The all-in-one computer category—nestled fitfully between the laptop and desktop worlds—seemingly gets little respect from everyone: consumers and manufacturers. Why purchase a machine that has limited upgradeability and isn’t portable, a shopper might ask. And why invest in a small category no one cares much about, a computer executive would probably retort.
Well, lots of reasons. First, because everything you need is packed into a single device—most all-in-one computers have only one cable (for power) to deal with. They don’t take up the space of traditional desktops, and they’re less complex. Setup is a snap: Pop it on the desk, plug it in, and you’re ready to go. Even a relatively low-end all-in-one is more attractive on the desk than a traditional desktop. There’s a reason you often see iMacs parked in front of receptionists. Compared to a laptop, an all-in-one offers a much more expansive screen and, usually, more power to boot. Yet they can often be considerably cheaper than a laptop despite being larger. Many all-in-ones are available for well under $1,000.
It’s a tragedy then that the category is often ignored and slow to be updated. While most all-in-ones use laptop parts, none of the Intel-based machines I tested for this guide have been upgraded with its latest generation of CPUs (the Core Ultra line), and one is still using a processor from two generations ago. Nevertheless, there are so many pros to the all-in-one that the category merits attention. Here are our picks for the best all-in-one computers in various categories.
Be sure to read our other computing guides, including the Best Laptops, Best Cheap Laptops, Best Chromebooks, and Best MacBooks.
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