
- Bold colors, slick design elevate the iMac’s appeal
- Beautiful 23.5-inch 4.5K display with anti-glare option
- Color-matched accessories included
- Limited port selection
- No height adjustment
If you want a combination of speed, aesthetics, and performance, and aren’t tied to a PC, look no further than the Apple iMac. Shades of the ’90s gumdrop iMac live on in this 24-inch iMac. Apple’s current iMac comes in seven lively colors, from yellow to purple (with a matching mouse and keyboard in each box), so it will blend in nicely with any decor scheme. But it’s not just a pretty face: The previous M3-based iMac line has been upgraded to Apple’s M4 chip for speedy performance, while the 4.5K display and Center Stage webcam are first-class. As an added value for sticking with Apple, macOS’s integration with your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch is unparalleled—now featuring iPhone mirroring on Macs.
Home office pros: This is an ideal all-in-one desktop for professionals working from home. The iMac’s ultra-thin flat panel is both fashionable and functional, allowing it to fit within more compact computing spaces. It’s not cheap, but it remains an iconic home computer with the longevity and reliability you can expect from an Apple product.
Students: This is a good AIO choice for students of nearly all academic levels. Apple’s iMac is a fantastic system for completing regular homework or more complex assignments. Its price can balloon with upgrades, and not all apps are compatible with Macs, but it’s a suitable and sleek fit across many fields of study.
Desktop Class
All-in-one
Processor
Apple M4 (10-core)
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
All-in-One Screen Size
23.5 inches
All-in-One Screen Native Resolution
4480 by 2520
All-in-One Screen Type
IPS
Graphics Card
Apple M4 (10-core)
Operating System
Apple macOS Sequoia
Learn More
Apple iMac (2024, M4) Review
- Excellent productivity performance
- Sharp, bright, and flexible IPS display
- Three M.2 SSD slots for storage expansion
- Premium build, with lots of ports
- Extensive configuration options
- Review configuration is light on storage
- No option for a touch screen
- Some ports are inconveniently placed
- Audio is just OK
The 27-inch ThinkCentre M90a Gen 6 is an excellent all-around business desktop with speedy performance. The starting price is midrange, but our review configuration is more serious for an Intel Core Ultra 7 265 processor with 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. The 1440p display is sharp and roomy, the system includes plenty of ports, and Lenovo sells many configuration options. With acceptable downsides, like lacking a touch-screen option, this tightly designed and snappy system can carry your workflow.
Mainstream business users: This AIO is best for productive entrepreneurs or office workers looking for a do-it-all business PC. Fleet managers can also supply employees with this treat for working on multiple spreadsheets, handling emails, and participating in conference calls.
Professionals with heavy workloads: Lenovo designed this AIO for moderately intense work projects with the ability to scale up to meet the demands of businesses in higher-intensity fields, too. As our review configuration proved, you can handle real hefty work while enjoying the build quality and other advantages described above.
Desktop Class
All-in-one
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 265
Processor Speed
2.4 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
All-in-One Screen Size
27 inches
All-in-One Screen Native Resolution
2560 by 1440
All-in-One Screen Type
Non-Touch Screen
Graphics Card
Intel Arc Graphics
Operating System
Windows 11
Learn More
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6 (27-Inch) Review
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The Best All-in-One Computers for 2026
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Buying Guide: The Best All-in-One Computers for 2026
So, you just started shopping for an AIO? The first thing to look at (no pun intended) is the display—the centerpiece of any AIO. While some less-expensive AIO PCs will come with panels smaller than 23 inches, those are better suited to exceedingly cramped spaces such as classroom labs or dorm rooms. (Go much smaller than that, and you might as well just buy a big-screen laptop.) What you want is a display that is at least 23 inches on the diagonal—and larger is better if possible. The biggest all-in-ones we’ve seen to date have curved 34-inch screens.
With a screen 23 inches or larger, you’re almost guaranteed a native resolution of at least 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (aka, full HD), and larger screens will go even higher. In many cases, that’s up to 4K—3,840 by 2,160 pixels—for a conventionally shaped screen or 3,440 by 1,440 pixels on an ultra-wide display. High resolutions of that kind allow you to view multiple windows side by side or view a spreadsheet three to four pages wide. Indeed, if you’re a multitasker, the more screen room, the better.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Though it’s not a concern to those with 20/10 vision, a larger screen and a higher native resolution will let you increase the font size on your Word documents or Excel spreadsheets while still keeping a lot of information on the screen at one time. Desktop screens tend to be brighter than laptop displays in general, as well. Look for in-plane switching (IPS) technology for the best screen quality. IPS screens are inherently better at off-axis viewing, so you won’t have to sit perfectly centered to see accurate colors and all the detail in your images.
