Lenovo's Yoga hardware is some of the best on the market from both aesthetic and functional standpoints, and its new all-in-one (AIO) PC that was just introduced at CES 2026 introduces a design that I've never seen in any other AIO.

I'm talking about a glowing panel below the 32-inch display that effectively hides the Yoga AIO i Aura Edition's built-in A-frame stand. It extends from the bottom of the actual display, and its built-in adaptive lighting can be set to sync with on-screen video content for a more immersive PC experience.

Beyond syncing with video, it can also be configured to light up when you receive certain messages or notifications. It's all completely customizable, and if that lighting turns out to be a bother, it can be disabled.

Further adding to immersion are dual 3W tweeters and dual 5W woofers with Dolby Atmos certification. The speakers are completely hidden in the sleek chassis.

Lenovo is marketing its new Yoga AIO i Aura Edition PC to creators, and its OLED display can certainly keep up with the related demands. It measures 31.5 inches with a 3840x2160 (UHD) resolution, it hits a 165Hz refresh rate, and it manages 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 color reproduction.

Beyond those base specs, it features TÜV Low Blue Light certification, Eyesafe certification, and TÜV Flicker-free certification, something that's especially important for those who are prone to discomfort when viewing OLED displays.

Also key for creators is the performance hardware based on Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Lenovo is offering up to a Core Ultra X7 358H CPU with 32GB of LPDDR5x-9600MT/s RAM and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, the two most recent standards for wireless connectivity.

And for those who are worried about needing a docking station to connect all their accessories, I can say that Lenovo has done a great job of offering a wide range of native connectivity. Thunderbolt 4 is the main attraction here, but it also includes dual USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), HDMI 2.1, hidden USB-A 2.0, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.

Topping things off, literally, is a 16MP camera located above the screen. It has an IR sensor for Windows Hello, allowing you to log in quickly with facial biometrics.

Lenovo is planning to bring the new Yoga AIO i Aura Edition to market in Q2 2026. It's expected to start at $2,399.99.

Lenovo's new Yoga AIO i Aura Edition pushes the all-in-one PC to a new level of immersion and style. Is it something you can see yourself using? Let us know in the comments below!

All-In-One (AIO) Desktops hardly made an appearance at last year's Consumer Electronics Show, but thankfully, that isn't the case with CES 2026.

Amid HP's wide range of monitors, laptops, and other tech, the OEM revealed the HP OmniStudio X 27, a powerful Microsoft Copilot+ AIO PC designed with several configurations and, notably, the first AIO to feature a NEO:LED display.

This desktop AIO provides everything you need for your PC in one relatively compact purchase, including a keyboard, mouse, speakers, and webcam. Not to mention, it's especially suited for creators thanks to its excellent screen and powerful processors.

But what is NEO:LED, and what does that mean for the HP OmniStudio X AIO's 27-inch display? Let's take a look at the AIO desktop's specs and discuss.

If you've never heard of a NEO:LED display, that's because this is a newer IPS display technology created by LG. The newness of this panel type is what makes the HP OmniStudio X 27 AIO so unique and compelling, since this is the very first AIO to feature this screen type.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs NEO:LED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

The big takeaway is that NEO:LED screens offer deeper blacks, a wider color range, and crisper details than typical IPS displays, all while consuming less power, too.

Indeed, HP states that this anti-glare AIO display produces 100% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3, which are impressive results you'd expect from an OLED panel. Plus, it offers a 120Hz refresh rate, which seems to be the new standard for non-gaming monitors in 2026, rather than the previous 60Hz or 90Hz standards. It conveniently offers auto HDR switching as well.

Processor-wise, the AIO utilizes Intel's latest CPU (central processing unit) along with NVIDIA's entry-level RTX 5050 GPU (graphics processing unit) for gaming, making it perfect for creative workflows. Several configuration options, ranging from 16GB to 2TB RAM and 512GB SSD to 2TB SSD, mean you can find the build that works best for your specific needs.

As part of being an AIO, this device not only comes with an HP 675C mouse and keyboard combo, but also has quad speakers and a tiltable 5MP IR camera with built-in microphones. With all of these features, you'll have everything you need to surf the web, stream shows, listen to music, and attend video meetings.

To improve the experience even further, this AI computer supports helpful features like multi-screen management, adaptive color and audio, and more. It can detect your face to wake when you approach, lock when you leave, and even offers onlooker detection to dim the screen if it senses someone else is looking at the display.

It's even compatible with Thunderbolt Share, Intel's creation that allows two devices to transfer files or use the same mouse and keyboard, simply by connecting two compatible computers with a Thunderbolt cable.

Fitted with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and a healthy range of ports including two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, five USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0, headphone jack, and RJ45 port, the OmniStudio X 27 AIO provides sufficient connections for your various accessories and other devices.

The HP OmniStudio X 27 AIO is expected to be available for purchase at the HP website this week. It has a starting $1,499.99 MSRP.

What are your thoughts on this new NEO:LED display technology and the HP OmniStudio X 27 All-In-One Desktop? Does this look like an AIO you'd want to use? Tell us about it in the comments.

You're sitting in Starbucks (other coffee shops also available) sipping your latte, and next to you, someone parks themselves and unpacks their PC. Nothing unusual, right?

It's time, once again, for one of those threads where someone has been spotted in said coffee shop using a ridiculous PC. At least this time it's not an iMac!

I direct you to the Reddit post below, where, in all its glory, sits someone happily using an all-in-one PC when a laptop would surely be so much more convenient.

pcmasterrace from r/pcmasterrace/comments/1m3iu9r/someone_brought_their_aio_computer_to_starbucks

I'm not sure if I'm more amazed someone did this at all, or that they're sat on the smallest table imaginable while doing it. If I was sat that close to a screen that size, I feel like my eyes would start burning.

Further questions arise, mostly around transportation. What kind of bag do you need to move something like that around?! Or are you just walking the streets with an AIO under one arm?

Is it a flex? I'm not sure. If it was an iMac, I'd possibly lean in that direction, the "hey look at me using a massive Apple computer, I'm the best" type of angle.

Obviously this could also be the only computer this person has, but even so, I'm not sure anyone could ever convince me to carry a desktop machine to a coffee shop. I'd rather just not work at that point!

Then again, the HP Envy Move AIO was explicitly designed to be used in more than one place. Niche, perhaps, but the need seems to exist.

Comment from r/pcmasterrace

The responses to the Reddit post are plentiful, some including other examples like the outrageous setup seen above. Full marks for effort on that one, must be dragging about a cart full of PC gear!

In any case, we're being light-hearted here. You do you, whatever you take to your local Starbucks. Desktop, iPad, laptop with additional monitors, work how you want to work, so long as you're not getting in the way of others.

But mostly I want to open it up to you, the readers. I can honestly say I've never witnessed anything this outrageous in a coffee shop, cafe, or any other public setting. The closest has been someone using what looked like an MSI Titan while eating breakfast.

But I'm curious to know what other folks might have seen out there. The weird, wacky, and wonderful of mobile PC setups that you've seen dragged around in public. Hit the comments below and share the wealth!

HP has done it again. Just last year, it launched a redesigned flagship Windows 11 all-in-one desktop, and this year, it has refined that product into the world’s first Copilot+ all-in-one PC, featuring a glorious 27-inch or 32-inch 4K display, incredible Poly Studio sound, and the latest Intel Core Ultra 200V processors under the hood.

I’m a huge fan of Windows all-in-ones, and I know that, for the most part, the Windows all-in-one space is pretty dire these days, full of low-end or mid-spec rubbish. Very few Windows hardware makers actually build flagship AiOs. Lenovo, HP, and Microsoft were the only ones really giving it a go, but HP has arguably won the battle for best Windows AIO this time around.

The new HP OmniStudio X features the same design as last year, but this time, it's powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 200V processors, which means it’s finally Copilot+ capable. That gives it access to exclusive Copilot+ features such as Windows Recall, advanced Windows Studio Effects, Click To Do, and much more, powered by the Core Ultra’s new NPU that outputs 47 TOPS of power.

The CPU is available in three Intel flavors, those being the Core Ultra 5 266V, Core Ultra 7 256V, and Core Ultra 7 258V. Those can be paired with either 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of Gen4 NVMe SSD storage. All configurations come with an Intel Arc Graphics chip.

It has a built-in 5-megapixel webcam also, which pops out at the top of the PC and even includes Windows Hello face unlock. The webcam can be hidden, too, so you don’t have to have it always pointing at you if you’re privacy conscious. The OmniStudio X 2025 also has built-in human presence detection, which will automatically wake and sleep the computer when you approach and walk away from it. Pretty neat!

The OmniStudio X can be configured in either 27-inch or 32-inch display sizes. The 27-inch model is available in both 1080p and 4K screen resolutions, with a 99% sRGB rating. The 32-inch model comes with a 4K panel and a 95% DCI-P3 color rating with support for HDR 600. They both also feature an anti-glare coating, but unfortunately, don’t support touch and are still 60Hz.

When it comes to ports, we’re spoilt for choice. Around the back, there’s one USB-C 20GBps port, two USB-A 10Gbps ports, one 3.5mm audio jack, an ethernet port, an HDMI 1.4 Out port, and, believe it or not, a HDMI 2.1 IN port. Yes, you can use the HP OmniStudio X as an external monitor for your laptop or other device if you want! A rarity in today’s flagship AiO landscape. That’s not all the ports, either. We have two more USB ports on the side of the display stand for easy access, those being two USB-A ports and one USB-C port.

The new HP OmniStudio X was announced today at CES 2025 and will be available to buy in the coming weeks. Pricing is expected to remain similar to the previous model.

HP's new OmniDesk PCs

In addition to the new OmniStudio, HP has also unveiled a new line of desktop tower PCs dubbed OmniDesk. Unfortunately, none of these are Copilot+ PCs, but they do feature nice designs and powerful specs.

HP is launching four OmniDesk PCs: the OmniDesk AI PC, OmniDesk Desktop PC with Intel, OmniDesk Desktop PC with AMD, and OmniDesk Slim PC.

The HP OmniDesk AI PC features the latest Arrow Lake-S Core Ultra chips from Intel. It can be configured with either a Core Ultra 5 225 or 225F or the Core Ultra 7 265 or 265F. This can be paired with either 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPPDRX RAM and 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB Gen4 NVMe SSD storage.

The tower PC itself features a classy and clean design, with wood grain paneling on the front that gives it a contemporary look. The tower weighs 14 lbs and is 13.27 x 6.10 x 12.40 inches in size.

The OmniDesk AI PC can also be configured with either Intel Integrated Graphics or an NVIDIA RTX 4060 which will offer significantly more power than Intel’s graphics offering in this PC.

The OmniDesk Desktop PC with Intel is powered by either Intel Core i 13^th or 14^th gen chips, such as the Intel Core i7-14700. These specs apply to both the standard-size OmniDesk and the OmniDesk Slim PC.

The AMD model is only available in the normal size and comes with AMD Ryzen 5 8500G or Ryzen 7 8700G chips. You can also configure the AMD model with a more powerful NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card, whereas the Intel models are stuck with Intel UHD Graphics.

It's been less than eight months since Microsoft and Qualcomm teamed up to unveil the first Copilot+ PCs, and Acer has further expanded the lineup with a host of new PCs announced at CES 2025.

However, instead of running on Qualcomm's ARM-based Snapdragon X chips, all of Acer's newly announced Copilot+ hardware has either Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) or AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors inside. Acer has eight new Copilot+ PCs in all, but the one that piqued my interest the most is the new Revo Box AI mini PC.

Acer's Revo Box AI brings Copilot+ tools to a mini PC

The standout announcement from Acer is the Revo Box AI, a mini PC powered by Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 chips with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for local AI acceleration.

Mini PCs had a big year in 2024, but there wasn't any crossover in terms of Copilot+ tools. Qualcomm canceled its Snapdragon X Elite devkit days after it launched, and a leak involving a Geekom mini PC with X Elite chip came about in December.

Here now is the Revo Box AI, a tiny PC with a 0.75-liter chassis weighing in at 1.1 pounds (0.5kg). It's available in a black or white finish, and Acer has jazzed up the top of the PC with intersecting lines, an embedded fingerprint reader for Windows Hello, and an AI activity indicator that first made an appearance in 2024 on some of Acer's first AI laptops.

It's one of the most attractive pieces of hardware that Acer has produced in recent memory, but it's more than just looks. Acer lists Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) mobile AI processors as the centerpiece for the mini PC, though it remains unclear exactly which chips it's selected. In any case, you can expect 48 TOPS of NPU power for the AI tools available through Copilot+.

Intel's Series 2 GPUs received a considerable performance boost compared to the Series 1 chips, and you should have no issues with lighter games should you want to have some fun. Acer is offering up to 32GB of soldered LPDDR5x RAM in support, as well as up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD from the factory. The mini PC has three accessible M.2 slots inside for easier upgrades: two 2230 slots and one full-size 2280 slot.

Acer states the Revo Box AI will be available with up to Wi-Fi 6E for wireless networking, and it also has dual 2.5G Ethernet ports for strong wired communication.

It's hard not to draw comparisons to Apple's latest M4 Mac mini, which has its own AI working behind the scenes with Apple Intelligence. There are a few spots where I can see Acer coming out ahead. Storage upgrades should be a much easier process in the Windows system; there are two 2.5G Ethernet ports as standard (the Mac mini has one 1G Ethernet port that can be upgraded to 10G), and there's a more varied selection of ports.

The Revo Box AI comes with a USB4 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB-A 3.2 ports on the front, with another two USB-A on the back. DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1 are present for native video output, and there are the two aforementioned Ethernet hookups.

The Revo Box AI mini PC is expected to launch in Q2 2025, starting at $799.99.

Acer's Copilot+ initiative extends to its all-in-one PCs

The Revo Box AI is far from the only new Copilot+ hardware announced by Acer at CES 2025, and it's not just laptops. Acer's new Aspire S AI and Aspire C AI all-in-one (AIO) PCs are each available in 24- and 27-inch configurations, with a fresh design that's among the most modern that I've ever seen from Acer.

Ultra-slim bezels, pop-up webcams, and space-saving stands are immediately noticeable in the C series, while the S series takes a more utilitarian approach with a chunkier stand and webcam in the thicker top bezel. Acer is using Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 chips for the Aspire S AI, and it's using AMD Ryzen AI 300 chips for the Aspire C AI.

As for Copilot+ laptops, there are new Aspire 14 AI and Swift Go 14/16 devices on the way. The former laptop is expected to come with up to Intel's Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) CPU with an NPU capable of 48 TOPS, as well as up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD.

Prices are expected to start at $799.99 when the Aspire 14 AI launches in February, and you'll have the option to upgrade to an OLED panel for deeper color and contrast.

The Swift Go lineup will receive up to an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU with an NPU at 50 TOPS, as well as your choice of 14- or 16-inch display. With up to a 3K resolution and an OLED panel, the $899.99 starting price doesn't seem unreasonable. The 14-inch model is expected to launch in May, with the 16-inch model following up in April.

Getting all of the PC parts or accessories you need for a decent desktop setup can be quite a process, which is why many people prefer to go with an all-in-one (AIO) PC.

These kinds of machines have the processors, RAM, and storage built right into the monitor, so you don't have to worry about making room for a tower. The best ones have really nice screens that can be adjusted to give you the best viewing angles. What results is a very clean, minimalist computer that can fit your various needs.

I spent the last week analyzing the HP OmniStudio X AIO, which features an Intel AI CPU (central processing unit) and a powerful NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU (graphics processing unit). Here's what I learned about this AIO.

This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by HP. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Price and specs

Pricing & specifications highlights

• This is a pricey AIO due to its fancy 31.5-inch 4K UHD display and RTX 40-Series GPU.
• There are different configurations to choose from, to help you get the best AIO for your needs.
• The configuration I reviewed has an MSRP of $1,979.99, but there's also a 27-inch FHD option with a starting $1,479.99 MSRP.
• All of the accessories and cables you need to get started are included with this purchase.
• Price rating: 4/5

AIOs can be a bit expensive because they include everything you need for a desktop PC setup in one package. This means you don't need to worry about getting a monitor, PC tower, mouse, keyboard, speakers, or a webcam because all are included.

The HP OmniStudio X 31.5" configuration that I specifically reviewed has an MSRP of $1,979.99 at Best Buy. It costs more than many competitors due to having a larger 31.5-inch 4K display — most other options max out at 27-inches — as well as an Intel Core Ultra AI CPU (a.k.a. Meteor Lake) and a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU.

If you go to the HP website, you can build your own OmniStudio X configuration with a starting price of $1,449.99. One option for lowering the price is choosing to simply go with an integrated Intel Arc graphics card rather than the discrete RTX 4050. You can knock even more off of the price if you decide to go for the 27-inch OmniStudio X AIO instead.

Additionally, you can often find HP or Best Buy selling this AIO at a discounted price during sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Prime Day. At the time of writing, I saw the 27" AIO selling for $659.99 at HP and the 31.5" version selling for $1,199.99 at HP.

As always, choosing the lower configuration options when building your AIO PC can reduce the price, but you'll want to make sure you get something that can handle the work, school, or personal projects you want to do. If you want something that can also be used for creative software or graphically demanding games, you'll want to keep that RTX 4050, 32GB RAM, and at least a 1TB SSD.

HP OmniStudio X 31.5" — What's in the box?

When you purchase the HP OmniStudio X, you get a monitor, stand, base, USB-C cable, power cable, keyboard, mouse, a plastic cable tidy clip, four AAA batteries, and setup instructions (not pictured above). In other words, it gives you everything you need to set up and start using your AIO right out of the box.

Recommended configuration

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HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Design and build

Build quality and design highlights

• The OmniStudio X 31.5" looks very classy and is very sturdy as well.
• Tooless assembly made it easy to get setup in just a few minutes.
• There is a healthy selection of ports to meet your various accessory or other connection needs.
• Having an adjustable stand allows me to find a good viewing angle.
• Design rating: 5/5

HP (Hewlett-Packard) is a common business (or enterprise) brand, so it's not at all surprising to find that the OmniStudio X 31.5" has a very classy design that looks right at home in an office or home setting. Plus, it's got a sturdy build and definitely feels like it's going to last a long time.

Like many AIOs today, the OmniStudio X 31.5" doesn't require any tools to assemble. All I had to do was turn the built-in screw on the base to connect the stand and base and then push the stand into the back of the monitor until I heard a click. From there, I simply placed the AIO on my desk and plugged in the included cables. All in all, setup only took me five minutes or less.

