The 13 Best Desktop PCs of 2019

The Acer Aspire S24 knows how important it is that your technology augments your décor: the ultra-thin, 23.8-inch display is just 0.24 inches thick, and with bevels that are just 0.12 inches, boasts a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. The black and matte gold color scheme and wireless keyboard and mouse enhances the sense of sophistication.

However, achieving the super-slim appearance means cutting back on a few other features: the 1TB 5,400rpm SATA hard drive can be slow, apps are prone to loading sluggishly, and the UHD 620 graphics aren't the best compared to its more high-end competitors. Acer tries to make up for a lack of 4K or touchscreen options with the screen’s in-plane switching technology, which reduces glare from ambient light. The Intel Core i5-825OU might not be the most powerful processor, but it comes equipped with 12GB of RAM and the ability to rotate the screen between -5 and 25 degrees. A Qi built-in wireless charging pad is an additional bonus.

Apple’s iMac remains the same stunningly designed all-in-one desktop computer that’s been impressing for almost two decades. The 2017 model shines in a lot of the same ways as the previous version, but with enough improvements to make it the best desktop computer for most people.

The super-slim 21.5-inch 4096 x 2304 pixel Retina display is crisp and brighter than ever, backlit with 500 nits of brightness. (A 1080p non-Retina option is available as well.) It boasts great color range with the cinema-quality DCI-P3 color gamut. The iMac also comes in a 27-inch 5K version, but for a lot of people, the extra screen real estate won’t be worth the jump in price.

The value of the latest 21.5-inch iMac comes through in its upgraded performance as well, allowing it to stand up against pricier competitors. You can equip it with up to a 3.4GHz 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM (expandable with advanced hardware work). In terms of storage, you can opt for a 1TB Fusion Drive that combines a higher-capacity hard drive with speedy flash storage for commonly used apps.

Other new features include support for Thunderbolt 3 via two USB-C inputs and virtual reality capabilities with certain graphics cards. Included with the iMac are two excellent Bluetooth accessories: the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2.

You can also check our picks for the best all-in-one desktop PCs available today.

Corsair is one of the best-known gaming equipment manufacturers out there with a reputation for building powerful and stylish machines. The One Pro is Corsair’s first PC and, true-to-form, Corsair has created a beautiful machine that packs a lot of power into a small space. This computer comes fully loaded with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card, an ​INTEL Core i7-7700K processor and CORSAIR's award-winning DDR4 memory. Even if you’re not a gamer, this PC provides stunning power and graphics presentation all while running extra-quietly – when idle, the One Pro operates at just 20 dBa. Custom liquid-cooling technology keeps this computer running fast even when using a demanding VR program. 

Gone are the days of unattractive big box computers — the Lenovo ThinkCentre M600 is a budget-friendly PC with the power to handle your daily computing, all in a super-compact package. To keep things streamlined, Lenovo opted not to include any VGA or HDMI ports and went instead with dual DisplayPort inputs (be warned that this may require an extra adapter if you want to hook up a monitor).

On the inside, the M600's Intel Pentium J3710 2.64 GHz processor is perfectly suited for day-to-day computing tasks. It's outfitted with a 500GB solid-state drive for ample storage space, as well as 8GB of RAM to help out with multitasking between applications. The included Intel HD graphics 405 GPU is more than capable of running or streaming videos, but is not designed for 4K or VR gaming.

To help extend the life of the M600, Lenovo met military specifications for durability and added a dust shield to further reduce the need for maintenance. Its longevity, combined with suitable performance and a wallet-friendly price tag, make this PC a solid budget option.

Need some more help finding what you're looking for? Read through our best budget desktop PCs​ article.

Desktops like the HP Pavilion 590 show that you don’t have to make too many compromises even on a limited PC budget. The ash silver box sports a stylish design and measures a compact 6.69 x 10.9 x 13.3 inches. A number of its ports are right in front for quick access, including USB 3.1 inputs and a USB-C input.

Running the Pavilion 590 on an AMD Ryzen 5 2400G processor means you get an excellent, modern quad-core CPU for your money. AMD CPUs are generally a better value than Intel ones, and any performance differences at this level will hardly be noticeable for most users. Plus, with an AMD Radeon RX 550 dedicated graphics card, it can perform decently as a gaming machine. It also comes with 1TB of hard drive storage space and 8GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to 32GB if you find yourself slowed down. But for basic usage — including moderate gaming, video watching, and multitasking — the Pavilion 590 comes with enough hardware to get the job done reliably. 

The Dell Inspiron 3000 series is a trusted line of affordable all-in-one desktops, and the Inspiron 24 3477 model with a touchscreen option can make a valuable addition to many homes. Its 23.8-inch full HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) display uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology, which offers wide viewing angles so every family member can gather around to see. The sharp-looking desktop makes movie-watching a focus, incorporating the company’s new Dell Cinema features: CinemaSound delivers rich audio with dynamic highs and lows from the built-in speakers, and CinemaStream prioritizes bandwidth and resources to provide smoother video and audio streaming experiences.

With 8GB of RAM and 7th-generation Intel processors as a base configuration, the Inspiron 24 3477 won’t have any problem keeping up with standard day-to-day use. For heavier users and multitaskers looking for more performance, a high-end build with a 3.5GHz Core i7 CPU and 12GB RAM is available. There’s also an option for a NVIDIA GeForce MX110 graphics card for the gamers in the family. As a smart bonus design touch, the webcam pops up from the top when it’s needed, keeping it out of the way and maintaining privacy when it’s not. 