To touch-screen or not to touch-screen—that is a question of personal preference. Modern Windows operating systems were designed with touch panels in mind, which makes interacting with your various applications as easy as ever. Although these can be fun and functional for families, a touch screen isn’t 100% necessary for everyone, especially if you plan to use the all-in-one like a traditional computer. If you’re looking at an Apple iMac all-in-one, on the other hand, the decision is made for you: macOS doesn’t take advantage of touch screens, and no Macs include them.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Don’t fret either way. Scrolling with a mouse or a touchpad will still be as quick as or faster than on a touch screen because, with an AIO, you have to reach up to the screen, taking a hand off the keyboard or mouse. Selecting text for copying and pasting is easier with a mouse, too. If you fill out forms online and switch among text-entry boxes, pull-down menus, and checkboxes, you can quickly enter data with a keyboard and mouse.
If you’re planning on using the touch screen at least 50% of the time, look for one of the handful of systems with screens that can recline down to horizontal or almost horizontal. This lets you use the system like a large tablet, so you don’t have to hold your arm out constantly to use the touch screen. Think about using an ATM: The vertical screen is fine for a 90-second transaction, but it would become tiring after 10 minutes or more. It comes down to simple ergonomics.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Speaking of vertical orientation, the rare AIO will come with a stand that lets you pivot the screen into a portrait orientation. Portrait mode lets you view content such as webpages and appropriately shaped pictures without wasting space on the sides of the screen. It’s a boon for web developers and layout artists still working on print publications. If portrait mode is something you’d be interested in, make sure the system features auto-rotate; without it, you’ll need to switch display settings every time you pivot the display. Portrait pivoting is far more common in stand-alone desktop monitors than in AIOs.
Which Core Components Do You Need in an AIO Desktop?
PC manufacturers are generally slower to update AIOs than their other products, so some of the units here are not necessarily running the newest generation of processors. When comparing CPUs in AIO PCs, a key distinction to make is whether the AIO uses a full-desktop CPU or a mobile one.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
All else being equal, a full-desktop chip is preferable but not often deployed in an all-in-one due to space constraints. How to tell: Mobile chips from the likes of Intel will have “U,” “H,” or “HX” at the end of the chip’s model number. A desktop CPU will have no letter at the end, or perhaps “K” or “T.” Most desktop AIOs will use Intel chips instead of ones from rival AMD.
By now, most AIOs have adopted Intel 14th Generation (“Raptor Lake Refresh”) CPUs, or one of Intel’s newer Core or Core Ultra 100 or 200 series chips. These efficient Core and Core Ultra chips are primarily meant for laptops; the space-restricted designs of AIOs make them a workable fit here, too. AIOs began incorporating CPUs from Intel’s Core and Core Ultra 100 and 200 lines since each launched, with the “Meteor Lake,” “Lunar Lake,” and “Arrow Lake” generations. “Panther Lake” (300 series) chips launched at the start of 2026, and the same applies; expect to see these in AIOs where their robust graphics acceleration is useful. AMD’s Ryzen AI chips are also relevant here, but we haven’t seen them nearly as often in AIOs.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Other types of AIO, including extreme-budget Windows models and the handful of ChromeOS desktops, may use less powerful chips, such as Intel’s N100 or older Pentium chips. Any modern processor will help edit photos or videos or run intensive media processes in the background while you work on several tasks in the foreground. But Intel Core or Core Ultra will give you notably better performance.
AMD’s Ryzen chips have appeared in a few all-in-ones, in the form of Ryzen 5 and lower-powered Ryzen 3 processors. Some of our past top picks have been Ryzen models, and the company’s chips turn up in some highly regarded, powerful laptops. But in general, Intel CPUs dominate the AIO PC market.