I love how the stand can be adjusted vertically and the monitor can be tilted up and down. It's stable with absolutely no wobbling and stays exactly where I leave the display so I can get the best viewing experience possible. Now, it's not the thinnest monitor out there, but that's to be expected since it houses the CPU, GPU, RAM, and SSD.

This AIO isn't shy on ports, either. Between the back of the monitor and the stand, there are a grand total of two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, 2 HDMI ports, a power port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. I had plenty of connections for my headset, speakers, ROG Ally docking station, and other devices. Of course, having Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E also allows me to easily connect to other accessories or my network.

Since the AIO comes with a plastic cable clip that connects to the stand, I could tuck away the included power and USB-C cables for a cleaner look overall.

HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Software and apps

Software and apps

• Several HP programs come installed on the OmniStudio X AIO, but the one you'll use most is MyHP.
• MyHP allows you to adjust audio, video, display, system, screen distance, and presence sensing settings. You can also reach out and get support through this app.
• If you purchase the OmniStudio X through HP's website, you can choose from different Microsoft Office 365 or McAfee security software memberships.
• Software rating: 5/5

As is common among PC manufacturers, the HP OmniStudio X 31.5" comes loaded with various programs. However, the one you'll use most often is MyHP.

This software allows you to change the AIO's various settings (audio, video, display, system, screen distance, and presence sensing) and also allows you to reach out for support. Thanks to its minimalist design and clean interface, MyHP is very easy to navigate.

If you purchase this AIO through a tech retailer, it comes with Windows 11 Home and a security software trial. However, if you configure your options from HP's website, you can add a Microsoft Office 365 or McAfee Security Software subscription. Overall, these additions can be nice, but they aren't necessary for a good AIO experience.

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HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Display

Display highlights

• The 31.5-inch 4K UHD display offers crisp picture quality and is wide enough to multitask between two programs easily.
• In a color gamut test, this display produced 100% sRGB, 87% AdobeRGB, and 95% P3.
• Max brightness reaches higher than 600nits, which means this display can be helpful even in brightly lit rooms.
• Display rating: 5/5

This AIO is a fantastic choice for multitaskers thanks to the OmniStudio X's larger 31.5-inch IPS display. This size allows me to comfortably split the screen between two windows while giving either window plenty of room to breathe. For instance, I sometimes had Adobe Photoshop running and open on one side of the screen while accessing the internet on the other half.

• RELATED: OLED vs. QD-OLED vs. QLED vs. AMOLED vs. Mini LED display comparison.

I ran a color gamut test using a colorimeter and found that the IPS screen has a good color range. It's not nearly as impressive as what you'd get with an OLED display, but the colors are vibrant and don't look dull or over-saturated. Thanks to the 4K UHD resolution, everything looks really crisp and clear, too. After running the color gamut test, I ran a brightness and contrast test. This is how I learned that it starts at a minimum of 50 nits of brightness and can go up to over 600 nits. I have relatively sensitive eyes, so I had to keep the monitor at 0% brightness most of the time; otherwise, I'd get a headache. But the good news is that this display should be easy to see in more brightly lit rooms.

Meanwhile, the 31.5-inch IPS display also has an excellent contrast ratio to help imagery stand out more. Moreover, while the screen doesn't provide true black, it has a better black point than I'd expected, even when the screen is as bright as it can go.

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HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Performance and thermals

Performance & thermals highlights

• While it doesn't offer the very best performance on the market, this AIO is a fantastic all-rounder that can handle a bit of everything.
• Even when running a CPU stress test, the AIO's fans never got very loud.
• It also does a good job keeping itself cool, only peaking at a max temperature of 103 degrees F (~40 degrees C).
• Performance rating: 4/5

As part of analyzing the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, I ran a Geekbench 6 test to look at performance, followed by a Cinebench R24 test to see the CPU's rendering abilities. In Geekbench, the OmniStudio X got the second-best Ultra 7 155H multi-core score of 12,675, and it was only second by a little bit. Meanwhile, the Cinebench result was also at a good place with a higher-than-average 808 multi-core score, undoubtedly aided by the RTX 40-Series GPU. This result tells us that the OmniStudio X offers very good CPU performance that aligns with where it should be.

With this being an AI CPU, I also ran specific Procyon tests to analyze the AI-boosted NPU (neural processing unit). In the Windows ML Float32 CPU test, the NPU got a decent score of 86, which isn't the highest score we've seen but is not a bad place to be. Meanwhile, this AIO got a more impressive 285 score in the Intel OpenVINO float16 NPU test, which was higher than most other AI Ultra 7 155H NPU scores we've seen. The new Intel Core Ultra 200S series that just launched is far more efficient at running AI tasks than this 100S option, but this is a good score considering what is here.

After looking at the CPU, I made sure to do a clean install of the NVIDIA drivers and then ran a few different 3DMark tests to check out GPU performance. In the Time Spy graphics test, the AIO's RTX 4050 L earned a 6,088 score, which was lower than expected. I also worked on different programs in Adobe Photoshop and played a few graphically intensive games such as Baldur's Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Photoshop worked beautifully on the OmniStudio X. However, intensive gaming is not ideal. While the AIO could run more demanding games, they each looked pretty choppy and had a lot of screen tearing. For example, during the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark with High default settings, the AIO only averaged a pretty abysmal 16 FPS (frames per second).

Next, I analyzed the SSD transfer speeds by running CrystalDiskMark sequential read tests. The AIO got a respectable read speed of 6,684 MB/s and a write speed of 4,982 MB/s. It won't be blinding fast when loading or saving data, but it isn't a slouch either.

Finally, I ran CrossMark to check the OmniStudio X 31.5" AIO's overall system performance. While not the best score we've seen, it earned a 1,757, higher than many other devices we've tested. So, what all of this testing tells us is that the OmniStudio X 31.5" isn't the most powerful PC available, but it is a great all-rounder that can handle a little of everything. Just don't expect it to amaze when running the latest graphically demanding games.

Thermals and fan noises

To check out the AIO's cooling system, I opened Cinebench R24 and ran a CPU stress test for 20 minutes. Near the end of this benchmark session, I whipped out my thermal camera and took readings. The OmniStudio X stays decently cool; overall, only the top right side of the AIO gets noticeably hot. On the screen side, this area peaked at 96 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (~35 degrees Celsius (C)). Meanwhile, the backside peaked at 103 degrees F (~40 degrees C), which isn't all that hot. Most importantly, the AIO isn't hot to the touch anywhere.

While stressing the CPU to get the fans going, I also pulled out my decibel meter and took a reading while sitting in front of the AIO and holding the device near my ear. The AIO didn't get very loud, evidenced by the peak 35.8 dB reading I got.

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HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Keyboard and mouse

Keyboard and mouse highlights

• There are plenty of useful function keys and a full number pad on the included keyboard.
• The mouse doesn't have the best ergonomic shape.
• AAA batteries for the keyboard and mouse are included in the box.
• Keyboard and mouse rating: 4/5

As part of being an AIO, the OmniStudio X 31.5" comes with an HP 710 USB Meteor Silver Keyboard and Mouse combo and four AAA batteries to power both accessories. While functional accessories, they aren't the most comfortable options on the market.

The mouse doesn't have a very ergonomic shape compared to the ones listed in our best gaming mouse roundup; it feels too broad and too long for me. I also feel like I'm outstretching my pointer finger further than necessary in order to use the scroll wheel. Still, this mouse is responsive and navigates around easily enough.

Meanwhile, the keyboard keys have a relatively short travel distance, which you may or may not like, depending on your personal preferences. That said, it does have a full number pad, full-size arrow keys, and several useful function buttons. As previously stated, it also has a Copilot button to quickly bring up Microsoft's AI assistant if you want it. All in all, the keyboard responds very quickly, and I never had issues with it cutting out. Of course, if you want a more ergonomic device to type on, I suggest looking at our list of the best PC keyboards.

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HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Camera, mic, and audio

Camera, mic, and speaker highlights

• The 5MP IR camera offers good coloring and decently clear imagery as long as I'm in a well lit room.
• Presence Sensing works really well to help save power and protect your computer while you're away.
• This AIO's built-in speakers are very impressive, delivering fuller sound quality than many other monitors out there.
• Camera, mic, and speaker rating: 5/5

As with many AIO's, this one's webcam is located on top of the display and is hidden out of sight unless I push down on it to eject it. It pops up and tucks away nicely as needed. Plus, the 5MP IR webcam offers good picture quality, with imagery coming through clearly and colors looking accurate. In meetings, the microphone carries my voice decently well, but if you want a better experience, I suggest getting one of the best PC gaming headsets or one of the best PC microphones.

After enabling Windows Hello facial recognition and Presence Sensing, this AIO always logged out whenever I walked away from my screen and then quickly logged me back in whenever I sat back down in front of it. This not only helps reduce unnecessary power usage but keeps my files better protected.

The OmniStudio X's speakers are located on the bottom of the monitor and point downward, this allows the sounds they produce to bounce off of my desk and amplify rather nicely. Since this is an AIO and not just a monitor, the speakers are very nice quality. Not only do they get extremely loud, but they do a better job than average of handling everything from high notes to bass ones.

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HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Competition

There are dozens of AIOs on the market right now with different specs, display sizes, and features to meet your specific needs.

If you like the idea of this OmniStudio X 31.5" but don't like the high price tag or don't need as large of a screen, then I suggest you look at the OmniStudio X 27". It is very similar with the same Intel Core Ultra CPUs, RAM, and SSD capacities. However, the screen is smaller at 27 inches and has full HD, and it doesn't have the option of having an RTX 40-Series GPU inside of it. This AIO has an MSRP of $1,479.99 but was at a discount of $1,249.99 at Best Buy at the time of writing. Alternatively, you can build your own configuration at the HP website.

Looking outside HP, another great AIO with a large 31.5-inch display can be seen in our Lenovo Yoga AiO 9i review. Unlike the OmniStudio X, it's not an AI PC, but it does have a powerful 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900H. If you buy it from the Lenovo website, you can get it with an RTX 4050 GPU. The lower-costing Intel Iris Xe graphics option is selling for $1,799.99 at Best Buy.

If you'd like a touchscreen, I recommend looking at my Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i review. This option features a 27-inch IPS touchscreen that is very responsive. Plus, it houses an Intel Core i5 or an i7 along with an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. There are plenty of ports on it, and the base doubles as a wireless phone charger, which is very convenient. It sells for $925.00 at Amazon.

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HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Scorecard

HP OmniStudio X 31.5": Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

✅ You want a convenient PC that comes with everything you need: This AIO comes with a keyboard, mouse, monitor, webcam, and excellent speakers. You don't need to purchase anything extra to start using it right out of the box.

✅ You'd like a large screen for multitasking: The 31.5-inch display is wide enough to comfortably display two windows at once. You can easily multitask that way.

✅ You're looking for an all-rounder PC that is good at just about everything: While there are more powerful options on the market, the HP OmniStudio X 31.5" is a reliable PC that can handle a wide range of tasks. If you get a configuration with the RTX 4050 GPU, it will even be able to handle some creative programs or even some gaming.

You should not buy this if...

❌ You don't need this big of a monitor: There are plenty of other AIOs on the market today that come with smaller displays. Smaller AIOs can be easier on your wallet, too.

❌ You specifically want a touchscreen AIO: While this AIO has many impressive features, it doesn't have the option of coming with a touchscreen.

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The HP Envy Move is a unique All-in-One PC that features a built-in battery, a handle, and pop-out feet. That design allows you to move the PC anywhere you'd like within a home or office. It's an excellent PC for working from home, sharing a computer with your family, or even as a portable streaming screen, thanks to its impressive speakers and large display. Right now, you can get the HP Envy Move for $100 off, thanks to a holiday deal.

Gamer Gifts: Our favorite picks

• PDP Universal Gaming Remote Control | was $22.99 now $17.99
• Evolution of the Controller poster | was $15.99 now $12.99
• 100 Video Games Bucket List Scratch Poster | $24.77
• Banjo Kazooie 4.5 inch vinyl figure | $29.99
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-months) | was $49.99 now $31.49 at CDKeys
• Xbox Series X Mini Fridge | was $88 now $39.97
• Xbox Wireless Controller | was $64.99 now $59.99
• Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed | was $179.99 now $89.99
• WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card 1TB | was $149.99 now $129.99
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X headset for Xbox | was $179.75 now $152.99
• 🔥Turtle Beach Stealth Wireless Controller | $199.99🔥HOT FAVE
• Xbox Series X | was $499.99 now $349.99

A perfect PC for working from home or sharing

We have a full review of the HP Envy Move on the way. I won't spoil everything our Managing Editor Ben Wilson has to say about the All-in-One, but expect to hear praise. Wilson says the HP Envy Move is "absolutely perfect as a family-oriented PC." It's also a better shared PC than any laptop you can buy, according to Wilson.

The value of the HP Envy Move comes from its unique design. There are other All-in-One PCs on the market, but none of them are quite like HP's new PC. The Envy Move has a handle that makes it easy to carry around, a built-in battery, and feet that pop out automatically, so you don't have to mess around with the bottom of the All-in-One when placing it down.

Thanks to its design, you can, quite literally, pick up the HP Envy Move and use it anywhere you want. On a sunny day you can use it on your patio. If you work from home and are tired of looking at the same walls, you can pick up the PC and move it to your dining room. It also makes a great kitchen companion and shared family screen.

With streaming services and even broadcast television being available online, you can also use the HP Envy Move as a portable TV.

Speaking of those speakers, the HP Envy Move delivers phenomenal audio quality that bests any laptop you can buy.

For work and play, but not native gaming or creators

While the HP Envy Move is an impressive machine, it's not a gaming PC. It also can't handle demanding workloads for professional creators. The more powerful mode has an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. There's also an Intel Core i3 version available for a more affordable price. It's a lovely PC for everyday computing, productivity, and entertainment, but it lacks the internals to tackle gaming or creative work, at least natively.

The All-in-One has an HDMI in port, meaning you can hook up an Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or handheld gaming console and use the Envy Move's large screen and larger speakers. Having another device connected isn't as portable, but it means you can have a more powerful system for gaming or creative work while still using the screen and speakers of the HP Envy Move.

When it comes to the business side of things, Hewlett-Packard (HP) computers have long been known as one of the most reliable and professional options. This extends to the company's All-in-One (AIO) desktops, which provide a reliable PC within a contained form factor. 

Over the last week, I've been testing the new EliteOne 870 G9 AIO desktop computer by using it for work and leisure. Like many of the best AIO PCs, it offers a great screen and solid performance, making it useful in home and professional settings. Plus, it has a beautiful design that helps it look good anywhere. 

Disclaimer: This review was made possible by a review unit provided by HP. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

HP EliteOne 870 G9: Price and specs

Pricing & specifications highlights

• Starts at $1,844 with several configuration options. 
• The most expensive configuration sells for over $3,000.
• HP is a trusted computer manufacturer, but this AIO is overpriced.
• Value rating: 3.5/5

The HP EliteOne 870 G9 at the configuration I tested has an MSRP of $1,933, although, at the time of writing this, the HP website was having a sale reducing the price to $1,140.47, so it's possible to find it selling at varying prices. There are several options when choosing your own EliteOne 870 G9 configuration, with the least expensive configuration costing $1,844 before tax and the most expensive one costing over $3,000.

As mentioned, the EliteOne 870 G9 can be purchased directly from the HP website. Thanks to the company's worldwide distribution, this AIO desktop is available for purchase in many places worldwide. Specific pre-built configurations of the EliteOne 870 G9 can also be purchased from Amazon or Newegg at varying prices depending on the components and options chosen. 

HP EliteOne 870 G9 Recommended Configuration

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Design and build

Build quality & design highlights

• Easy tool-less assembly means you can get it setup quickly.
• Plenty of ports for connecting accessories and devices or for using it solely as a monitor.
• Built-in wireless charging station in the base. 
• An elegant design that looks good in front-facing areas like customer service and receptionist locations.
• Design rating: 4.5/5

The best all-in-one PCs offer powerful performance in a sleek body, allowing users to perform various tasks without taking up much room. Thankfully, due to my time testing the HP EliteOne 870 G9, I can say that this desktop has proven that it is one of the best choices out there, including its easy assembly.

Shortly after opening the box, I found that this AIO requires no tools to assemble it. This trend is growing among computer and display manufacturers, but it isn't always the case. The EliteOne 870 G9's base features built-in screws with handles I merely twisted to secure it to the stand. The stand, in turn, simply needed to be pressed into the mounting bracket on the back of the display until I heard a click. From there, it was a matter of placing the AIO how I wanted it on my desk and attaching the necessary cables.

There are two USB-C ports, five USB-A ports, an ethernet port, a DisplayPort, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Most of these connections are located on the backside of the computer, although the headphone jack and a USB-A and USB-C port are on the side of the display. With all these connections, I could easily plug in various accessories, including the keyboard and mouse it came with. Plus, the HDMI port allows the AIO to act as a standalone monitor for another computer if I desire.

One thing that I can always say about HP products is that they always look really professional. This isn't surprising considering HP has long been a popular choice among business users, partially due to the company's quality build and elegant presentation. The EliteOne 870 G9 has a very professional look with a sturdy base and adjustable stand that allows the display to be lowered, raised, and tilted up and down to reach your eye level better. I also appreciated that the stand can be panned left or right thanks to its hinge design.

Due to the stand's balanced build and the base's hefty weight, the display feels secure, and the AIO is in no danger of tipping as I use it. 

As an added convenience, the heavy base doubles as a Qi wireless charging pad, which I conveniently use for juicing up my phone and wireless earbuds. It can also be used with other Qi-compatible devices. 

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Display

Display highlights

• 27 inches is a very good size for an all-in-one desktop display.
• It offers a decent color gamut but is far from the best display you can get.
• Brightness and contrast aren't the best, but will work well in office and family settings.
• Display rating: 3.5/5

Everything on the 27-inch IPS display comes through crisp and clear thanks to the 1920 x 1080p resolution. Due to its size, it works well for multitaskers who tend to work within two windows or programs at a time. However, since this is not intended as a gaming computer or a desktop for creatives, the color gamut isn't the most impressive. 

I can bring up several modes by pressing the menu buttons on the bottom right of the display, including Warm, Neutral, Cool, Low Blue Light, Night, Reading, HP Enhance+, Photo, and Multimedia. I expected these to each provide unique results when running a colorimeter test. However, my results showed that each mode always produced 100% RGB, 80% Adobe RGB, and 85% P3. This is a respectable score given that this display is meant first and foremost for business use, not gaming or creative work. 