We don’t often talk about portability when it comes to desktop computers, since laptops, tablets, and even laptop-tablet convertibles usually have that space covered. But the Aspire Z3 (model number AZ3-700-UR11) by Acer is an all-in-one desktop that’s designed to move. The 17.3-inch 1080p touchscreen is 0.61 inches thin and weighs 4.4 pounds. With battery life listed at five hours, you can carry it around the house like a large tablet. You can also lay it down flat or with a slight tilt and use the touchscreen or a passive stylus (not included). When you want it to serve as a traditional desktop, you can prop it up on its two rear kickstands and use the included wireless keyboard and mouse.

The downside to the unique build, though, is fairly limited hardware that can lead to some sluggish performance. Its 4GB of RAM is essentially the minimum for modern PCs—upgrading to 8GB may be a good idea. Even then, it probably doesn't have the right level of power for extensive gaming. The Aspire Z3, with its nice touchscreen and affordable price, is at its best when passed around among family members to watch movies and browse the web. 

The Dell Inspiron 22 3277 all-in-one PC offers value and features ideal for the home workstation. Having the computer, monitor, and speakers all together provides a small footprint and more flexibility in how you set up your desk. Thin bezels surround the 21.5-inch 1080p IPS panel that serves as an edge-to-edge touchscreen with 10 touch points. It’s overall a great-looking display, and built-in Dell Cinema features enhance audio quality and video streaming even further.

The hardware—8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, and up to a 3.1GHz 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor—suits day-to-day office work perfectly. (If your work is heavy on graphics and media editing, though, you may look for the better specs and bigger screens of higher-end all-in-ones offered by Dell or other companies.) The selection of inputs include three USB 3.1 ports and one HDMI port.

To help with home office needs, the Inspiron 22 3277 comes with a one-year McAfee Small Business Security subscription to help keep your work protected. You can also get a business-oriented configuration with a year of Dell’s ProSupport service bundled in. 

If you’re looking for a compact desktop computer and don’t want to pay the hefty price for the all-in-one PC iMac, look no further than Apple’s Mac Mini.

The small device, measuring 7.7 inches by 7.7, is compact without sacrificing power. The Mac Mini can still handle heavy duty photo and video applications with a desktop-grade 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 processor. Apple claims the 2018 Mini is five times faster than the company’s previous model. For extra money, you can get an even faster 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 (with Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz) processor. For multitasking, the Mini can come with up to 64GB of RAM.

One of the most exciting parts of the Mini is the sheer number of ports. The device comes with four USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, an ethernet port, a dedicated HDMI port, two regular USB ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The only thing the Mini is lacking is a standalone, discrete graphics card. So if you’re doing creative work that’s heavy on graphics, the Mini might not be for you. Still, if you’re an Apple fan who wants a small, speedy CPU, the iMac is a great choice.

Acer’s Aspire U27-880 all-in-one PC does a lot of things well for a lot of people, and looking good is one of these things. The attractively designed silver-and-black housing measures only half an inch thick, slimmer than other premium competitors. The 27-inch ten-point touchscreen provides a big, bright display in full HD, though an option for 4K resolution would’ve been nice.

Another unique design feature is Acer’s “LiquidLoop” cooling system, which keeps the heat down without the use of fans, thus keeping the noise down as well. Also benefiting the Aspire U27’s acoustics are a pair of down-firing speakers with strong volume, crisp audio quality, and rich bass thanks to an integrated subwoofer.

Rounding out the features is an infrared camera for Windows Hello facial recognition security and a decent port selection that includes three USB 3.0 and one USB-C. The Aspire U27’s hardware falls in the middle of the road: its 7th-generation Intel Core processor was designed for laptops, but in this versatile all-in-one PC, it performs nicely for daily work and streaming. 

The Surface Studio is designed to be the ultimate solution for digital artists, architects, and other serious content creators who count on an all-purpose touch- or stylus-based display. It doesn’t aim to match the performance of gaming or workstation-level desktops, but the second generation of Microsoft’s unique machine does make many improvements to its inner workings. With an Intel Core i7 CPU on all models, improved NVIDIA GTX graphics cards, and faster solid-state drives of 1TB or 2TB capacity, your creativity can flow through it at a quicker pace than ever.

What remains unchanged in this iteration is the Surface Studio’s position as the top digital drafting table out there. It all revolves around the gorgeous and massive (yet thin) 28-inch PixelSense display, with 4500 x 3000 pixels of resolution that now boast 38 percent more brightness and 22 percent higher contrast ratio. You can work with ten points of touch or the included Surface Pen stylus that attaches magnetically to the sides when not in use. Then there’s the Zero Gravity hinge, which lets you smoothly and effortlessly adjust the screen’s angle from vertical to flat to anywhere in between. 

With cutting-edge performance and future-proof upgrading abilities, the Alienware Aurora R7 is the complete gaming desktop. Certified to handle HTC's Vive and Oculus' VR hardware, the Aurora handles 4K gaming with ease thanks to an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive combined with a 256GB solid-state drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce 1080 Ti graphics card. It has been re-engineered from the ground up to support not one but two 300W graphics cards like the NVIDIA — it's even powerful enough to support up to 12K gameplay in the future.

In terms of build, the Aurora is one of the first gaming desktops to offer a tool-less upgrade, which makes it an upgrading dream. It pops open with the push of a button for access to the graphics card, hard drive, and memory. A total of 15 USB ports adds connectivity inputs for any form of gaming accessory, and Alienware users can also rest assured knowing that the air intake and exhaust fan will keep things cool during even the most intense gaming sessions.

Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best gaming PCs.