Meanwhile, among Macs, Apple’s 2021 24-inch iMac was based on the Apple M1 processor, which was a harbinger of the iconic iMac’s future. Sure enough, the 2023 iMac came equipped with the M3 chip, the 2024 iMac debuted with the M4, and these AIOs (and all Apple computers) will continue to run on Apple’s homebrewed silicon for the foreseeable future.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
System memory has become a major concern when buying an AIO desktop in 2026; RAM prices have spiked due to unprecedented demand from AI data centers. While 8GB of DDR4 or DDR5 memory should be the minimum amount of system RAM you settle for, you’ll feel the pinch of such a low-spec computer if you multitask much. As media- and multitasking-focused desktops, most AIOs today start with 16GB of RAM, which lets you open dozens of browser tabs and still have memory free to run a demanding app like Photoshop. Plus, 16GB is the recommended minimum for professional content creation, as well as the minimum for both Apple’s and Microsoft’s AI-focused operating system features. We go into more detail in our detailed guide to how much RAM you need.
How Much Storage, and Which Ports, Do You Need in an AIO?
You won’t see them in new models, but avoid traditional spinning hard drives, which are relatively slow at booting and loading apps. Insist on an AIO that uses a solid-state drive (SSD) as the boot drive. (Almost all now do.) If you keep all your files on a central network-attached storage (NAS) device or in the cloud, a 500GB SSD should be sufficient. That’s enough for the operating system and a handful of frequently used programs. Look for a boot drive with at least 1TB of capacity if you store a lot of video on your PC. Videos clog up your drives faster than just about any other file type. (You can have the best of both worlds with an all-in-one PC that boots from an SSD but has an additional spinning hard drive for storage, though that arrangement is rare nowadays.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
If you keep your entire video, music, and photo collection on your AIO, you’ll need more storage (2TB to 4TB). Adding an extra terabyte or so is also easy with an external drive. Note that some AIO PCs are hard or impossible to upgrade yourself, so make sure you get what storage you need at the start.
Because an all-in-one is, at its heart, a computer, it should have all the ports you expect to need during your day-to-day activities, particularly USB ports (in easy-to-access places). Today’s all-in-ones come with built-in Wi-Fi, but you may also want a dedicated Ethernet jack so you can easily connect the system to the network you already have at home or in the office.
Also handy is an HDMI input port, which lets you use the AIO as a stand-alone display for a separate PC, game console, or video source. This gives an AIO with a sharp display some potential usefulness years later as “just a monitor” when the PC portion inside becomes obsolete.
Why Is It a Good Idea to Buy an All-In-One PC?
On the most basic level, one of the main reasons for choosing an AIO is that you don’t need to buy separate parts, like a monitor and speakers. All-in-one PCs represent exactly what the name implies: a complete desktop computer in one package, delivering a plug-and-play experience. Your screen and components are all tied into one device, like a laptop, which takes up less desk or floor space than a desktop tower and monitor combination.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Even if you find a laptop you like with a roomy 17- or 18-inch screen, you’ll need a strong back to carry it anywhere; 6 pounds and up, plus an AC adapter, is typical for machines like these. We suspect you won’t travel with a desktop-replacement machine like that all that much, which could make even a small-screen AIO a viable stay-at-home alternative. And because AIO desktops are plugged in, you won’t ever run out of battery power.
Because AIOs tend to use more powerful processors than many thin laptops do, a well-chosen all-in-one PC could execute CPU-intensive tasks more rapidly, on the whole. Some 3D games will run better, too, thanks to the discrete graphics chips in some A-grade AIO PCs. To find AIOs with discrete chips, look for one of the few AIOs with graphics solutions dubbed GeForce RTX, as opposed to Intel Arc, Iris Xe, UHD, or HD Graphics, or AMD Radeon (no “RX”) integrated graphics.
Other advantages? You can share the PC among family members and use it to store centrally accessible photos, music, and videos. And a large, widescreen AIO PC makes for a fine videoconferencing system. Rather than having the family crowd around your iPad or a little laptop screen during calls, seat them in front of a 27- or 34-inch AIO desktop so you’re not subconsciously squeezing together to “fit on the screen.” Plus, a large AIO screen is ideal for watching a movie from 5 or 6 feet away, so a couple in a studio apartment could use a big-screen AIO as a TV in front of a small sofa or loveseat. Or, if you place the system in a central location, such as your kitchen counter, you can monitor your children when they’re online.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
But these PCs aren’t just suitable for play. A few years back, Apple brought the AIO further into workstation territory with the iMac Pro. The starting price for this monster machine at launch was high, at $5,000, but it packed a jaw-dropping amount of muscle: It had a 27-inch 5K screen and was configurable with up to an 18-core processor, 128GB of memory, and 4TB of solid-state storage. (Note that you may still find it for sale from non-Apple sources, usually used or as a refurbished model, but as of March 2021, Apple discontinued it.)