After running the color gamut test, I checked the EliteOne 870 G9 display's contrast and brightness capabilities. The display gets decently bright, reaching up to 250 nits, but won't be the best in overly lit rooms or places with strong light sources. The display's contrast measured its best at 780:1, which is rather low and not all that impressive. However, this AIO isn't intended for intensive gaming or creative tasks, so this should work just fine for the average office or home setting. 

As is always the case with monitors, the EliteOne 870 G9 display will provide the best viewing experience if placed perpendicular to windows or bright lighting. The initial location where I set the AIO up had a bright lamp shining directly behind me, and this proved to cause a rather strong glare until I rotated the desktop in a different direction. 

This display is also a touchscreen, and I found this very helpful in situations where it felt more intuitive to tap the screen rather than reach for the mouse. However, at one point, my curious cat, Sabrina, showed up and started slapping at the cursor on the display, which resulted in her closing windows and clicking on links. While she was around, I opted to open Windows 11 settings and turn off the touchscreen. 

All in all, it's a great display that's perfect for home or office use. 

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Performance

Performance highlights

• The EliteOne 870 G9 has solidly average performance in most areas. 
• CPU and GPU rendering capabilities are on the lower side for this price range. 
• Performance rating: 3.5/5

The EliteOne 870 G9 can keep up with some basic-to-medium tasks and will do so while running programs smoothly. However, don't expect it to be a good choice for gaming or 3D rendering software. 

While with this desktop, I attended work meetings, ran various programs, worked on Photoshop projects, and even attempted some gaming. As I previously alluded to, this computer is phenomenal for average office tasks like running lower-stakes programs and data entry. However, it struggled with more demanding tasks like rendering 3D models in Photoshop. That makes sense since this only has Intel UHD Graphics 730 and not a beefier NVIDIA RTX discrete GPU.

In addition to my anecdotal time with the EliteOne 870 G9, I ran several benchmark tests to see how it stacked against other computers. For the most part, it performed exactly as I expected. PCMark 10 (CPU-heavy), which tests how well a program performs when running basic modern office tasks like opening programs, attending video calls, and multitasking between programs, scored a somewhat lower score of 5,637. This puts it at the same performance as an HP Dragonfly Pro laptop.

Meanwhile, in Geekbench 6, this computer scored 13,063, putting it between the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i and the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (Gen 8), where I'd expect to see it, i.e., semi-high to high-tier laptop.

Regarding reading and writing speeds for the solid-state drive (SSD), the EliteOne 870 G9 is excellent, with a read speed of 7,209 MB/s and a write speed of 5,043 MB/s. Those results put it at the high end of modern PCs in 2023

The EliteOne 870 G9 only scored 12,836 in a multi-core test and 1,806 in a single-core in Cinebench 23. This puts it lower than the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i, which I tested earlier this year, despite the EliteOne beating it out in every other test. That makes sense, however, as the IdeaCentre AIO 5i has 12 cores (4 P-cores and 8 E-cores) and is clocked at 4.5GHz, while the EliteOne only has 4 cores at 4.3GHz, with no P/E distinction.

For the gamers out there, this means you cannot run more demanding games on it when you factor in the CPU and the lack of discrete NVIDIA graphics. On the other hand, this is a business-class AIO for office use, so all this makes sense.

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Keyboard and mouse

Keyboard & touchpad highlights

• The base keyboard and mouse options are wired.
• The symbols on the keyboard keys started to fade in just one week of use.
• There aren't any fancy buttons or shortcut keys on either wired device.
• You can also purchase a wireless mouse and keyboard combo when configuring your EliteOne 870 G9 from HP's website.
• Keyboard and mouse rating: 4.5/5

Several keyboard and mouse options exist when configuring your EliteOne 870 G9 from HP. The configuration I tested came with the least expensive options, which are very simple in design with wired connection points that need to be plugged into the all-in-one's USB-A ports. These accessories feel nice, with the keyboard buttons pressing in very nicely and the mouse responding well to dragging and clicking. In fact, I'm typing this review up right now on the wired keyboard.

The base keyboard and mouse are admirably functional, but nothing is exciting about them. That helps keep their costs down, though. The one big negative I encountered in this area is that some of the keys on the wired keyboard have already started to wear out after just a week of use. I type a lot, but not that much. In comparison, the Logitech keyboard that I use at my regular desk has been with me for about a year now, and although I've spent hours and hours typing on it, none of the symbols on the keys have worn away. I assume many of the HP EliteOne 870 G9's keyboard key symbols will be worn down within this time (this is why gaming keyboards use 'doubleshot' ABS keycaps, where an outer layer protects the printing). 

You can opt for a wireless mouse and keyboard combo if you want to pay more. This removes unsightly cables and frees up two USB-A ports for you to use with other PC accessories. As it was, I had to deal with tucking wires away behind the desk and trying to make my work area look more organized. 

Of course, if your typing is a major concern, you could always go for one of our top-recommended keyboards to really up the quality of the HP EliteOne 870.

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Camera, mic, and audio

Other hardware features highlights

• The webcam has an awkward design that sticks out on top but offers good picture quality. 
• There's a physical slider to shutter the webcam for privacy.
• In meetings, the AIO's mic does a good job of carrying my voice clearly.
• The Bang & Olufsen speakers provide amazing sound quality that's balanced and well-distributed.
• Camera, mic, and audio rating: 4.5/5

The strange camera design stood out when I pulled the EliteOne 870 G9 out of the box. It's a bulky block that distracts from the EliteOne 870 G9's otherwise beautiful design. It sits above the monitor and can be adjusted up and down, but I sometimes wonder if I will break it by doing so. It offers a decent amount of resistance when I try to move it.  

Despite this, the webcam does a phenomenal job showing me crisply and with good coloring during work meetings. Thanks to compatibility with the included MyHP app, I can adjust the camera settings to help me show up well in lower lighting, adjust the camera frame, smooth out my appearance via filters, and more. I also appreciated that the camera has a built-in privacy shutter, which I can physically slide in and out of place to ensure no one peeks in on me when I don't want them to. 

During work meetings, my colleagues informed me that my voice was clear and crisp with the EliteOne 870 G9's microphone, and I had no issues with it. 

On a different note, I was absolutely impressed with the built-in Bang & Olufsen speakers this AIO has. These are located just below the display and take up the entire lower section. These speakers got loud but conveyed sound well at a lower volume when I didn't want to distract others around me. Moreover, they produced well-balanced bass and higher tones to keep up with my music-listening or video-watching desires.

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Competition

Earlier this year, I did our Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 review and found it a fantastic choice for office and family usage. Like the HP EliteOne 870, the base doubles as a wireless charging station. However, this AIO desktop has a wireless keyboard and mouse, so I don't have to deal with as many unsightly wires. As mentioned, it isn't quite as powerful as the EliteOne in many ways, but it has slightly better rendering abilities.

If you'd prefer an ultrawide display and are willing to spend more money, there are a few AlOs to consider. But, as you can see from our HP Envy 34 All-in-One Desktop overview, this is a great option. It's got a very similar vibe to the EliteOne 870 G9, but thanks to its impressive (and updated) 12th Gen Core i7 and NVIDIA RTS 3060 Laptop GPU, it offers better performance, though it currently costs $2,350.

Now, for those looking for serious GPU performance, there is an impressive AIO to choose from. In our own Daniel Rubino's Surface Studio 2 review, he talks about how this AIO is "incredibly close to perfection" and only has a "few areas for improvement." And that was the older model. The newer Surface Studio 2 Plus, which we also recently reviewed, takes that and goes further, but you pay a hefty premium for the experience.

Finally, while the EliteOne is mostly aimed at prosumers and business clients, HP does offer more affordable all-in-ones using AMD or Intel processors ranging from 24-inch displays and up. For instance, this HP AIO 27 has a 12th Gen Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD/1TB HDD, and a 27" full-HD display for $1,199 (as low as $899 on sale). Likewise, HP's Pavilion line also offers a few different AIO configurations, including this one with a more powerful 12th Gen Core i7, RTX 3050 graphics, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD/1TB HDD for $1,699, which is a good deal.

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Score card

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HP EliteOne 870 G9: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

You should not buy this if ...

Suppose you're looking for a reliable desktop computer that doesn't take up much room and provides solid performance while running your average software. In that case, the HP EliteOne 870 G9 is an excellent AIO to consider. The IPS display offers a great color gamut with crisp detail. Plus, this screen's 27-inch size makes it easy to multitask by allowing you to split the display between two windows comfortably. It also has impressive speakers that can handle a range of sounds, and the base conveniently doubles as a wireless charging station for phones or other compatible devices.

Now, a couple of things might give some buyers pause. This AIO always ran smoothly for me as long as I didn't attempt to perform graphically intensive tasks. Additionally, the EliteOne 870 G9 is a bit pricey for what it offers, but being aimed at business users (or prosumers), we tend to see that often. Still, the trade-off is that you're getting a reliable computer with an elegant design that looks good in professional and home settings. 

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The Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO line has long been a contender in the all-in-one (AIO) computer space with its compact power. Now, the latest model has also proven to be an excellent desktop, whether you're working from home or simply want a reliable PC for the family to use. It doesn't take up much room but still provides the performance and conveniences to suit most users. 

I spent over two weeks testing and using the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27, and in that time, I've come to learn that this desktop is as sturdy as it is reliable. Just don't expect it to handle any intensive gaming.

Disclaimer: This review was made possible by a review unit provided by Lenovo. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Price and availability

This particular configuration is available at Best Buy, priced at $1,240. Additionally, you can often find other configurations of this desktop selling cheaper than its MSRP at places like Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg. As expected with an AIO, there is no assembly required as the monitor comes attached to the stand from within the packaging. 

You can view the full Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 specs below:

Given the large 27-inch display, the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 sells at a competitive price of $1,240 USD. It features an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. Altogether, it handles video calls, music playing, and multitasking very well.

However, while it can easily run less graphically-intensive games like Among Us, it cannot run highly graphic-intensive video games like the recent Hogwarts Legacy. Of course, this is no surprise, as this AIO was not built for intensive gaming. There are more powerful configurations on the market if more processing power is wanted.

Lenovo's other configurations of this IdeaCentre AIO include other 27-inch display models as well as versions with a smaller 24-inch screen. Some of these have the same Intel Core i5, while others utilize an Intel Core i7 and offer more RAM. However, each iteration employs the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor. As expected, prices vary depending on the internal hardware utilized.

Our recommended Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i configuration:

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Design & build quality

Lenovo made, what I consider to be, some rather strange IdeaCentre design choices in the last few years, with past models featuring asymmetrical stands. This was likely done for a mixture of aesthetic reasons and to prevent any ports from getting blocked by the monitor base. However, they sometimes resulted in past Lenovo AIOs being somewhat wobbly. Fortunately, the IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 has a much more stalwart build that also looks elegant. 

Though not the thinnest monitor I've ever seen, the IdeaCentre AIO 5i's casing still looks sleek and classy. The 27-inch screen is held up via two metal poles that connect to the computer base. The screen can be tilted upward or downward, but the stand cannot be extended or shortened. Still, the display rests at a good height, and pivoting it up or down should fix any viewing issues for taller or shorter persons. 

I took a moment to shake my table rather violently to see if the IdeaCentre would wobble. It stayed planted on the table's surface and made me feel a lot better about allowing my cats to explore next to it. There would have to be a significant amount of movement and/or force to knock it over. 

Various ports are found on the backside of the monitor, and they are spaced in such a way that the metal stand shouldn't cause any conflict with connecting cables. There's also a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port on the left side of the monitor for easy access, which is convenient for microphones, the included wireless keyboard and mouse adapter, charging up a phone, or other accessories. 

As with previous versions of this AIO, the base doubles as a wireless charging station and phone stand. The phone does have to be placed in just the right spot for charging to occur (on the battery symbol), but it's a nice convenience when you'll be sitting at your desk for a while. Lenovo was also considerate enough to include a USB-C to USB-C charging cable for phones that do not have wireless charging capabilities. Either way, your phone will be taken care of. My one complaint about the base is that to actually use the phone stand, I had to remove the case from my phone for it to fit in the narrow slot. This is frustrating and takes away from the convenience that the stand is attempting to provide.

All in all, this is a very handsome desktop that will look good in any home or office. The sturdy base makes me more confident that my cat won't be able to knock it over, while the plentiful ports give all of the connecting points needed.   

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Display

As you'd expect, the 27-inch display is large enough that it's easy to show two different windows at once. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor used within this Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 can support up to three displays at a time. However, there is only one HDMI out port, so you will need to purchase a USB-C to HDMI adapter to connect a third monitor. Alternatively, the HDMI in port allows this AIO to act as an additional monitor if needed. This makes the IdeaCentre AIO 5i a perfect laptop companion.

Since the monitor is also a touchscreen, it's easy to jump between different programs or zoom in and out of an open page using your fingertips. This can make working on Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i very convenient. However, my cat ended up slapping at the screen and changing windows, so I was pleased to find that touch capabilities can easily be turned off if they aren't wanted as a computer cat-proofing measure. 

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Test benchmarks

The monitor's brightness is adjusted from within the Settings → Display menu, but there are no physical buttons on the monitor to make these changes. It can get dim and bright, and the image that comes through is crisp and vibrant with its 2560 x 1440 resolution. There is also a Night light mode to block blue light, making the monitor easier on the eyes late at night. 

To test how well the monitor performed, I turned off HDR video mode and used a colorimeter to see how well the display worked on default settings. The IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 does a good job of displaying various hues, brightness levels, and contrast with its IPS display. So much so that there wasn't much of a need to calibrate this monitor. As always, the amount of natural light in a room can alter the experience significantly, so things might be slightly different from one owner to the next. 

Bleeding can plague many displays, especially when the brightness is at its lowest setting. However, even with the IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27's display dimmed all the way, the screen was uniform and didn't have any distracting bleeding. It makes for a better user experience that won't take away from any late-night basic use or video watching. 

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Performance

The Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 is not intended as a gaming computer, and as such, it does not have the processing power of the latest and greatest graphics hardware. However, it performs admirably when using most applications and is an excellent multitasker. I tested performance by using Adobe Photoshop while running other programs, playing Among Us, listening to music, watching videos, and/or attending video work meetings. It could do all this easily without stuttering, blasting the fans, or slowing down. 

The 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H that this AIO uses provides slightly higher-than-average performance. We tested the IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 in several benchmark tests, including Geekbench 5, CrossMark, Cinebench, PCMark, and CrystalDiskMark. You can find these results below:

Note: These benchmark charts are not intended to show the IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 as middling but rather show other desktop and laptop benchmarks to which it is most similar.

I also tested the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 (2022) with the brand new Geekbench 6, where it scored 2,039 for single-core and 7,967 for multi-core in its benchmarks. While not the most impressive computer on the market right now, the i5 CPU is more than ready to handle most applications and tasks. It's perfect for video chats, music listening, video watching, and simple games with low-level graphics. However, it definitely struggles with intensive gaming, complex video editing programs, or other applications that require a lot of processing power.

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Keyboard & mouse

There's nothing super standout with the wireless mouse or wireless keyboard, but in some ways, that's preferred. They're both relatively simple but very reliable. Batteries are included for these devices, with the keyboard running off two AA batteries while the mouse functions off one.

The keyboard is very satisfying to use. It has a number pad and a few function shortcuts for locking the computer and opening the Snipping Tool, Settings, Calculator, and the default web browser. As is usual, there are also audio function shortcuts for muting, adjusting volume, pausing/playing, or muting a mic. This gives plenty of convenience without doing anything over-the-top.

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Cameras & audio

As with past IdeaCentre models, the 5MP Infrared camera on this Lenovo AIO extends up from within the monitor and can be pushed down flush with the display casing to conceal it. This means you can be more secure in knowing the camera isn't capturing any footage when you don't want it to. 

For testing purposes, I specifically took time to see how well audio and video were handled in work meetings. The camera visuals aren't groundbreaking, but they are very clear— auto-adjusting brightness and coloring to help display me to the best possible advantage. It also worked much better in lower lighting than I would have expected. 

Meanwhile, the 5W JBL dual speakers are located under the monitor and point downward, where the sound can be amplified nicely depending on the surface that the sounds reflect off. During video calls, the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 carried my voice clearly and allowed me to be displayed cleanly. However — as with most AIOs — if you want to hear louder volumes, deeper bass, and higher tones in your music or videos, then you'll want to purchase external computer speakers to improve the audio experience. 

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Software

As expected with current-gen desktops, the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 runs Windows 11. Discussing how well this operating system works is a whole other subject, of course. I'll just say that Windows 11 doesn't have any horrible elements to it, but it does have some significant changes from Windows 10. For instance, if you're not used to the new layout, it might take a while to get comfortable with the Start button being in the central bottom area of the screen rather than on the bottom left. But once these changes are adjusted to Windows 11 feels great to use.

This AIO also comes with Lenovo Vantage preinstalled, which is a program that helps update drivers, run diagnostics, and request support. That way, it's easier to check how the IdeaCentre AIO 5i is doing and get official help if needed. It's a helpful program that helps users keep tabs on things. 

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Competition

There are a growing number of best All-in-One (AIO) PCs on the market today. Though a bit older now, the HP ENVY 34 is still an impressive desktop that runs Windows 11 and comes in configurations that offer 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11700 to Core i9-11900 processors. As the name of this AIO implies, it has a long 34-inch screen for all your viewing needs. It also features 32GB of RAM, a 16MP camera, Qi wireless charging, and can have up to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 graphics card — which is perfect for gaming. 

But as you'd expect for a computer with greater hardware, the HP ENVY 34 does cost significantly more, with an MSRP of $2,350. The tradeoff is that it can handle more intensive programs, making it ideal for gamers, video editors, or anyone who utilizes hardcore programs. 

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27: Should you buy it?

You should buy Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 if...

• You need a reliable computer for basic work and family use.
• You tend to use multiple programs at once and want something that can handle multitasking.
• You'd like something that can keep your phone charged up.

You should not buy Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 if...

• You like to play hardcore video games.
• You don't need that big of a screen.
• You need a computer with high processing power to handle intensive programs.

It was a delight to work with the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 over the last couple of weeks. The QHD IPS anti-glare display shows off hues, brightness, and contrast to a wonderful degree allowing it to be more than suited to handling office work, homework, and videos. While by no means a flagship powerhouse, this desktop can handle multitasking most programs easily and didn't show any signs of stuttering or slowing down while using programs with average processing power. 

Since this AIO's base doubles as a wireless phone charger, it adds a significant amount of convenience to the IdeaCentre. Plus, Lenovo was considerate enough to include a USB-C charging cable for phones that don't have wireless charging. Plenty of ports are available to get more use out of this desktop, including the ability to attach additional monitors or accessories. Overall, the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i 27 is a great choice for any home or office and will look good there too.

Our recommended Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5i configuration:

What you need to know

• HP ramps up sustainability efforts combining new materials and reclaimed and recycled parts on its latest all-in-one desktop.
• The HP all-in-one 24- and 27-inch desktops contain, for the first time on a PC, recycled coffee grounds.  
• Additionally, it also contains recycled plastics, aluminum, and polyester as well as sustainable packaging that helps reduce the carbon footprint in shipping. 
• For power and performance, these desktops contain the latest silicon from AMD and Intel, and various configurations are offered. 

A cup or two of coffee in the morning may be the daily ritual for many office workers, but what if your actual desktop PC had some coffee too? HP's latest 24- and 27-inch all-in-one desktops may not actually be fueled by coffee, but the finish of this PC was created, as part of its manufacturer's sustainability efforts, with recycled coffee grounds. HP claims that it is the first PC manufacturer to incorporate coffee into desktops or laptops of any kind with this innovative finishing process. 

But the sustainability efforts do not end there; HP is using either recycled or reclaimed materials in its all-in-one.

"More than 40% of this all-in-one's enclosure contains post-consumer recycled plastics, 75% recycled aluminum is used on the arm stand, and 100% reclaimed polyester is used on the stand base," the company said in a statement at CES. And beyond the device, the packaging contains 100% sustainably sourced and recycled box packaging, which has been reduced in size by 62% compared to prior generations. This allows 66% more units to be placed on each pallet, helping to reduce the carbon footprint for shipping. 

For performance, the all-in-one desktops come in either AMD configurations that top out with a Ryzen 7 7730U processor or up to an Intel 13th Gen Core i7-1355U silicon. The HP all-in-one relies on either Intel or AMD integrated graphics. 

The systems can be configured with up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB of NVMe M.2 solid-state storage. Though there are plenty of USB-A ports, you'll only find a single USB-C slot on the device. Other ports include a combo audio jack, HDMI output port, and an Ethernet port.

There are options for either a FHD webcam with IR sensor or an HD webcam. Regardless of the camera configuration, you'll be able to pop the cam down when it's not needed for a cleaner aesthetic and for privacy. Both 24- and 27-inch all-in-one models come with a micro-edge bezels for a modern appearance around the screen, and you can opt for either a touch or non-touchscreen experience. The resolution of the display is capped at 1080p.

As an all-in-one, HP's desktop also comes with dual 2W speakers.

Both all-in-one models will be available in spring, HP said, but the company did not reveal pricing information at CES.

Working from home and hybrid office solutions have never been more at the forefront of businesses at large, and finding an all-in-one system to satisfy the work, study and entertainment needs of a busy family shouldn’t mean hours of researching the best tech systems. When looking for your next upgrade you want to rely on reviews of a tried and tested system to get the best possible value for your money.

The Acer Aspire C24 is not only a comprehensive solution to your family’s productivity and entertainment needs, it’s been tested by the Currys Experts and received the seal of approval from their resident tech team with an ‘Our Experts Love’ award. In addition to it’s recommendation from this popular UK retailer, the Acer Aspire C24 has also received an iF Design Award in 2022 for its combination of cutting-edge technology in an aesthetically pleasing package.

Sleek design without compromising on functionality

The iF Design Awards honour the best and brightest design concepts across multiple industries and attract entries from over 50 countries around the globe. The Acer Aspire C24 has beaten out competitors for the 2022 best Desktop PC for it’s space-saving and sleek design. The combination of classic black and gold in a slim package makes this a stylish piece of technology that will look at home in most decors. The Acer Aspire C24 has also proved to not just be a pretty face, receiving a stamp of approval from retailer Currys ‘Our Experts Love’ for its impressive functionality and high performance for both work and play.  

A delightful display

The 23.8” full HD screen in its stylishly narrow frame boasts IPS technology to experience life in vivid true to life colour, and BlueLightShield technology to lower exposure and eyestrain – great for late nights working on that deadline or simply watching your favourite Youtuber. Screen light reflection is reduced with Acer ‘ComfyView’ and flicker free pixels. he built-in stereo microphones and full HD 1080p webcam will make video calling an ease, chat with family, friends, and colleagues as if they were in the room with dynamic sound. Tilt the screen for your best angle, and even slide the webcam cover over for when you want peace of mind over your family’s privacy.

Clutter-free connectivity

The Acer Aspire C24 all-in-one comes with wireless keyboard and mouse for a clean and minimal workspace, and ensures a quick out of box setup experience. Working with children at home requires flexibility and the Acer Aspire C24 gifts that in spades. With only a power wire to worry about you can move the unit with ease from your desk to the dining table, or to the bedroom depending on where you need to find solace.

With the latest Intel Processor built into an ultra-slim frame, the rear of the unit comes with a solid selection of connectivity options for external devices including HDMI, USB ports, SD card reader, and 3.5mm headphone jack. Browsing your favourite websites and streaming shows will be buffer-free with built in Wi-Fi 6 to enable high speed high-performance browsing all with freedom from pesky wires. The flexibility of the Acer Aspire C24 opens it up to use for work, studying, or being a makeshift media machine. In fact for families with entertainment in mind, there is a larger model available in the Acer Aspire C27. Currys also stock a number of other Acer models. 

Power your productivity and your entertainment

Not only is the Acer Aspire C24 aesthetically impressive, but it also delivers power with the latest Intel Core Processors. Seamlessly switch between various document programs and webpages and push loading wheels into distant memory with the i5 processor powering your experience. Whether you want to crunch numbers in Excel or try to photoshop your toddler’s grimace out of an otherwise perfect family photo, the 1TB SSD in the Acer Aspire C24 will make sure your software loads without a pause for thought.

Tried and tested by experts

Currys is a well-known and trusted retailer of UK consumer electronics and have a team of both our product buyers and in-store colleagues that make up their techsperts, with real experience putting the latest technology to the test. Their ‘Our Experts Love’ badge stamps products with a seal of approval for delivering the best in its field, but most importantly providing the best value for consumers. With the Acer Aspire C24 being at the lower end of the price scale for delivering an all-in-one desktop PC experience, it was an obvious choice to receive this badge of honor. With the impressive aesthetics of the Acer Aspire C24 also garnering it the IF Design 2022 award, it’s clear that you won’t be compromising looks for price with this unit. 

What you need to know

• Acer has announced a new Veriton Vero AIO with 12th Gen Intel, discrete NVIDIA MX550 graphics, plenty of RAM and storage, and other top features like a 5MP webcam and Wi-Fi 6E.
• The AIO also has an eco-friendly design, with 30 percent of the PC made out of post-consumer recycled materials.
• Acer has also unveiled new eco-friendly 24 and 27-inch Vero IPS monitors that have excellent color and anti-blue light certifications. Notably, 90 percent of these displays are comprised of recycled plastics.

While they're not as visually impressive as a custom-built desktop tower PC, All-in-One (AIO) PCs are fantastic options for folks that need strong performance in a slim and minimalist form factor. If you're interested in getting an AIO for your office or work from home setup, you should keep Acer's recently-announced Veriton Vero AIO on your radar; in addition to its impressive specs, the PC also has an admirable eco-friendly design.

Compared to other AIOs, the main thing that sets the Acer Veriton Vero apart is its hardware. With the power of a 12th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU, a discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX550 GPU, and up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4 3200MHz RAM, this PC is well-equipped to handle pretty much anything that you throw at it. Notably, you also get dual M.2 SSDs that support options for up to 2TB of storage, which is fantastic. Also, the 24-inch FHD IPS panel has wide viewing angles and an excellent 88 percent screen-to-body ratio thanks to its narrow bezels, and you also get Wi-Fi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C ports, a 5MP webcam with a physical shutter, Windows Hello, and a Tobii Aware smart sensor, and a BlueLightShield feature for (optional) blue light filtering.

As special as its hardware is, it's also important to recognize how eco-friendly the chassis it's packed within is, too. 30 percent of the Acer Veriton Vero is made out of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material, and the packaging it comes in is 100 percent recyclable as well. Acer has also taken steps to extend the PC's lifecycle by designing a screwless back cover that can easily be taken off for future repairs or upgrades. The design of the Veriton Vero is quite flexible as well, as it's fully compatible with VESA wall-mounting. Ultimately, this PC has serious potential to become one of the best All-in-One PCs.

In addition to the Acer Veriton Vero AIO, the company has also announced two brand new Vero IPS monitors: the 27-inch FHD CB273 and the 23.8-inch FHD B247Y G. Both panels are made of 85 percent PCR plastic as well as five percent ocean-bound plastic (OBP). The Delta less-than-one rating guarantees vivid and accurate colors, while the TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe certification reduces blue light. The monitors also come with a KVM switch that you can use to quickly switch between multiple devices, and they're also capable of providing up to 90W of charging to a host device through their USB-C ports. Overall, both the Acer CB273 and the Acer B247Y G sound like they'll be some of the best computer monitors to consider if you already have a capable desktop machine.

The Acer Veriton Vero AIO is expected to launch in the United States in Oct. 2022 with a starting price of $799, though it's slated to arrive earlier in EMEA regions in Jul. 2022 starting at €919. Meanwhile, both the Acer CB273 and the Acer B247Y G will go on sale in Q3 2022 for $349.99/€399/¥2,499 and $199.99/€269/¥1,499, respectively.

All-in-One (AiO) PCs solve a major issue plaguing most standard desktop PCs — they come in one sleek package that saves space, reduces cable clutter, and otherwise has everything you need to start computing.

The good news is that there are quite a few AiO PCs worth your money. The Windows Central team has put countless hours into testing AiO PCs over the years, but none is better for most users than the HP Envy Move.

That's all thanks to a genius combination of flexible input methods and a built-in battery allowing for portability. If it's not quite what you need, I have five alternatives worth considering.

The quick list

My favorite All-in-One PCs in 2025

Best overall AiO PC

The HP Envy Move is, by far, the best all-in-one PC that Senior Editor Ben Wilson has ever seen. In his Envy Move review, he says:

"The Envy Move doesn't need the most cutting-edge components to achieve its goal, and that much was proven during Senior Editor Ben Wilson's testing. It never advertises itself as a dedicated gaming machine, but you can play on the cloud. Similarly, it doesn't pretend to be a creator-focused machine, but it's ideal for kids to fingerpaint doodles on the touchscreen and type up their homework."

Wilson applauds the inclusion of a battery and admires its reasonable price point provided by an intelligent selection of components. It's technically not perfect, but rarely anything is without inflating the cost to an unreasonable degree. It's close enough to perfection to recommend it to friends with children, and there's almost nothing negative to say.

It's built to be portable, with rotating feet that tuck away when in transit. The battery inside lasts for about four or five hours, enough to get some work done or watch a movie away from your desk. It even has a fold-down handle on the top to make it easier to carry.

The PC's port selection might be the biggest drawback, with only a single USB-A and USB-C port handling accessories. There's also an HDMI 1.4b port for video, though USB-C has DP 1.4a alt mode. This issue can quickly be solved with the right hub or docking station.

👀 Read our full HP Envy Move review

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Runner-up AiO PC

HP's OmniStudio X 31.5 is the more recent All-in-One PC reviewed here at Windows Central, and it looks like a top option for anyone who needs extra performance and a crisp 4K display.

Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear reviewed the OmniStudio X 31.5 quite favorably, handing it 4.5 stars and an Editor's Choice award in the process. She states:

"The HP OmniStudio X 31.5" AIO is a fantastic desktop PC for anyone who wants everything in one box. The 4K UHD IPS display offers excellent picture quality to keep up with the fantastic built-in speakers. Since this AIO has Windows Hello and Presence Sensing, it easily logs me out or in when I need it to. Plus, it has a good selection of ports to meet my connection needs. If you're looking for a PC that comes with everything you need, then you should definitely consider the OmniStudio X."

It feels like HP tried to make the perfect AiO PC for creators, mostly thanks to the optional NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU. It can otherwise be configured with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), classifying it as an AI PC in the process.

The 31.5-inch display has a 4K resolution, and Spear's testing revealed 100% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 color with more than 600 nits of brightness. You shouldn't have any issues using the PC in bright rooms.

👀 Read our full HP OmniStudio X 31.5 AiO review

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Best iMac alternative

The 31.5-inch Yoga 9i is Lenovo's flagship desktop AiO, and it's the right choice if you need strong CPU performance and a high-res display. Lenovo packs in a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H CPU, optional NVIDIA RTX 4050 discrete mobile GPU (integrated Iris Xe comes standard), up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

There's one display option, but it's an impressive setup. The 3840x2160 (UHD) resolution is crisp even at 31.5 inches, and it's able to hit 97% DCI-P3 color with HDR600 support. It's not touch, but it's otherwise a great option for design and editing work.

In Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden's Yoga 9i AiO (Gen 8) review, he remarks:

"It has a gorgeous design, one of the best displays on a Windows AIO, and is also powerful enough to crunch through most tasks someone looking at a device like this would want to throw at it."

The 5MP camera above the display provides a clear picture, and it includes an IR sensor for facial recognition. Audio is excellent, as the PC has two 5W woofers, two 2W tweeters, and Dolby Atmos support.

Best Buy and Lenovo's official website are the best places to shop, with some crossover as Lenovo lets you pick up models at the third-party retailer. Most prices are similar, with models starting at $1,800.

👀 Read our full Lenovo Yoga AiO 9i (Gen 8) review

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Best value AiO PC

HP's Envy AiO 27 was refreshed to include Intel's Core Ultra Series 1 processors (CPU) with NPU for boosting local AI performance. That technically makes it an AI PC, though it doesn't have enough power to run Copilot+ enhancements.

You can configure it with a Core Ultra 5 125U or a Core Ultra 7 155U chip, as well as up to 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM and a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive (SSD). You don't get a discrete GPU, but the Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics should handle some light gaming.

The 27-inch screen has a 1920x1080 (FHD) resolution, 300 nits of brightness, an anti-glare finish, and optional touch functionality.

Built into the top of the display casing is a pop-up webcam with 1080p resolution and an IR sensor for facial recognition through Windows Hello. You don't get Thunderbolt or USB4, but there is HDMI, USB-C, multiple USB-A, RJ45 Ethernet, and 3.5mm audio.

HP often has this AiO available at a discount. At the time of writing, for example, it's $450 off the regular price, bringing the total down to $599. Not bad at all for a PC with modern performance hardware, and this discount seems to be sticking around.

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Best budget AiO PC

Starting at $600 before any discounts, the Dell Inspiron 24 AiO (5415) is a solid option for value-conscious shoppers. I recommend bumping the CPU up to a Ryzen 5 7530U, which only normally adds $50 to the price.

The Ryzen 5 chip, with up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, has enough power to tackle productivity work, homework, streaming, and other home office tasks.

The 23.8-inch display comes in two flavors. The more affordable option lacks touch functionality, but it has an FHD resolution, IPS panel, 99% sRGB color, and a 60Hz refresh rate. Adding a touch panel will also bump up some other specs, but you can still get it for well less than $1,000.

The PC has a pop-up FHD webcam above the screen, and there are plenty of ports for other great PC accessories. It has USB-C 3.2, multiple USB-A, HDMI in and out, RJ45 Ethernet, 3.5mm audio, and an SD card reader.

Where you're shopping on a tighter budget or want a smaller AiO for a cramped desk, Dell's Inspiron 24 remains an easy recommendation.

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Best designed AiO PC

The IdeaCentre AiO 27 (Gen 9) is a stellar alternative to the flagship Yoga 9i AiO, especially if you don't want to spend as much. Prices start at a more reasonable $860, and Lenovo usually has some sort of discount on the go.

It's designed to look like a modern monitor, yet it packs a sturdy base with a built-in wireless charger for your phone. The base has USB-C, multiple USB-A, HDMI in and out, 3.5mm audio, and RJ45 Ethernet.

The 27-inch display is available with up to a 2560x1440 (QHD) resolution, touch functionality, and 350 nits brightness. All models have a 100Hz refresh rate, 99% sRGB color, and touch blue light. The bezel above the screen has a 5MP webcam with an IR sensor, and below are dual 3W speakers for decent audio.

Performance hardware is enough to crush productivity work and home office tasks, with up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. Even the Core i5-13420H CPU will do a great job for most people, and it doesn't cost nearly as much.

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Honorable mentions

All-in-One PCs are a lot rarer than your standard desktops and laptops, and you might not find exactly what you need in my list above.

As an honorable mention, I'd like to bring attention to the ASUS ZenScreen Smart Monitor reviewed by Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear. It's a 27-inch 4K display with Google TV smarts, excellent speakers, and a sleek design.

It doesn't come with true PC performance hardware inside, which is where my next honorable mention comes in.

Adding a mini PC to any great PC monitor can essentially turn it into a slightly bulkier All-in-One, especially since most mini PCs can be mounted on the back of the screen.

I recommend something like the Geekom A6 we reviewed favorably, mostly thanks to its $449 price tag, reliable performance, and mounting capabilities.

• ASUS ZenScreen Smart Monitor: Save more space by combining a PC monitor and Google smart TV with a mini PC. 👉 Read the full ASUS ZenScreen Smart Monitor review
• Geekom A6: This affordable mini PC can be attached to the back of almost any monitor, turning your regular screen into an AiO. 👉 Read the full Geekom A6 review

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How we test All-in-One PCs at Windows Central

Every All-in-One PC that comes our way at Window Central goes through a similar testing process.

The PC is adopted for regular use before the review is written, which is crucial in our efforts to discover the quirks that you'll only see in real-world situations.

Camera and audio quality, port selection and layout, stand, and ergonomics are all taken into account.

Next, we test the display's color reproduction and brightness with a colorimeter (usually a SpyderX), system noise with a decibel meter, and heat management with a FLIR camera.

The PC's performance hardware is then stressed with an array of synthetic benchmarks, including Geekbench, Cinebench, CrossMark, CrystalDiskMark, PCMark, 3DMark, and more.

In the case of the HP Envy Move, which has a built-in battery, we use battery benchmarks and Windows battery reports to offer a clear idea of how long you can expect the PC to run on a charge.

Choosing the best All-in-One PC for you

The HP Envy Move is our favorite All-in-One PC in 2025 thanks to a sleek and versatile design. Unlike other AiO PCs in this collection, it has a built-in battery that allows it to be used away from an AC outlet.