This kind of muscle is usually found only in elite-grade tower PCs. We haven’t seen a brute-force AIO to rival the iMac Pro since, but today’s top-equipped AIOs can rival at least a decently equipped tower desktop. Apple’s homebrewed M-series chips in the latest iMacs mentioned are fast. And while many Windows AIOs trend toward the budget side, you’ll find some models with quick processing options.
Why Is It Not a Good Idea to Buy an All-In-One PC?
Of course, all-in-one designs come with some considerable limitations. If something goes wrong with the display, the fix is not as easy as swapping out the monitor, as you might with a standard PC tower setup. The screen is part of the package; the same goes for any component here. This is much closer to the laptop experience: When one part goes, it usually makes the system less usable overall. You’re much more likely to buy an entirely new laptop or AIO when a part (or multiple parts) stops working well.
Sticking with the laptop comparison: While AIOs have bigger screens, you’re giving up a lot of portability versus a laptop. AIOs are more portable than tower PCs, but you’re unlikely to move your AIO once it’s in place, apart from purpose-made models like the unique (and aptly named) HP Envy Move.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Compared with standard desktops, PC towers tend to have a higher power ceiling than AIOs. Most all-in-ones use higher-end laptop processors, given their slimmer design and limited cooling, so traditional desktops offer greater power potential. High-end towers are a much better fit for intensive work, like CAD/CAM or scientific data processing, and this is doubly true on the graphics front. AIOs lack desktop-equivalent graphics cards due to size and thermal constraints; the few that do have discrete graphics opt for laptop-level mobile graphics chips. PC gamers will get far more value and satisfaction from a stand-alone tower (where they can swap out a graphics card) than from a fixed-config AIO PC with much weaker graphics.
Crucially, all-in-one PCs lack the expandability of most towers, which is again related to their slimmer, more space-limited designs. This brings us to the next point.
Can You Upgrade Parts in an All-in-One PC?
Generally speaking, this is a highly restrictive aspect of owning an AIO compared with a traditional tower desktop. AIOs have much more in common with laptops; both may let you upgrade the memory or storage, at best. For some users, that’s enough, but it’s still not particularly common in these mostly sealed designs. Like with laptops, memory or the SSD may be directly integrated or soldered onto the motherboard, meaning you’re stuck with what you have. And CPU and graphics upgrades are a nonstarter.
End-user upgrades are just not a priority with AIO designs. Even if an AIO chassis opens easily and its components aren’t soldered down, it’s more like upgrading a laptop. An AIO may use mobile SO-DIMM RAM (possible to acquire, but not the same size as desktop RAM), and M.2 SSDs may be size-limited versus the full-size slots on most desktop motherboards.
With a traditional desktop tower, installing a graphics card into a system you originally purchased without one is at least an option (provided it has the space, the slot, and an adequate power supply). You’ll never fit one in an AIO’s interior, however. If substantial future upgrades are a priority or even a concern, an AIO is not the right pick. Get a tower-style desktop.
What Is the Lifespan of an All-in-One PC?
As mentioned above, AIOs function on more of a laptop lifecycle, since it’s one complete package rather than discrete parts. Regardless, you should still get several years of use out of your machine. As far as speed and performance go, modern processors are snappy by default, so you should be set for the near future and expect to get at least three years out of your machine.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For reasons outlined, though, it’s often harder to fix an AIO when something goes wrong with its hardware than with a tower. (If your AIO display goes bad, it’s not as easy as buying a new monitor, so hopefully, it’s still under warranty if this happens.) With AIOs focused on business users, you’ll find more support and more extended warranties. One- or two-year warranties are more common otherwise.
Speed and depreciation are the other concerns if you’re lucky and don’t suffer component malfunction or damage. If you’re a power user, you may see sluggish performance after a few years. If you hold on to an AIO for a truly long time—approaching a decade—the processor may no longer receive security patches, or Microsoft may drop support for the aging Windows version the PC shipped with. (This applies to laptops, too, of course, and most tower desktops will need to be more or less gutted to the motherboard after a decade of service to stay current.)
What Is the Best Alternative to an All-in-One Computer?
The next time you’re online and thinking that you need a bigger screen than your current laptop or tablet has, look at an all-in-one desktop. You may be surprised how much screen and power AIO PCs deliver for the money versus a like-priced laptop. If you’re not sold on an AIO, though, be sure to check out our top desktop picks overall, as well as our favorite desktops for work and PC gaming.