It's just as good sitting on a desk thanks to the flip-out feet, but the carrying handle allows for easy transportation.

If you're not interested in sometimes taking your PC with you away from a desk, HP's Envy AiO 27 is a great alternative. It's affordable (especially when it's on sale), it has an NPU thanks to the Intel Core Ultra chips, and it comes with some desirable features, including an IR webcam for facial recognition through Windows Hello.

Need lots of power? HP's latest OmniStudio X is an easy recommendation with Intel's Core Ultra CPUs and optional NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU. Lenovo's Yoga 9i AiO (Gen 8) is similar, with strong 13th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs, optional NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU, and a 4K display with HDR support.

If you're looking to spend as little as possible, be sure to check out our list of the best budget desktop computers.

All-in-One PC FAQ

New to the idea of an All-in-One PC? I have some answers to frequently asked questions regarding AiOs.

Are All-in-One PCs good for gaming?

All-in-One PCs aren't made for gaming in the same way as the best pre-built gaming desktops.

Sure, most AiOs have integrated graphics that can run light games — and some, like the Yoga 9i AiO, have an entry-level discrete GPU — but the tight build spacing and unenhanced cooling shouldn't be expected to keep up with modern, demanding titles.

If you want to game on a desktop PC, I recommend buying a PC built specifically for the task. If you want to stay mobile, gaming laptops can often be found for about the same price and will deliver everything you need in one package.

Can I build my own AiO with a mini PC?

An All-in-One PC's greatest strength is its ease of use and compact nature. You can buy an AiO, unbox it, and start computing immediately.

However, those who don't find an AiO that fits perfectly might want to consider cobbling together something that's nearly as compact and efficient.

The rise of mini PCs means you can get a great little system not much larger than a bagel, attach it to the back of any compatible monitor, and have somewhat of an AiO on your desk.

My Honorable Mentions section has some extra advice for mini PCs, and I also urge you to have a look at our picks for the best mini PCs on the market right now.

What you need to know

• The HP ENVY 34 All-in-One is now on sale through HP's website starting at $2,000.
• HP briefly allowed people to preorder the PC in November 2021, but then took down the listing.
• The HP ENVY 34 features a 5K display, user-accessible RAM and storage, and a plethora of ports.

The HP ENVY 34 All-in-One is now available for order. If that sounds familiar, we don't blame you. The HP ENVY 34 was briefly available for preorder in November 2021. Then, the listing mysteriously disappeared, preventing anyone from preording the All-in-One. HP didn't provide a reason for the removal, but at the time, it said that the HP ENVY 34 should be available by January. That is indeed the case, as you can order the impressive All-in-One through HP's website.

The HP ENVY 34 All-in-One has a 5K display, a large collection of ports, and user-accessible RAM and storage. You can set the All-in-One up by plugging in a single cable and then get to work. Based on the PC's specs and our early impressions, it looks like the HP ENVY 34 will compete for a spot as the best All-in-One PC.

While not a full review, our executive editor Daniel Rubino went hands-on with a late-stage prototype of the HP ENVY 34 last year. After his time with the PC, he called the device the "most complete AIO [he has] ever used."

What you need to know

• HP showcased its ENVY 34 All-in-One (AiO) Desktop PC earlier in 2021, wowing interested PC users with an AiO a cut above the competition.
• In our own hands-on experience with the product, we were big fans of HP's new ENVY AiO.
• The highly anticipated machine is available for preorder now for $2,349.99, and is expected to ship November 30, 2021.

Does the name "HP ENVY 34 All-in-One Desktop PC" sound familiar to you? It might, as HP got the media machine rolling for this machine a while back, though it withheld preorder options at the time. Over here at Windows Central, we gave the AiO a hands-on and wound up adoring its 5K display, ample horsepower, and smart design.

It's a powerhouse of a machine. The edition you can preorder right now packs 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, an RTX 3060 GPU (one of the best graphics cards on the market), and a 34" WUHD 5K (5120x2160) display. It'll cost you $2,349.99.

It clocks in at just under 25 pounds all by its lonesome and packs everyone's favorite new operating system, Windows 11. If you're not happy with the specs up above, you can upgrade your ENVY experience to an RTX 3080 as well as a stronger processor and a mammoth cap of 128GB of RAM.

What you need to know

• HP announced two new All-in-One PCs today, the HP Pavilion All-in-One Desktop PC and the HP All-in-One Desktop PC.
• The HP Pavilion All-in-One Desktop PC should ship in October for $799.
• The HP All-in-One Desktop PC has a starting price of $749 and will also be available in October.

HP announced the HP Pavilion All-in-One Desktop PC and HP All-in-One Desktop PC today. Both All-in-One PCs will be available in October 2021. The HP Pavilion All-in-One Desktop PC starts at $799, and the HP All-in-One Desktop PC starts at $749. Those prices are close to our budget pick on our list of the best All-in-One PCs.

The HP Pavilion All-in-One Desktop PC features a 5 MP pop-up privacy webcam. It has options for either FHD or QHD displays. Inside, the All-in-One runs on an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor.

The HP All-in-One Desktop PC runs on either an AMD Ryzen 5000 series or Intel processor.

There are several models of each of the All-in-One PCs, though full details aren't available at this time. Both devices will have 24-inch and 27-inch models. Below are the details that HP shared in its announcement.

HP Pavilion 27 AiO

HP 27 AiO

HP 24 AiO

.

HP also announced the HP ENVY 34 today. The ENVY 34 is a much more powerful All-in-One PC, but that power comes with a higher price tag.

I've been in the market for a new PC these last few months. Up until recently, I was using a mid-tier first-generation Surface Studio from 2016, which I absolutely adored. It's a beautiful all-in-one with a display that's unmatched, but its aging processor and graphics chip were starting to become noticeable in my workflow. Naturally, my first port of call was the Surface Studio 2. I ordered one, but I just couldn't justify the price I was paying for specs that aren't much better than the first Surface Studio (Microsoft continues to sell the Surface Studio 2 for full price, which is $4,250 for the mid-tier option that I was interested in).

So I returned the Studio 2 and begun my hunt for a new PC. I really like the all-in-one form factor, so that's what I was sticking with, but it became apparent rather quickly that the all-in-one market for Windows 10 PCs isn't very… good. There was a brief period of great PC all-in-ones from HP, Dell, and Lenovo in 2017 and 2018, but many of those products haven't been updated and aren't even sold anymore.

Dell latest all-in-ones are kind of ugly and low-powered, and Lenovo's aren't much better, with meddling specs designed for light usage at most. I was looking for a real PC that was designed for video editing, gaming, and everything else. I wanted an iMac that was built for Windows, but that kind of device does not seem to exist.

The closest thing to an iMac of any kind in the PC space that's also recent is the HP Envy 32. This is the PC I ended up going with, and I love it a lot. It's the best all-in-one PC out there right now. It's beautiful, with built-in wireless charging, incredible audio, a 4K display, RTX 2070 GPU, and a full desktop-class 10th-generation processor that I can upgrade to something newer down the line.

It's exactly what I was looking for, but that doesn't mean I wasn't disheartened by the lack of good options from other OEMs. HP shouldn't be the only PC maker shipping a good all-in-one PC in 2021. I wish other OEMs would up their game and ship something more recent that's designed for the power user at heart.

The Surface Studio was built to encourage OEMs to manufacture good all-in-one PCs, and they did for a short time with options like the Dell XPS 27, but that time appears to be over as most OEMs are now shipping cheap, low-powered all-in-ones designed for your grandmother. I think it's a real shame, as the all-in-one has real potential among a mainstream audience.

I can't be the only one out there who wants an iMac but built for Windows, right? The Surface Studio 2 isn't that, because it's absurdly expensive and also outdated, and the latest options from Dell and Lenovo don't come close in quality or performance. HP's the only one with something even remotely close to the iMac, and I'm grateful at least one OEM is still trying.

Perhaps the all-in-one is a dying breed? I hope not, but that might be the reality of the situation. The mainstream PC market continues to shift more and more towards mobile computing, with most innovations taking place in the laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1 space. All the OEMs are shipping amazing laptops in 2021, but most of them are not shipping amazing all-in-ones.

Touch or non-touch display?

Adding a touch display to your work-from-home setup will give you and your workforce an extra way to interact with Windows 10. Touch displays are ideal for design and artwork, and there are plenty of productivity apps designed for touch or input from an active pen.

Many of the best Windows laptop options include at least an upgrade option for a touch display, and convertible or 2-in-1 laptops include a touchscreen due to their ability to change into a tablet. Many AiO PCs also include a touch display as a standard option. Something like the HP Spectre x360 14 offers a beautiful touch display in a slim and lightweight convertible build.

If you're leaning toward a standard desktop tower but want a touch display, you'll have to invest in an external touch monitor. Our collection of the best external touchscreen monitors has a bunch of excellent hardware. You'll pay more for the added feature, but it's certainly an option that you can investigate and can be useful for certain types of users. In most cases, though, look for a laptop or AiO if you're interested in a touch display.

Mobility and size

If you'd like to remain unchained from your home office chair, a laptop easily beats out a desktop or AiO. You can take one of the best Ultrabooks with you wherever you go, and it should be powerful enough to handle daily productivity work. Even larger, more powerful laptops with dedicated graphics cards (GPUs) — like the best 15-inch laptops — are going to be much easier to transport than a desktop or AiO.

Add in the fact that some Ultrabooks include 4G LTE connectivity, and you can take your work with you to the park or just about anywhere else where there's cell service—no need for a Wi-Fi connection. Have a look at our roundup of the best Windows LTE laptops to see what's hot.

The ability to move around your home or office, working from different rooms (or even the backyard, balcony, or parking lot), can do a lot to keep your mind fresh. But if you're more on the side of sitting down in one spot and grinding out your work until it's done, a desktop or AiO shouldn't be an issue.

If you're pressed for space, an AiO is likely going to make more sense (at least once you've decided against a laptop). The PC hardware and monitor are, in most cases, built into one piece. There's no desktop tower or separate monitor to find room for in a small office or workspace.

Performance and upgrades

For most people dealing with standard, everyday office work — word processing, web browsing, video streaming, and email — any form of PC will get the job done. If you'd like to branch out and have your PC handle other tasks like design, photo editing, or gaming, things get a bit more complicated.

Sure, laptops can handle pretty much anything these days, but you're going to pay more for the premium. Want to invest in something you can use to unwind with games when the workday is done? In most cases, a gaming laptop with the same level of performance as a desktop is going to cost more. The same applies to AiO PCs.

If you're looking to maximize the performance-to-price ratio for whatever reason, a standard desktop should be your first choice. Check out our collection of the best gaming desktop PCs for a bunch of top options. Laptops and AiO PCs are undoubtedly available with impressive specs, but you will end up paying more for the premium.

There's also the issue of future upgrades. While many laptops have a removable bottom panel that lets you reach the RAM and hard drive, upgrading beyond that is pretty much a non-starter. If you'd like to buy a PC that you can keep running well into the future with occasional upgrades (including processor (CPU) or GPU), a desktop PC should be your first choice.

Bottom line on laptops, desktops, and AiOs

If you'd like to remain as mobile as possible while you or your workforce is working from home — think of working from the park or your backyard — a laptop makes the most sense. Check out our collection of the best Windows 10 LTE laptops for plenty of options. Likewise, if you're interested in a touch display and active pen support, we've put together a collection of the best 2-in-1 laptops that will generally be more affordable compared to an AiO.

If you're instead searching out the best price-to-performance ratio or more room for upgrades and hardware replacements down the line, something from our best desktop PC roundup should be at the top of your list. There are plenty of affordable desktops available with rather impressive specs. In most cases, all you need to do is add one of the best computer monitors out there. Desktop PCs are also generally easier to upgrade, making them a better choice for anyone who wants their device to last well into the future.

Finally, even the best All-in-One PC choices are a bit of a mixed bag. In many cases, they provide the option for a touch display, they take up less space than a standard desktop PC, and they're available with some pretty powerful hardware. You don't have to worry about picking out a separate monitor, though you are stuck with the same display. And in most cases, you can't upgrade hardware.

What you need to know

• ASUS announced a refresh for the company's Zen 24 all-in-one PC.
• AMD's latest Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 mobile processors will be included in configurations.
• The new all-in-one PC will be available in the U.S. sometime during Q1 2021.

ASUS made quite the stunning all-in-one PC called the Zen AiO 24. It's a 24-inch PC with everything contained within that frees up the rest of your desk space for a keyboard, mouse, and more. For CES 2021, ASUS has refreshed the Zen AiO 24 with the latest AMD Ryzen mobile processors.

As well as including up to an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U mobile processor, which will provide a welcome boost to both performance and efficiency, ASUS also did a run over the design of the all-in-one PC. The elegant look is accentuated by an off-center metal stand, alongside fabric-covered speakers from Harman Kardon.

Other notable features of the new all-in-one include a built-in HD webcam with privacy shutter and microphone array for enhanced video calls, LCD NanoEdge display with a screen-to-body ratio of 93%, and capable internals that make this an excellent choice for a home office setup.

We don't know the price just yet, but ASUS expects the refreshed Zen AiO 24 to hit the U.S. sometime during Q1 2021.

Every once a while, a computer comes across your desk that changes everything. The new HP ENVY 32 All-in-One (AIO) is such a machine, due to the sheer number of features, quality, and "world's first" achievements. It also goes up against Apple's popular 27‑inch iMac and comes away as a clear better value.

How and why would I say such things? I've been using the ENVY 32 AIO for the last month, and with its RTX graphics, dazzling 32-inch 4K anti-reflective HDR display, super-powerful audio, it's hard not to be impressed. Read on for why the HP ENVY 32 is the best AIO PC, hands-down.

Nothing looks this good

HP ENVY 32 All-in-One design, specs, and features

AIO PCs are a unique breed of computers that usually trade convenience for processing ability. That is, while you get a svelte machine with a single AC plug for power that looks great, most companies use 45-watt mobile processors with weak graphics. For most homebodies, these are usually acceptable, but for anyone who wants both a sleek AIO design and power, well, your options are nonexistent.

The ENVY 32 throws all of this away. HP uses a full 65-watt Intel Core i7-9700 S-series processor (there is also a more affordable Core i5 variant). That's a real desktop-class CPU. But you can also configure the ENVY 32 with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Max-Q design) graphics card. That's never been done before in this class of PC. For our review, we used a GeForce RTX 2060 (Max-Q) with 6GB of GDDR6 memory. To save some money, users can opt for a still powerful NVIDIA GTX 1650.

Not forgetting the essentials, users can configure the ENVY 32 with up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and 1GB of PCIe NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) storage with 32GB of Intel Optane. Companies usually cut on storage performance with AIO designs, including using hard-disk drives (HDD), but the ENVY 32 does not.

All this power is put behind the massive 32-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) HDR600 display. That screen boasts an impressive 92.8 percent screen-to-body ratio, which is higher than some premium laptops.

The 330-watt power brick is quite big, and due to heat, it sits outside of the ENVY 32 (on the floor or behind the computer). It's a clean, elegant design requiring just a single cable to deliver all that power.

Below the display is a bevy of speakers to power the 2.1 audio system, which HP claims results in the world's loudest all-in-one. It's a weird flex, but the Bang & Olufsen sound is outstanding – and yes, quite loud.

For ports, there are plenty of options, including five USB ports. On the right side of the display is a USB Type-A 3.1 Gen 1. On the left side are a full SD card reader and headphone jack. On the rear, there are ports for HDMI-in and HDMI-out for video. On the back are two more Type-A ports (Gen 2) and two Type-C, one full Thunderbolt 3 and the other Gen 2. There is also an Ethernet port for internet with built-in Realtek Wi-Fi 5 (MU-MIMO), but sadly no Wi-Fi 6.

Most AIOs look professional without being flashy or attention-grabbing. HP here used various materials for the chassis, including acoustic fabric (over the speakers), metal for the broad base stand, and covered that metal with a dark-ash, wood-grain layer. With the light grey, wood, and black finish, the ENVY 32 AIO looks classy enough for any room in the house.

The base also sports Qi wireless charging for your phone with a nifty LED, and the ENVY 32 doesn't need to be on to use it.

HP includes a surprisingly dense, premium metal wireless keyboard that supports multiple Bluetooth devices so you can use it to type on your phone. And it comes with a wireless mouse, too.

But the real beauty of the ENVY 32 is in the small details.

A massive, gorgeous screen

HP ENVY 32 All-in-One: A 32-inch HDR display

Display technology has been creeping up in terms of quality. Options for 4K now are quite common. HP, though, didn't just toss in a decent 32-inch 4K screen. The company added some unique flourishes that I appreciate, including:

• 92.8% screen-to-body ratio
• 6000:1 contrast ratio
• TÜV Rheinland-certified
• VESA-certified HDR600 display
• Edge-to-edge glass
• Anti-reflection screen

HRD600 (high-dynamic range) means that peak brightness can approach near 600 nits. When set to Windows HDR, or for when watching HDR-enabled movies, the display shows very dark blacks and near blinding whites to give exceptional levels of contrast. While HDR600 (or higher) is common in TVs, there has not been any AIO PC with such a feature. This feature is rare even in standalone monitors.

TÜV Rheinland-certified is a standard set forth as a measurement of eye-comfort. For HP to achieve certification, its display must have low blue light output, be flicker-free, and have reduced reflection. In reality, it means you should be able to stare at this 32-inch 4K behemoth without damaging your eyes or experience significant eye fatigue.

Anti-reflective technology is also unique. The XPS 27 famously had a very glossy screen that was much too reflective. HP does it differently. Behind the glass is a special layer of material that diffracts light. That lets the display maintain vibrancy and accuracy while effectively cutting out any reflection from lights. It's outstanding, and I wish all computers had this feature.

HP has an app assistant dubbed "Display Control" that lets you quickly access presets for various scenarios, including gaming, standard, vivid, movie, and HP Enhance+ (sharpens). That app has a custom scheduler for auto-switching modes depending on your routine. There are also three "low blue light modes" containing low blue light, reading, and nighttime.

While it is fair to point out this is a non-touch screen – which would have added around $200 to the price and weight – HP noted that according to its own research, most people don't use touch on such a large screen. Although inking is out, I think the trade off is worth it.

So, how is it to work behind a 32-inch 4K display that can do HDR? It's overwhelming. The first two days I thought it was too big. But after some adjustment, I'm used to it and likely can't go back to anything else. It is simply glorious. This is especially true when watching TV or movies. The screen is so large that anyone living in a small city apartment can easily have the ENVY 32 do double duty as a PC and a TV.

Another nice touch is that HP lets the ENVY 32 act as a dummy display. There's an HDMI input on the back that enables you to add a laptop or even a more powerful computer.

Your neighbors will hate you

HP ENVY 32 All-in-One speakers and audio

The ENVY 32 just doesn't have powerful sound, HP claims it is the loudest AIO PC on the planet.

In testing, when the volume is set to 50 percent and at two feet from the computer, the audio peaked at a jaw-dropping 87 decibels. That's the equivalent of a medium-sized truck or a kicking bass drum (a real one). Go to 75 percent system volume, and you'll blast your room with 95 decibels. That sits in-between a large truck and a jackhammer. There is no distortion either – just clear, nicely separated audio.

Powering the ENVY 32 are two tweeters, two passive radiators, one subwoofer, and two medium drivers all hidden behind an angled mount covered in acoustic fabric. Bang & Olufsen tuned the speakers, and there is the software to help customize the experience, including a graphic equalizer.

Expanding usage, even more, the ENVY 32 can just act as a dummy speaker for your smartphone or tablet. By connecting to Bluetooth, you can play music from your phone to those speakers. And the ENVY 32 doesn't even need to be on for it to work. Instead, the PC can be in its standby state, and the speakers are still active. It's these little things that make the ENVY 32 so fascinating.

Because of these features, the HP ENVY 32 can now be a PC, TV, and a stereo for your apartment or living room.

Little bonus features

HP ENVY 32 All-in-One Windows Hello, Qi wireless

HP ships the ENVY 32 with a 5MP front-facing web camera for video calls. It's a push-up type that disappears in the chassis when not used, serving as a built-in privacy shade for those concerned with security. The camera has an infrared (IR) emitter that enables Windows Hello facial recognition for instant logging into Windows 10.

The camera is OK, with lots of noise in low light. It pales compared to a 4K Logitech BRIO, which is the most expensive web camera you can buy. HP did angle the camera downward, which is smart, so even though you have to look up at it, it is looking down at you. The downside to that is you are likely to capture your floor in the background, so make sure you clean up before you teleconference.

The base of the ENVY 32 is metal, making it very sturdy. HP added dark ash wood for a cozier feel, and it works. But the base also hides a 15-watt Qi wireless charger. Just place your phone on the little target area, and now your phone is charging while you work.

You'll keep this keyboard

HP ENVY 32 All-in-One keyboard and a phone station

A proper AIO PC is not complete unless it also has a matching keyboard and mouse. Usually, this is another area where budget cuts are made, but HP created one of the nicest – and most unique – keyboards around.

The ENVY 32 keyboard borrows heavily from the Spectre series of laptops. It's metal, slim, minimalist, and has angled typing. It also weighs a crazy two pounds (0.9kg), which ensures that it never slides when using it. The keyboard is Bluetooth and pre-paired with the ENVY 32, meaning it just works with no fiddling. It's powered by two AAAA batteries (included) but unfortunately is not backlit due to it being wireless.

The key travel is on the shallow side (feels around 1.2 or 1.3mm) like a laptop. There is also a fully integrated number pad and full directional key arrows. Overall typing is quite good on this keyboard – it's reliable, consistent, and is the best in-the-box keyboards I have ever used with an all-in-one PC.

But HP didn't stop there. The keyboard has a trough that lets you mount your smartphone vertically – or even a full iPad tablet. The idea here is you can see messages and your phone's display without moving.

You can pair this keyboard to your phone or tablet too. There are two more Bluetooth channels just for this task. When you want to switch to your phone or tablet, just hit one of the two Bluetooth buttons to make it happen. This ability then lets you type on your phone using the ENVY 32's keyboard. When you are done just one-button-touch, and you're back on the ENVY 32.

The included Bluetooth mouse (also pre-paired) is high-quality, too. It's ergonomic, has a nice weight to it and works quite well.

Yeah, you can 4K game

HP ENVY 32 All-in-One power and performance

Our ENVY 32 review unit runs a 65-watt Intel Core "Coffee Lake" i7-9700 (eight cores) processor with a peak performance of 4.69GHz. It's a "serious" CPU that can certainly hold its own.

Using Geekbench 4.0 and Geekbench 5.0, the ENVY 32 performs just a smidgen below a Dell XPS 15 (7590) configured with the insane Core i9-9980HK 45-watt chip.

CPU

Geekbench 5.0 Benchmarks (Higher is better)

The i7-9700 is neck and neck with the 45-watt, but very hot, Core i9-9980HK.

PCMark

PCMark 10 Express

Again, the HP ENVY 32 AIO is almost tied with the suped-up XPS 15 with a Core i9 processor. With better thermals than a laptop the ENVY 32 should have no issue with 4K video editing.

3DMark

Time Spy

The ENVY 32's RTX 2060 (Max-Q) falls right behind the more powerful RTX 2070 (Max-Q) but well ahead of the the GTX 1650.

3DMark

Fire Strike

Cinebench

Cinebench (R20) (Higher is better)

Running Cinebench four times in a row, the scores show the following ranges. Typically, the results drop on successive runs due to thermal constraints on the processor.

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)

Intel Optane may help with caching apps, but the raw SSD speed for writing is a bit underwhelming. Luckily, the read speed is quite good.

For productivity testing using PCMark 10, which balances graphics with CPU usage around Office, web browsing, video, and more, the ENVY 32 shines with an impressive 5,292 score. That result makes it better than 67-percent of all PCs available, including beating a 4K gaming PC. The ENVY 32 score nearly matches the Dell XPS 15 (7590) with a Core i9 and GTX 1650 graphics card (5,521) for further context.

3DMark Fire Strike and Time Spy scores are also favorable when accounting for the GeForce RTX 2060 (Max-Q) graphics card. The ENVY 32 sits between a high-end gaming laptop and a decked out 4K gaming desktop PC.

Speaking of gaming, yes, the ENVY 32 can hustle when it comes to playtime. In Destiny 2, I was able to play at 4K resolution with a mix of medium to high settings for graphics. At this custom NVIDIA-recommended configuration, I have no issue averaging 40 frames per second (FPS). Since the 4K display is 60Hz, gaming over 60 FPS is not possible, but obviously, users can downgrade to "2K" graphics to hit a higher FPS score if desired. Considering the Xbox One X plays Destiny 2 at 4K but locked to just 30 FPS, the ENVY 32 AIO is quite impressive.

Fan noise is nonexistent for normal computer usage like browsing the web, Slack, Skype, watching a video, or using Office. If you start to use the CPU or GPU, though, for anything more intensive, the dual fans will kick in producing 41 decibels of volume (at two feet from the display). It's a noticeable whooshing noise but not terrible. Of course, thanks to the super loud audio, you could drown that out just by turning up gaming volume or use gaming headphones.

Finally, storage performance is favorable for read speeds where 2,000 MB/s was achieved for the 1TB Intel SSD and Intel Optane (32GB). Sequential write speeds were lower at just 500 MB/s. Still, it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of the 32GB of Optane memory (which caches data from your most-used applications to accelerate their launching and usage).

Truly impressive

HP ENVY 32 All-in-One conclusion: Power, beauty, and value

The ENVY 32 checks all the right boxes. If it were to serve as the main PC for a household, everyone could benefit from it, whether it is for TV, a stereo, productivity, video editing, or even serious gaming, For the first time, you can buy an AIO with no compromises (save for the inability to upgrade the hardware).

The ENVY 32's display is easily one of the best in this class of computer. It also does a few "firsts," including anti-glare, HDR600, TÜV Rheinland-certified, and being 4K at 32-inches. HP also added some extreme value and versatility with the built-in Qi wireless charging, streaming to the powerful speakers when the PC is "off," and letting you use the excellent keyboard with your phone and tablet at the flick of a button.

When it comes to audio performance, there is no AIO that sounds this good and goes this loud.

Regarding value, pricing starts at $1,600 for a Core i5, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, GTX 1650 (4GB), and 256GB SSD/1TB HDD. The unit we tested with a Core i7, RTX 2060, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD (+ Optane) storage costs $2,499.

HP wasn't shy about comparing the ENVY 32 to the similarly spec'd Apple iMac 27 with a 5K display ($2,529 with mouse and full keyboard). The iMac 27 ships with a 4.1GHz Core i5 processor, Radeon Pro 570X (4GB), 1TB SSD, 16GB of RAM, and a significantly smaller 27-inch display. The ENVY 32, meanwhile, has a Core i7 (4.7GHz), GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB), 32GB of RAM, and a 32-inch HDR600 display. Bump the iMac 27 to 32GB of RAM, and you're at $3,000 with a smaller screen and still slower CPU and GPU. None of that even accounts for the much more powerful speaker system, Qi charging, audio streaming, and Windows Hello pop-up camera that comes with the ENVY 32.

During my month of usage, I had no issues or bugs to report.

If I had to nitpick some issues about the ENVY 32, I'd like to see a higher-quality web camera, a mouse with a higher DPI, and the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 (AX) for future-proofing. There is also no way to raise the display from the base as it is fixed for height (though you can control the tilt). Storage performance is also OK, but I'm not convinced Intel Optane does much. I'd rather see just a high-quality SSD with 3,000 MB/s read and 2,000MB/s write speeds at the top tier.

The HP ENVY 32 AIO is well thought out, and it is not a copycat device; it clearly has its own identity. HP didn't just stick some parts together but thought about how a computer should work in a modern household, and it created unique solutions that solve problems. The fact that you can do high-end gaming or video editing on it is just a bonus. I've never seen an AIO this powerful, and this feature-complete, which is why it's easy to name the ENVY 32 as the best all-in-one on the planet right now.

Lenovo's answer to Microsoft's Surface Studio 2 is here in the form of the Yoga A940. It's an all-in-one desktop PC that fulfills the same role for creators and designers at a significantly lower price. Although I'm not much of an artist, I've had great fun checking out its wide range of features and basking in its 27-inch 4K touch display. Is it right for you? Does it effectively do enough to replace the Surface Studio 2? Let's find out.

Lenovo Yoga A940 at a glance

Lenovo supplied Windows Central with a review unit of the Yoga A940, complete with 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700 hexa-core processor (CPU), 16GB of DDR4-2666MHz RAM, 256GB Samsung PM981 PCIe M.2 solid-state drive (SSD), 1TB Seagate SATA hard-disk drive (HDD), and dedicated AMD Radeon RX 560 graphics card (GPU) with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM.

Models with 27-inch QHD touch display (2560x1440) are available and will save you some money, though this review model has the high-end 4K (3840x2160) touch display with IPS panel and about 350 nits brightness. Expect to pay about $2,300 for this review model, which includes a comfortable wireless keyboard and rather basic wireless mouse.

A Surface Studio 2 with 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7820HQ CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1070 GPU with 8GB of VRAM, 1TB Toshiba SSD, and 16GB of DDR4-2666MHz RAM, for example, costs about $3,499. The 28-inch touch display does have a higher 4500x3000 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio, but for the most part, you'll end up paying a lot more for a device that's going to fill the same role.

There are quite a few Yoga A940 models out there, and if you need maximum power you can outfit up to 32GB of RAM and 4TB SSD alongside the Core i7 CPU. Expect to pay about $3,899 for the maxed-out specs, which is still nearly $1,000 cheaper than the high-end Surface Studio 2 with 2TB SSD and 32GB RAM.

Here's a breakdown of the exact specs as found in the Yoga A940 review unit.

Lenovo Yoga A940 design and features

Instead of a more classic all-in-one design where all performance hardware is contained within the display portion, Lenovo has built the 27-inch touch display onto a rather large base. As a unit, it's incredibly sturdy, and it allows for more powerful hardware to effectively run without risk of thermal throttling. You can pull the display down on its dual-hinge setup with no feeling of unbalance, and in drafting mode, it's as sturdy as can be.

Along the front of the base are four front-facing speakers that pump out impressive sound thanks to Dolby Atmos, allowing you to easily listen to music while you create or watch videos while hanging out. There's plenty of volume, bass is clearly evident, and there's no hollow or tinny sound when you crank it up. Above the speakers is a platform designed to hold the included wireless keyboard when you have the display folded down, and next to it is a large Qi charging pad that easily has enough space for a Note 9 and wireless mouse. A depression on the pad also keeps the included active pen nearby.

The mostly plastic body doesn't match up to the build quality or overall sleek design of the Surface Studio 2, but considering the enormous price difference, that's not going to be a big deal for a lot of people. And while it might live in the shadow of the Studio 2, the Yoga A940 is a looker in its own right, clearly taking design cues from the revamped Yoga laptop lineup, including the Yoga C930 we love.

Along the back of the base, next to a wide exhaust, are four USB-A 3.1 ports, RJ45 Ethernet, and HDMI, as well as Lenovo's proprietary charging port that hooks up to the beefy 230W adapter. Just around the corner, along the side, there's another USB-A 3.1 port, Thunderbolt 3, an SD card reader, and 3.5mm audio. Lenovo chose wisely placing these ports along the side, as they're the ones that should be most used by the average person. The monitor portion has a USB-A port hidden on either side as well for use with the Lenovo Dial.

Like a lot of Lenovo laptops, the Yoga A940 includes a privacy shutter for its front-facing 1080p webcam located above the display, effectively cutting off the view from anyone attempting to look in. The camera itself is clear and gets the job done, and it's backed up by an IR camera for quick logins through Windows Hello. It's snappy, and it worked without flaw each time I signed in. As an added feature, there's a row of LEDs along the bottom of the display that are controlled by a button on the side of the monitor. You get three levels of brightness that can help with working in the dark, especially since the included wireless keyboard doesn't have a backlight.

Lenovo Yoga A940 27-inch display and inking

The reclining display is ultimately the selling point of this PC focused on creativity and design, and the 4K option I tested is gorgeous. It's seated in a body about an inch thick along the top (there's a bit more bulk along the bottom due to an extra portion tacked on), all held together with sturdy metal arms with hinges at the PC base and at the monitor. When you pull forward on the display, it smoothly extends itself towards you, ultimately arriving at a drafting position that has about a 25-degree angle. A rubber strip runs along the bottom edge of the display, and while it will rub your desk when you're moving to drafting mode, it provides a good base for working. You're not going to hear or feel the display rubbing against the desk while using an active pen.

The display hits about 350 nits brightness when cranked up, which is enough to combat average lighting in a room. However, because of the glossy finish, glare can be an issue when dealing with direct light. This is especially apparent in drafting mode if you're in a space with aggressive overhead lighting. It's certainly not a deal-breaker, but it's something to keep in mind. As for color reproduction, I measured 100 percent AdobeRGB, 100 percent sRGB, and 95 percent NTSC, all stellar results for anyone interested in photography and creative work.

Combined with the Lenovo Dial — which has a button on the end and two rotating dials that work with specific software like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Autodesk Sketchbook, Office apps, and general Windows controls for things like volume and brightness — working in drafting mode is a comfortable experience. The 25-degree angle feels natural, the Dial isn't out of reach (though something like the Surface Dial that sits directly on the screen is optimal), and the included active pen does a serviceable job, providing 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and standard palm rejection. It's based on Wacom AES tech so you can use other compatible pens with the display if Lenovo's offering doesn't cut it, which I can foresee being the case for the professionals out there.

Lenovo Yoga A940 performance

The Yoga A940 might not be as sleek or have a display quite as impressive as the Studio 2, but its larger base has room for a desktop-class 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700 hexa-core CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 4TB of solid-state storage. A high-end model does cost a pretty penny, though thanks to the design, you can get inside the base and upgrade RAM and 2.5-inch and M.2 storage after purchase, allowing you to save money at checkout and upgrade as budget allows.

The AMD Radeon RX 560 GPU with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM isn't going to hold up to the GTX 1070 available in the Studio 2, so if you're planning on gaming or any other task that is heavily reliant on the GPU, you might want to think twice. Still, its an able GPU for artists and photographers, and altogether the A940 is a strong performer; I ran some synthetic benchmarks to see how well it stacks up.

CPU

Geekbench 4.0 Benchmarks (Higher is better)

You can clearly see the performance advantage of the 8th Gen hexa-core CPU here compared to the 7th Gen option in the Studio 2. You're going to get better performance for rendering and other specialized work that the A940 is designed for.

GPU

Geekbench 4.0 OpenCL (higher is better)

You're getting about as much power from the RX 560 as was seen in the first Studio with GTX 965M GPU. It's enough for artists and photographers, but it's not going to match the power seen in the Studio 2.

PCMark

PCMark Home Accelerated 3.0

This test measures how well the hardware in your PC works together, and you can see the A940 does well. There's lots of room to breathe in the sizeable case, and the fan, which does get quite loud at times, keeps things cool.

3DMark

Time Spy (higher is better)

This GPU-intensive test clearly taxes the RX 560, and you're not going to get stellar gaming performance.

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)

The Samsung M.2 SSD is quite fast, and you can upgrade with something even faster after purchase. If you opt for an HDD from the factory, know that it is about as slow as possible, hitting about 131 MB/s read, and 125 MB/s write speeds in my testing.

Should you buy Lenovo's Yoga A940?

A lot of the stuff we criticized the Surface Studio 2 for — old quad-core CPU, no Thunderbolt 3 port, no upgradeable hardware, and elevated price — are essentially fixed by the Yoga A940, though you're not going to get the same GPU horsepower, a display that's as brilliant, or an overall build that's as sleek.

If those tradeoffs sound like things you can live with, you're ultimately going to get an awesome desktop PC that's ideal for creativity and design. The 27-inch display folds down smoothly for a comfortable drafting mode, you get plenty of ports for hooking up accessories, the front-firing speakers offer loud and clear music when you're at work, and it's all available for a price that's far more reasonable and includes active pen, Dial, keyboard, and mouse.

What's new with the second-gen Surface Studio 2?

The Surface Studio 2 now has a 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7820HQ processor (CPU) with no Core i5 options available. This CPU has four cores and a clock speed up to 3.90 GHz, which will outperform the 6th Gen CPUs in the original Studio. There are also better dedicated graphics card (GPU) options with the Studio 2; choose from NVIDIA GTX 1060 or 1070 with 6 GB and 8 GB of VRAM respectively. This is a big step up from the M-class GPUs that offered up to 4 GB of VRAM in the GTX 980M.

Ports also got a bit of an overhaul, and while there's still no Thunderbolt 3, there's a single USB-C port alongside four USB-A 3.0, an SD card reader, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. There are better thermals inside and the fan won't run as loud when under load. Gone are the hybrid drive options from the original Surface Studio; instead, you can choose from 1 TB or 2 TB solid-state drives (SSD).

Finally, the 28-inch touch display has the same 3:2 aspect ratio and the same 4500x3000 resolution, but the new model has about 20 percent more contrast and gets about 33 percent brighter.

What accessories come with the Surface Studio 2?

Included in the price you see at checkout is a Surface Pen, Surface Keyboard, and Surface Mouse. These essentials cost together about $250 altogether when sold separately. They're essential to getting the most use out of your Studio 2 (especially the Pen), but you'll no doubt also want to take advantage of the Surface Dial if you're going to get creative with your PC.

The Surface Studio 2 isn't for everyone

The Surface Studio 2 is a specialized device, designed more to fill the needs of professionals rather than households that need a PC for everyday tasks. This is made evident by the price and design. It's built as an all-in-one (AiO) PC that can fold down on a zero-gravity hinge to become more of a canvas or drafting table for design. Paired with a Surface Pen and Surface Dial, you truly get an impressive toybox to bring your ideas into the physical space.

It has dedicated NVIDIA GTX 10-series GPU options that can be used for design or gaming, there are large, fast storage options, and the enormous touch display has a high resolution and overall brilliant picture. If you need this combination of features that the Studio 2 offers, there's really not much competition.

What about the iMac?

Apple's iMac is often compared to Microsoft's Studio line. They're both AiO devices, they both have large, high-resolution displays, and they both cost a good chunk of money. The iMac has some impressive specs, including up to an Intel Core i7 CPU, Radeon Pro 580 GPU with 8 GB of VRAM, up to 64 GB of RAM, and Thunderbolt 3 ports, which comes with a price of about $2,300.

That's considerably less money than the Surface Studio 2, but with the iMac you're not getting a touch display or active pen support, and the display sits vertically with no option to fold down flat. For creators, these extra Studio 2 perks no doubt make the most difference, so the iMac isn't worth that consideration.

In the world of all-in-one (AIO) PCs, manufacturers need to figure out how to fit a lot of hardware into something that's usually no larger than a standard monitor. Prices can creep up quickly as hardware shrinks, similar to what we see with laptops, and if it's not done properly, you may get a large, heavy device that suffers from performance issues.

Lenovo's IdeaCentre 520, part of its AIO lineup that also includes the 900 series, is positioned as an upper mid-range PC meant for home use. It doesn't have the hardware inside for specialized tasks, but it can easily handle everyday ones, like word processing, video watching, web browsing, and some light to medium gaming.

Do the IdeaCentre 520's performance and design warrant the starting price of about $990? I used this AIO for about a week to come up with an answer.

What you'll love about the IdeaCentre AIO 520

There's no way around it — the IdeaCentre AIO 520 looks like a premium device. The back has a gentle curve, and the sides are thick but have ample venting to keep the touch display and performance hardware cool.

It's sturdy and well put together, with no seams sticking out or unsightly gaps between components. The big display sits at the same depth as the speaker row beneath it, giving it a complete look your eyes kind of glide over. In the top of the PC is a pop-up 1080p webcam that's great for video conferencing, and you also get an IR sensor for logging in through Windows Hello.

The display is brighter than a lot of devices Lenovo puts out, hitting somewhere around 350 nits of brightness when maxed out. If you're planning on using this PC in a room with lots of light, it shouldn't be a problem, even if the glossy finish picks up fingerprints. As for color, testing gave me 100 percent sRGB and 79 percent AdobeRGB, both excellent results that give a deep picture.

I benchmarked the seventh-gen, quad-core processor (CPU), integrated Intel graphics (GPU), and 7,200RPM HDD, and all but the HDD gave satisfactory results. A PCMark Home Conventional test gave a score of 3,180 (right where high-end laptops sit), a Geekbench 4 CPU test gave a single-core score of 4,285 and quad-core score of 12,576 (right where seventh-gen CPUs should be), and the Geekbench 4 GPU test gave a score of 18,982, high enough to be useful for some light to medium gaming.

The ports are all nestled in a group on the back — except one USB-A 3.0 port on the left side — next to the power supply. There's a good selection of old and new ports, but there's no Thunderbolt 3, something that could be used to hook up an external GPU if you want to use the AIO for some heavy gaming. However, there are both HDMI in and out, meaning you can use the display with another PC.

Finally, what looks like a long row of speakers beneath the display actually houses two 3W speakers that get respectably loud. Sound is clear no matter the volume, and since it's directed straight at you, it is quite enjoyable, even while listening in a relatively large open space.

What you'll dislike about the IdeaCentre AIO 520

While the IdeaCentre AIO 520 has a premium look and feels well-built, it is bulky compared to some other AIOs on the market. It also weighs just over 23 pounds, so when it's in place, you'll probably want to leave it there. This isn't meant to be carried around, but you'll nevertheless need a decent amount of space on your desk to fit its 27-inch display comfortably. Complicating things a bit is the display's inability to rotate on its stand. For this much money, a stand that lets you turn the display a few different ways would be appreciated.

Where performance is otherwise quite good, the 7,200RPM HDD hit a read speed of 926 MB/s while only hitting an abysmal 152.1 MB/s write speed. There is 16GB of Intel Optane memory between the CPU and HDD, but you're still going to see some performance issues if you're used to a speedy solid-state drive (SSD).

The keyboard and mouse included with the AIO 520 are alright if you don't have any alternatives, but they're nothing fancy. This isn't really anything that takes marks away from the PC, but you should not expect anything great.

Bottom line on the IdeaCentre AIO 520

Considering you're getting an able PC and 27-inch monitor in the same package, the $990 starting price tag — which includes a Core i5-7400T CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 1TB HDD with 16GB of Optane memory — is a pretty solid deal.

While it is bigger and heavier than some AIOs I've seen, it has a premium look and it delivers the performance needed for most tasks (as long as they aren't something specialized, like video editing). It can even deliver a decent gaming experience with many modern games, and the touch function works without flaw.

If you need a multipurpose PC and would like a high-res touch display with great color to go along with it, the IdeaCentre AIO 520 is a legitimate option. A high-speed SSD and a stand with some extra movement would truly make it a knockout.

See at Lenovo

All-in-one (AiO) PCs are sort of like a laptop for your desk. They are self-contained units; you have a display and all the PC hardware behind it in a sleek, slim package. Many popular manufacturers like ASUS, Dell, Microsoft, and Lenovo make AiO PCs, but you might be wondering exactly why you might want one instead of a standard desktop and separate monitor. Here are four benefits and four downsides to buying an AiO PC to help you decide on a final purchase.

All-in-one PCs are easier to transport

Standard desktop PCs are usually constrained to your office or home just based on the fact that transporting a monitor, tower, cables, and peripherals is a bit of a hassle.

In the event that you have to transport an AiO PC, however, you're usually looking at a single unit with a cable; if you have an AiO with a touchscreen, you can also choose to forego carrying any peripherals, like a keyboard and mouse.

Although AiO PCs are easier to transport than their standard desktop counterparts, you still want to grab a laptop if you're someone who is on the move more than you're stationary.

All-in-one PCs take up less space

AiO PCs are getting slimmer every day, pretty much to the point where you can mistake one for a standard monitor. Not so; inside is all the hardware needed to run. Whether you have a small area in your home, you need a multi-PC setup and don't want two or three towers at your feet, or you have a ton of PCs in an office setting, removing the attached tower that comes with a standard desktop PC can free up a lot of space.

On the office note, not having a bunch of cables attaching monitors to towers makes everything look much more proper to any potential customers coming to visit.

All-in-one PCs can give you a touchscreen experience

Touchscreens have come a long way in the last few years, and many Windows laptops and AiO PCs now feature them. The touch feature is great for artwork and design, especially if you get something with pen support like the Microsoft Surface Studio.

There are also certain apps for Windows 10 that just work better with a touchscreen, and especially a pen. If you've been using a tablet for a long time and now want to upgrade to a more robust PC, an AiO with a touchscreen will be immediately familiar and you won't miss the added functionality.

All-in-one PCs are easier to set up

Not everyone is comfortable around a PC. Maybe they've used Apple products until now, or maybe they've just never taken time to get familiar with how a PC works. If you're shopping for your first PC ever, you might be attracted to the simplicity of an AiO.

To set it up, you basically plug it into a power outlet, hit the power button, and watch Windows 10 boot. A pre-built desktop PC isn't that much harder to set up — you have to plug in your monitor, speakers, and any other cables — and is also a decent option for a new user.

A PC that comes in pieces that you have to put together will likely be way over the head of someone who hasn't spent a lot of time around the hardware. Bottom line: if you're new to the PC game, an AiO is about as simple as it gets.

All-in-one PCs are harder to tinker with

AiO PCs are compact and attractive, but they're usually much harder to tinker with if you can get into them at all. A lot of time the hardware inside is soldered down or unreachable. A standard desktop tower, on the other hand, can be opened and there is plenty of space inside. The hardware can usually all be moved around to your heart's content.

Why tinker with your PC? Perhaps a piece of hardware, like a USB port, fails. On a standard desktop PC, you can repair things yourself as long as you have the know-how. On an AiO PC, however, opening it up might go against the warranty or it might actually be impossible to reach the faulty piece. In that case you'll need to send the entire unit away for repair and you'll be down a PC. This is especially frustrating if it's the display that fails, since with a standard desktop PC you'd be able to keep using the PC while the monitor is replaced or repaired.

All-in-one PCs are harder to upgrade

The hardware available for a PC is in a constant state of improvement. Even if you buy a PC with top-of-the-line parts, it will likely become dated within a few months (if not sooner). Because a computer is an investment, it's hard to reconcile with the fact that this thing you spent a load of money on is now no longer the best out there.

To combat the obsolescence of hardware, standard desktop PCs can be upgraded quite easily. You open up the tower, take out the old hardware (say a graphics card) and pop in a new one you just bought.

AiO PCs don't generally work this way. There is not a lot of room to work with, so even if you could get inside, take out the old hardware, are put something new it, it would have to be a special piece that fit exactly. This also restricts the hardware you can put into an AiO.

All-in-one PCs are stuck with one display

Piggybacking on the hardware upgrade restrictions is the fact that you're stuck with one display for the life of the AiO PC, unless you place the AiO at your feet or to the side on your desk and hook it up to an external monitor.

It might seem like the built-in display on your AiO is suitable right now, but what happens when you want to get something larger or with a higher resolution? There's also the complication that surrounds a faulty display. Instead of being able to buy a new monitor, you either have to get the entire thing repaired or purchase an entirely new AiO PC.

All-in-one PCs are more expensive

When it comes to buying an AiO, you're usually buying something that is put together and branded by a specific company. This means it's going to be more expensive right off the bat than if you were to buy separate pieces of hardware and assemble everything yourself.

For example, if you note the hardware in the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y910 AiO and wait for it to go on sale from various retailers, you can expect to put something similar together for a few hundred dollars less (including a standalone monitor). Keep in mind that you also aren't getting the same sleek, futuristic look as you're getting with the IdeaCentre Y910 AiO.

The best All-in-one PCs available now

Think an AiO PC it right for you? Good! To help you decide where to start, check out our choice for the best options available now.

See the Best All-In-One PC

Dell is back with its powerful XPS 27 all-in-one (AIO) for 2017. Originally released in 2012, the XPS 27 has not had a significant refresh in many years. With the recent resurgence of AIOs from Lenovo, HP and even Microsoft, it makes sense for the company to dust off this old PC and give it some polish.

Luckily for consumers, this is no mere refresh but a bottom-up redesign, including a 4K display on the starting model and ten speakers, for what is very likely the best sounding AIO on the market. I spent all of the past week with the XPS 27. Here is what I like — and what I don't.

About this review

Dell supplied the XPS 27 for this review. It features a 4K touch display (3840 × 2160), Core i7-6700, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) and an AMD R9 M470X GPU.

The starting price for the Dell XPS 27 is $1,499. The unit evaluated for this review costs $2,799.

See at Dell

XPS 27 Hardware and specifications

For this AIO, Dell offers quite a few choices for hardware, but the slection isn't overwhelming. The biggest decision comes down to display type — touch or non-touch — and storage.

The bottom rung at $1,499 features a gorgeous 27-inch, non-touch 4K display but uses the slower 5400 rpm SATA hard disk drive (HDD) at 1TB. There is also no discrete GPU, with the unit relying on the Intel HD graphics instead. The unit still has 8GB of RAM and those ten speakers for excellent audio.

To get the Infinity Edge 4K display with touch support, you'll have to jump to the $2,499 price.

Things get a little complicated with the GPUs, neither of which are NVIDIA, but instead come from AMD in the form of the R9 M470X or R9 M485X, both with 4GB of GDDR4 memory. Both are mobile chips released in early 2016 with comparable performance to NVIDIA's 950M and 960M (or GTX 580) processors, respectively.

Dell XPS 27 * tech specs*

For the CPU, the XPS 27 can take an Intel Core i5 or Core i7, both of which are sixth-generation "Skylake." Both are 65W quad-core processors, but they vary on cache and threads, with the Core i5 grabbing 6MB and four threads and the Core i7 with 8MB cache and eight threads.

RAM is also decent, starting at 8GB but jumping to 32GB for the higher SKU with speeds at a respectable 2,133MHz. The motherboard is the H170 and can take up to 64GB of RAM, though it's not clear if it's user upgradable, despite the four DIMM slots.

I'll touch more on the hardware below in the benchmarks section to put into perspective where the XPS 27 fits compared to other AIOs.

Design and bangin' speakers

Dell's design of the XPS 27 has not changed too much. It's still a large, glossy-black device that is nearly all screen. There is an articulating stand with ports directly behind it so cords have one neat entry point.

Materials used include CNC-machined aluminum. With the touch screen, the XPS 27 is a massive beast at nearly 40 lbs (18 kg). The bottom is also slip-resistant rubber, so the XPS 27 won't shift during use. That's good and bad, because moving it may require two people to help support the display and base. However, you shouldn't have to reposition the XPS 27 often once it's all set up.

The biggest change in the 2017 edition is the addition of eight speakers to the bottom section, in addition to the two speakers on the former model for a total of 10 speakers, which is why many people comment on the large bottom bezel. Here is the breakdown of the speaker setup:

• Two tweeters produce clean high notes and crystal clear voices with lively, yet accurate stereo imaging.
• Four full range drivers provide a powerful punch and clear, accurate midrange.
• Two passive radiators reinforce the lows, packing the rich, full sound of a larger speaker into the sleek built-in design and provide deep bass.
• An additional pair of independent, down-firing full range speakers are tuned to work in conjunction with the stereo drivers to fill the room with sound.
• Dynamic amplifiers sense the power used by the driver to adapt known speaker modeling parameters to the content being played and avoid excursions.

Audiophiles may immediately think such a system would pale compared to their custom and expensive home setups. That's not a realistic nor fair comparison, however, and quite frankly it's ridiculous. The question one should ask: Does the XPS 27 sound better than any other AIO PC on the market today? And the answer is resounding yes.

Dell worked "in coordination with multi-Grammy Award winning producer Jack Joseph Puig" to tune the sound on the XPS 27. That partnership is reflected in the MaxxAudio software, which features Puig's branding.

Those 10 speakers can reach over 100 dB, as tested with a digital decibel meter. That reading was with the system volume at 80 percent, and frankly, I could not tolerate it going any louder. Considering each channel has 50W of sound, that result is not too surprising.

The speakers are controlled by the MaxxAudio Software, and users can control the bass, width and details, and access a full equalizer for customizing personalized sound profiles. It's a very impressive array of speakers, and I thoroughly enjoy the audio quality. For an AIO in 2017, Dell certainly set the bar for best-in-class.

Additionally, Dell used far-field speech capabilities (a.k.a. sensitive microphones) from Waves Audio, which let you control Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana from across the room. It worked well enough, and as Microsoft further develops Windows 10 around Home Hub capabilities, the XPS 27 already supports the emerging technology.

Turning to the overall design, the XPS 27 features a USB 3.0 port near the power button on the right for quick access. On the left side are an SD card slot and headphone jack, which are again well placed for easy access.

The back of the PC has four more USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI, a USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort, Kensington lock slot, and an RJ 45 Ethernet port. There is also an audio-out port for more speakers should you desire them.

While those ports are not easy for everyday access due to the stand, the selection is quite admirable. The HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt 3 abilities let users add on more monitors or even use the XPS 27 as a dummy display. That contrasts with the Surface Studio, which only features one DisplayPort and no HDMI or USB Type-C.

The top of the XPS 27 is where the ventilation grill sits for cooling and where fan noise emanates. Under normal operation, the XPS 27 is silent but when gaming or using the AMD GPU you can hear the fans, though they peak at around 60 dB.

Overall, the XPS 27 is a sharp-looking PC. And the audio quality through those 10 speakers will make a great sound system for anyone in a small apartment, home office or college dorm.

XPS 27 4K display

The XPS 27 features an incredible UltraSharp 4K (3840 x 2160) display. The touch version also has the InfinityEdge near-bezel-less design. This is basically the 4K XPS 15 blown up to a 27-inch AIO, and it works quite well. It's also a step up from the previous generation of the XPS 27, which only had a 2560 x 1440 display.

The UltraSharp screen features 100-percent Adobe RGB, making it ideal for those who work in photography or video editing. The included Dell Premier Color app allows shifting between different color profiles including Internet (sRGB), Cinema (DCI-P3), Photo (Adobe RGB), HD Video (Rec. 709), and Vibrant (Full), and it's an invaluable tool for graphics pros. There are also custom tuning tools for white balance, contrast and more.

In some ways, it's an odd monitor, too, becasue the IGZO UltraSharp has high contrast and looks different compared to other 4K displays. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Colors are brilliant, and the saturation is excellent. Although I rarely used the touch screen, it is very responsive, and I had no issues.

Webcam oddities and Windows Hello

Dell's XPS 13 and 15 line both feature InfinityEdge displays resulting in the webcam being placed below the screen on the lower bezel. The result is the camera looks up and is not very flattering compared to more traditional layouts. Nonetheless, Dell is going for an aesthetic choice here with the razor-thin bezels, and it is not clear how the company might engineer around it.

Despite the many reviews pointing out the camera weirdness, Dell is doubling down with the XPS 27, which features the webcam below the screen. I won't pull any punches here; I don't like the XPS 27 camera at all. The image quality is sub par, and the viewing angle is just as bad as the XPS 13 and XPS 15.

Whether that bothers you depends on how often you use the webcam for conference calls or even Skype. You could, of course, add a third-party camera to the top of the bezel, but that takes a bit away from the otherwise sleek design of the XPS 27.

The good news is Dell made the webcam infrared (IR)-capable, with dual-firing IR lights flanking the camera. That means the XPS 27 supports Microsoft's Windows Hello authentication feature that lets you log into Windows 10 just by looking at the display. Despite the odd placement, it works well most of the time, but had it been positioned at the top there would be fewer problems with recognition, because you would be right in front of the camera when the computer first wakes.

XPS 27 performance and abilities

Overall, the XPS 27 feels great as an everyday Windows 10 PC. Much of that could have to do with the configuration we tested, which featured a capable Core i7 processor and, just as importantly, a Toshiba 512GB SSD.

Although I recognize that having a HDD saves money and lets Dell hit a respectable $1,499 entry point, the SSD configuration is the one to go for if you can afford it. In my experience, PCs with SSDs are just better at launching apps, installing games, and everyday tasks. Even booting the PC and waking it from sleep sees an improvement in performance.

Dell uses the older, but more typical Toshiba THNSN5512GPUK PCIe NVMe SSD in the XPS 27. While certainly not the fastest on the market, for this type of machine it's a good choice that delivers reliable and significantly-quicker speeds than a traditional HDD.

CrystalDiskMark (higher is better)

Impressively, the XPS 27 ranks at the top for an AIO PC in 2017 for storage drive performance. That only applies, however, if you opt for the more pricey SSD configuration and not a SATA hard drive.

Regarding of the processor, here is how the XPS 27 stacks up against the competition:

Geekbench 4.0 (higher is better)

Compared to the Y710 Cube - a dedicated gaming PC - and the XPS 27 holds its own. Geekbench, however, is mostly a test about the CPU and not so much the graphics. This difference will be more evident below in benchmarks that focus on the GPU.

PCMark 8 Home Conventional (higher is better)

Although not a seventh-generation "Kaby Lake" processor, the "Skylake"-era Core i7-6700 does quite well and is an excellent choice.

Where the XPS 27 begins to get weaker is in the GPU. The unit tested here included the AMD R9 M470X with 4GB GDDR5. There is a more powerful option available with the AMD R9 M485X and 4GB GDDR5.

Neither of these is considered a gaming GPU by any standard, and the R9 M470X is best thought of as a boost for that 4K display and Windows 10.

3DMark - Time Spy (higher is better)

Geekbench 4.0 CUDA (Higher is better)

In comparing the Dell XPS 27 with the Microsoft Surface Studio, it should be evident that the AMD R9 M470X is equivalent to the NVIDIA GTX 965M, with similar scores. Presumably, the AMD R9 M485X would score a bit higher, perhaps nearer to the GTX 980M.

Surface Studio graphics showdown: NVIDIA GTX 980m vs. NVIDIA GTX 965m

For actual gaming, the XPS 27 fairs the same as the Surface Studio with 965M. Here is how Gears of War 4 performs, which is a game that optimizes well for various hardware configurations:

Gears of War 4 (UWP)

Things were worse, however, in Rise of the Tomb Raider:

Rise of the Tomb Raider (UWP)

The bottom line on performance: The XPS 27 with a Core i7 and AMD R9 M470X is a great combo for a standard, high performance PC meant for the home and media usage. I had zero issues loading apps, browsing the web, and even doing light gaming. In fact, the Toshiba SSD made it feel like a high-end laptop, and it was downright enjoyable. However, if you want to use it for even average to high-end games you will likely be disappointed. At the very least, go for the Core i7 and R9 M485X configuration, which should let you squeak by on some first-person shooters.

Conclusion: XPS 27 is a visual and auditory AIO dream

Overall, I enjoyed using the XPS 27. AIOs sound more comprehensive than they are, and make no mistake, you are still making compromises versus a traditional PC tower setup. In this case, it's the GPU. As even the Surface Studio demonstrates, it is tricky to jam a high-end GPU into a small, compact PC. That applies here, as well. It is also hard to please everyone with a design or hardware configuration that cannot be changed.

The benefit of such a setup, however, is an immaculate, compact system that doesn't look out of place in a living room or common area. There's also a lot less to worry about, becasue everything "just works."

The Dell XPS 27 excels in two critical areas: sound and visuals. With its ten speakers, the XPS 27 can easily substitute for a home stereo system. It's loud enough, and the quality is there for your average-to-prosumer level user. Audiophiles may gnash their teeth at some bits, but isn't that always the case? As someone who enjoys music and appreciates quality PC speakers, the XPS 27 is easily the top in its category. While the six visible speakers make the XPS 27 look like a boom box from the 1980s, I'm fine with this design. Your opinion may vary.

The same can be said for the 4K monitor. The XPS 15 (9560) (see my review) already wins accolades for having the best 15-inch display, so bumping it to a 27-inch version is a no-brainer. In fact, a high 4K resolution makes a bit more sense in this size, because it lets you appreciate the visual acuity more. The color is bright, has high contrast and is as vivid, as expected.

The touch screen, while not my cup of tea, is a nice addition especially with the pivoting hinge. That hinge is not nearly as flexible as the Surface Studio, and I do wish there were a bit more movement. But I don't see many people using the XPS 27 for touch very often. (It also does not support any active pen, so artists need not apply).

For performance, I'm quite happy with the Core i7 and SSD choices, and I highly recommend that configuration. If the high-end isn't for you, the Core i5 and HDD will still handle quite well for most users. I do wish the GPU was a bit more than what it is, but as I mentioned earlier, there will be compromises with an AIO. For example, thermals and power draw are still limiting factors for these types of PCs.

An alternative to the XPS 27 would be HP's Envy 27 AIO or the more impressive Envy 34 with a curved display. Again, both devices have their compromises, but the good news here is all three of these are excellent choices, each with strengths and no fatal flaws.

While Microsoft's Surface Studio gets a lot of attention, its price is out of reach for most consumers. Even in our high-end, nearly maxed out XPS 27 ($2,799) you're still below the starting price of the entry level Surface Studio ($2,999). By comparison, you can pick up the XPS 27 starting at $1,499, which still nabs you that 4K display and impressive sound system.

I used the original XPS 27 for many years and always appreciated its design and great display. I'm glad to see Dell give this PC some much-needed attention in 2017. I'm also pleased it decided to at least offer a pure SSD configuration instead of a hard drive or hybrid drive. For people who prioritize sound and visuals over anything else, the XPS 27 (2017) is an excellent choice.

See at Dell

Pros:

• Fantastic 4K UltraSharp display.
• Clean design with plenty of ports.
• Windows Hello-ready.
• Excellent sound system.
• Pure SSD option.

Cons:

• Gets expensive on the high-end.
• AMD GPUs are only OK.
• Odd webcam placement.
• No pen support.

Wallpaper images utilized in this review are under license from Shutterstock and agsandrew. You can purchase images from that collection here.

Microsoft’s latest video in their ‘Honestly’ campaign features Windows all-in-one devices like the HP Envy Rove 20, Dell XPS 18, and the Sony VAIO Tap 21. The actress says she was planning to get a Mac, but “Macs still don’t have touchscreens.” She got a new Windows All-in-One instead. She says it’s perfect for planning her wedding. Watch the video after the break.

Whether it's watching the best wedding band, finding the perfect dress on Pinterest or getting stuff done with Microsoft OneNote and Excel, Microsoft says their Windows all-in-ones give you the best of work and play.

We got to play with one of those all-in-ones featured in the video. At CES, we really liked the Sony VAIO Tap 21. It features a built-in battery so you can move it around the house or office. It can also be adjusted and angled to lay flat on a surface or sit up like a traditional PC. Watch our hands-on video for more details.

So, what do you think of the latest ad by Microsoft? Will Mac users switch to Windows because Macs “still don’t have touchscreens?” 

Thanks for the tip, Himanshu C.!

HP’s Mike Diehl sat down with us at #CESLive to show off the new HP Z1 G2 all-in-one computer.  The second-generation computer has Thunderbolt 2 and a 27” multi-touch screen.

The Z1 earned a Geek Beat Editor’s Choice award and while it may not be very pocketable like our Windows Phone, the Z1 does make a cool first impression.  The design really shines in how easily the Z1 can be serviced with its tool-less design.  Cost for the Z1 G2 is in the neighborhood of $1,999.

 You can find out more on the Z1 G2 here at HP's website and you can catch all our 2014 Consumer Electronics Show coverage here at the #CESLive portal.

All-in-one desktops don’t seem like an area that need much revolutionizing; they are essentially monitors that tilt and feature an integrated PC – features stop at folding the monitor down flat to use as a tabletop PC. HP believes they can take all-in-one desktops PCs a step farther by bringing them off your desk and into your lap.

The new HP Envy 23 and 27 Reclines are beautifully designed PCs from Hewlett Packard that pack up to an NVidia GeForce GT 730A, 16 GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i5 processor at 2.9 GHz under a gorgeous 23 or 27 inch 1080p 10-point capacitive touch display.

The monitor sits on a tilting hinge that can be kept upright as a normal desktop PC, flattened as a table PC, or brought forward and down over the edge of the desk.

The new machines will go on sale September 6th and will start at $1,349 for the 23 inch model and $1,399 for the 27 inch – a cheaper model of the 23 inch is expected to arrive in late September.

The unit comes in standard gray or if you are wishing to show off some Beats Audio pride, you can pick it up in a special red and black variation.

Source: The Verge

It’s not hard to see that Microsoft latest operating system, Windows 8, screams for a computer with a built in touchscreen.

This week we took a look at Lenovo’s latest IdeaCentre all-in-one, the B540, to see what the Chinese multinational technology company had up their sleeves.

Design

Upon pulling the 23 inch multimedia touchscreen PC from its box, you see exactly what you were hoping to find – a sleek and well-designed machine.

The front of the PC is an edge to edge 1080p multi-touch display accompanied by minimal branding; the silver colored Lenovo name sits quietly under the display, while “IdeaCentre” sits off to the side in orange – complementing the black bezel of the unit.

Sitting in the lower left hand corner of the bezel sits four indicator lights – hard drive activity, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and “TV” (did we mention this unit has HDMI pass-through?). I myself did not find a problem with the indicator lights, but a good friend of mine felt they were slightly distracting during use of the PC. It would have been best for Lenovo to place the tiny white LEDs on the side of the machine, but no points are taken off for putting them on the front.

The lower right hand corner of the bezel holds a selection of capacitive touch buttons to control volume, brightness, coloring, input source, and monitor power. We found the monitor power button very unique and helpful at night, we could easily leave the PC on to perform tasks and the monitor off to save energy – smart thinking on Lenovo’s part. The capacitive touch buttons light up white, but are off by default and will come alive with the soft touch of a finger.

The monitor itself does not touch the table, but instead rests on two translucent pieces of plastic. Due to the translucency, the pieces blend in and do not pull your eyes away from the gorgeous 23 inch display. It should be noted that the legs are not removable and if you choose to wall mount the unit, they will remain - an odd design choice for the Lenovo team. As we said previously, at least they are transparent.

The right side of the unit houses a DVD or Blu-Ray drive, depending on which model you select. The drive is tray loading and in this day in age we much rather would have one that was slot loading.

On the left side of the unit sits a collection of ports for easy access including two USB 2.0 ports, a headphone jack, a mic jack, a card reader (MS/MS Pro, MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), and the power button. We are a bit dumbfounded as why Lenovo chose to put USB 2.0 ports on a multimedia machine that sports an Intel core processor. The silver power button that blends in nicely with the units silver strip, lights up white when the unit is on and blinks rapidly when the unit is in standby. The speed at which the light blinks will most likely be a bother if you keep the machine in your bedroom at night, so you will want to shut it down before tucking in for the night.

The back of the unit houses a majority of standard ports including Ethernet, four more USB ports, and an HDMI out Jack. If you chose to purchase the unit with a TV tuner you will also be given an HDMI-in port, TV RF-in, power port, and a selection of composite ports (you know – the red/yellow/white cables). Unfortunately our unit did not come with a built in TV tuner, so we are unable to tell you how well the source switching works.

Remember the four USB ports on the back we just mentioned? On a few models, two of the USB ports are actually USB 3.0. Once again, we are not sure why Lenovo chose to make the USB 3.0 optional and why they choose to stick them in the back of the unit. If I have a USB 3.0 flash drive that I wish to use, I have to break my arm around the back of the machine to plug it in.

Overall, besides the USB 3.0 mess, the IdeaCentre B540 packs a decent port selection and those looking to use their computer as a TV or hook up a video game console will love the optional HDMI-In port.

Lenovo’s website claims that the unit has a “space-saving design” – we have to strongly disagree. The stand on the back of the machine sticks rather far out and takes up a nice amount of desk space compared to other all-in-one units like the IdeaCentre A series or even Apple’s iMac. The stand legitimately scared us when we pulled it out of the box as you had to exert a massive amount of force on it for it to click into place – I was very worried I would break the unit at first.

Under The Hood

One of our favorite aspects of this all-in-one unit is its ease of maintenance ability; the back cover easily slides off to allow access to some of the B540’s internals. Users can easily swap out the DDR3 RAM, SATA hard drive, multimedia drive, and BIOS battery. Did we mention that the entire unit has a screw-less design – those IT professionals in the crowd are cheering right now. Removing the cover also displays the unit’s two downward facing stereo speakers.

The IdeaCentre B540 keeps itself cool with intake and outtake vents on the bottom and top of the unit. During our use, even while playing video games, the unit kept cool and quiet – something that we were very happy about.

Included in the box is a Lenovo branded USB optical wireless mouse and wireless keyboard. The two devices communicate wireless to the PC via a single USB dongle. The average user might find the keyboard and mouse suitable for their day to day activities, but as a heavy ThinkPad user, I found the keyboard extremely mushy and threw it aside right away. Same goes for the cheap plastic mouse. If you are a heavy typist, check out some of the mechanical keyboards we reviewed last week or pick up a higher quality keyboard and mouse set from Lenovo. It was nice of the company to throw the accessories in the box, but we weren’t fans.

Overall from a design standpoint, the B540 is a stunningly beautiful machine. We simply wish Lenovo would have taken a different approach to its rear desk space eating stand.

Performance

The unit we received packed an Intel Core i5 processor running at 2.7 GHz, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, an NVidia GeForce 615 1GB graphics card, and a 2 Terabyte 7,200 rpm drive.

The unit faired very well during performance testing. Day to day tasks, such as editing multiple documents and multi-tab web browsing, flowed seamlessly. Working in Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom 5 were rocket fast thanks to the 8 GB of RAM and fast hard drive.

Gaming was also quite decent on the Lenovo IdeaCentre B540 and I was able to carve out a civilization in Minecraft, go questing for the Horde in World of Warcraft, and shoot down the terrorists in Counter Strike Global Offense, without a hitch. I personally do wish that the unit had a bit more kick to it so I could blast the graphic power all the way up, but for the all-in-one’s price range – the performance felt to land right on the nail.

What’s the most important part of a modern day Windows 8 all-in-one PC? The touchscreen of course! The 1080p full HD screen looked great with vivid colors and nice contrast; watching the latest music videos and movie trailers on YouTube all looked superb.

The touchscreen was very responsive and we never felt the need to tap more than once. Lenovo has used the IdeaCentre B540 to set the standard for touchscreen responsiveness.

We should also mention that due to the units built in NVidia GeForce graphics card, the unit support’s NVidia’s 3D vision technology. You will have to purchase the 3D Vision kit with glasses separately for around $149.99, but if you love your 3D Blu-Ray movies – this is a super plus.

While watching the latest flick on the unit, sound is also important. This all-in-one packs dual Stereo sound speakers that are enhanced by Dolby’s “Advanced Audio” software. I have to personally say that I was quite impressed at how well the unit’s built in speakers actually sounded. Usually I find the noise that comes out of built in speakers unbearable, but somehow Lenovo has gotten these little bad boys to sound good. There is even a decent amount of bass to the audio played (imagine that, built in speakers with decent low frequencies). Now, I’m not saying I would run out and dump my THX certified Logitech speakers in the trash, but for those who want to save some desk space or simply don’t feel they need top of the line sound – these internal speakers will do.

Preloaded Software

Like most OEMs, Lenovo chooses to through some of their own software onto the PC for you to use. Some of their software feels useless like the “Lenovo Companion” Windows 8 app which simply shows you advertisements and a basic getting started guide.

Other applications included like “Lenovo Settings” are a bit more helpful. They provide additional features that go hand in hand with the system’s hardware. Configure your webcam or disable it for privacy, enable or disable ambient lighting, or adjust your microphone settings to achieve the best Skype conferencing with grandma.

Like other Lenovo machines, the IdeaCentre B540 includes the company’s OneKey Rescue System technology to easy back up your system and recover it when needed. While the software other OEMs provide for this same procedure can be a background resource hog or complicated to use, Lenovo’s software only runs when needed and is easy to setup for the average consumer.

Finally Lenovo decided to throw in a new piece of software that I have never heard of before – the Lenovo Eye Distance System; this tool can be enabled in the background and alert you if you are sitting too close to the screen. We feel this is mostly a gimmick, but some parents may find it useful to remind their kids to sit back.

Value

Let’s talk price and availability, currently the machine is only available with the configuration we tested above. We are told by a Lenovo sales rep that the additional models featuring Blu-Ray and a TV Tuner will be out in the coming weeks. The system is listed as starting at $1,199, but Lenovo’s website ALWAYS has a deal going and the unit currently sells for $959. Amazon does show the same unit, but with a Core i3 CPU, 5 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB 7200 rpm Hard Drive for $649.99.

Comparing Lenovo’s IdeaCentre B540 to other all-in-one touch screen desktops with other products from Acer, Dell, and Sony show a great value. You won’t be overspending with this Lenovo unit – you will be receiving performance, design, and support well worth its pricing.

Conclusion

Overall the Lenovo IdeaCentre B540 was a blast to use. The machine truly stands out as one that has been built for Multimedia consumption and I only wish I was able to test the unit with HDMI-In. The excellent build quality, responsive touch screen, fast internals under the hood, and price all make this machine one that you want to have on your desk.

If you aren’t a fan of hard disk drives then you will enjoy the ability to swap out the included 2 terabyte SATA drive with a smaller, yet faster, solid state drive.

If you do end up picking up the unit with a built in TV tuner we suggest adding on Lenovo’s Enhanced Multimedia Remote for an additional $30 or so. It will easily let you control the unit from across the room and is easy to see at night thanks to its backlight palm-sized keyboard.

Want More? Check out my guest post over at Lenovo to see how I used the B540 during my review!