8 Best All-in-One Computer: The Definitive Guide

A wide range of all in one computers is available for users needing a powerful product and choosing the best one for you, from several possibilities, can be overwhelming. However, if you have a budget of $800 upwards, you can select the best all in one computer.

This article reviews the best high specification machines for those requiring efficient running of several power-hungry applications, simultaneously, with a large color screen and fast processor speeds. For example, designers, photographic editors, or video editors normally require higher specifications than Microsoft Office system users.

Once you determine what software you’ll be using and the optimum power requirements to run it (check

Quick Navigation

Product FAQs
How We Reviewed Products in our Search for the Best All In One Computer
Overall Price Range of All In One Computers
What We Reviewed
Comparison Table
Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display
Apple iMac Pro
Asus Zen AIO Pro Z240IE
Dell XPS 27 Touch
Acer Aspire S24
Asus Zen AIO ZN242GD
Apple iMac 21.5-Inch with 4K Retina Display
Microsoft Surface Studio
The Verdict

1. What Is an All In One Computer?

2. What Can You Expect from the Best All In One Computer?

3. Where Can You Purchase an All In One Computer?

4. What are Key Factors to Consider?

How We Reviewed Products in our Search for the Best All In One Computer

In our search for the best all in one computer, we reviewed 8 computers while comparing features, pros and cons, price, where to buy, and warranties.

Overall Price Range of All In One Computers

You can find an all in one computer of reasonable power, size, and good screen quality for as little as $800. However, you can purchase a top-of-the-line refurbished model for around $400. The lower end of the range may suit users who require a computer to run basic office-based applications, and the higher-priced products might suit those needing larger touchscreen models with greater power, storage, speed, and better design features.

See also  Piper Nv Review

What We Reviewed

  • 1

    Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display

  • 2

    Apple iMac Pro

  • 3

    Asus Zen AIO Pro Z240IE

  • 4

    Dell XPS 27 Touch

  • 5

    Acer Aspire S24

  • 6

    Asus Zen AIO ZN242GD

  • 7

    Apple iMac 21.5-Inch with 4K Retina Display

  • 8

    Microsoft Surface Studio

  • Comparison Table

    NAME

    PRODUCT

    RATING

    WHERE TO BUY?

    Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display

    4.3 out of 5 Stars

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    Apple iMac Pro

    3.7 out of 5 Stars

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    Asus Zen AIO Pro Z240IE

    2.8 out of 5 Stars

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    Dell XPS 27 Touch

    3.3 out of 5 Stars

    Check Price

    Acer Aspire S24

    3.3 out of 5 Stars

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    Asus Zen AIO ZN242GD

    4.4 out of 5 Stars

    Check Price

    Apple iMac 21.5-Inch with 4K Retina Display

    4.2 out of 5 Stars

    Check Price

    Microsoft Surface Studio

    3.4 out of 5 Stars

    Check Price


    ​​​​​​​​​Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display

    FEATURES

    Key features of this product include a large 27-inch screen with a Retina display containing 14.7m pixels and a thin, elegant design. This computer has a Mac OX Yosemite operating system and offers excellent value for the money. It has a high-speed processor and 1 TB hard drive, and there is an updated version available with higher specifications.

    PRICE

    Purchase on Amazon for around $3,200. Lower specification models sell for around $2,000. This is a discontinued model.

    WARRANTY

    Apple offers a 1 year warranty and a 15-day full money-back guarantee.

     

    Check Price

    PROS

    • i5  processor

    • 8GB Ram

    • 3.3 GHz speed

    • 1 TB hard drive

    • Stunning anti-reflective display with 14.7m pixels

    • 75% less reflective than HDMT screens

    • Slim, elegant design

    • Free wireless keyboard and mouse

    CONS

    • No DVD drive

    • May need to do an OS recovery and system update via Apple Mac Store before it functions fully


    Apple iMac Pro

    FEATURES

    Key product features include a 27-inch screen with Retina display, with over 1 billion color pixels, and a display 43% brighter than previous models.

    PRICE

    Purchase on Amazon for around $2,900.

    WARRANTY

    Apple provides a 1-year warranty with a 15-day full money-back guarantee. If you purchase it on Amazon, it comes with a 30-day warranty.

     

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    PROS

    • 3.2 GHz speed   

    • 2 TB memory

    • Perfect for photographers and video editors

    • High-quality screen

    CONS

    • Expensive


    ​​​​Asus Zen AIO Pro Z240IE

    FEATURES

    Key features include an up-to-date 2.9 Ghz, i7 processor and an incredible high-resolution touchscreen display. It has multiple ports, including HDMI and HDMI out, a 2-in-1 card reader, and 6 USB ports.

    PRICE

    Purchase on Amazon for around $1,700.

    WARRANTY

    All new Asus computers shipped and sold in the USA come with a 12- to 36-month warranty.

     

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    PROS

    • 23.8-inch high-resolution touch screen

    • 28GB SSD + 1TB (5,400 RPM) hard drive for storage

    • i7 processor​​

    • 802.11ac Wi-Fi

    • 1 LAN port, 2x USB 2.0, 4x USB 3.1

    • Six-piece speaker configuration for great sound

    • Kensington lock for added security  

    CONS

    • Not able to upgrade

    • Heavy​

    • Some reports of motherboard failures after a few months


    ​​​​Dell XPS 27 Touch

    FEATURES

    Key product features include a 21.7-inch touchscreen, plus wireless mouse and keyboard. A powerful machine, it also comes with an i7 quad-core processor, and is especially useful for photographers, video makers, designers and artists.

    PRICE

    Purchase online or through computer resellers. The 23.8-inch i7 version is available on Amazon for around $1,000.

    WARRANTY

    Thirty-day limited warranty if purchased online, on Amazon.

     

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    PROS

    • Touchscreen

    • Sturdy design

    • i7 3.1 GHz processor

    • Quad-core

    • 32 GB solid state drive (SSD), 1 TB hard drive

    • Windows 8 installed

    CONS

    • Heavy

    • Unreliable Dell phone support

    • Touchscreen may not be long-lasting (problems after 18 months)


    ​​​​​Acer Aspire S24

    FEATURES

    Key product features include a thin 0.24-inch screen with Acer Vision Care, to reduce eye strain, an Acer Bluelight Shield, flicker-free technology, and a screen that can tilt from -5 degrees to 25 degrees. These factors alone could make it the best all in one computer for your needs.

    A significant bonus is a Qi-enabled mobile device for charging, which allows you to stop fretting about loads of cables littering your work area. This product also comes with a wireless mouse and keyboard. It offers great value for your money and is the best all in one computer for those with a budget of up to $1,000.

    PRICE

    Purchase on Amazon for around $800 with free shipping.

    WARRANTY

    One-year parts and labor limited warranty and free technical support.

     

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    PROS

    • i5 1.6-3.4 GHz processor

    • 23.8 inch full HD wide screen, with LED back-lit IPS display

    • 12 GB DDR4 2,400 MHz SATA hard drive

    • Intel Graphics 620

    • 2 USB 2 ports and 4 USB 3.0 ports

    • Windows 10 Home

    • Very thin

    • Economical

    • Weighs only 8 pounds

    CONS

    • Cannot support a second screen

    • Easy to break the tilt feature

    • Need to swap the SATA drive for an SSD drive for a faster start-up


    ​​​​Asus Zen AIO ZN242GD

    FEATURES

    Key product features include a 23.8-inch touchscreen with HD display and a silver-colored mouse. It has an i7 processor at an amazing 4.1 Ghz speed, with 6 processor cores that allow effortless video streaming and visual editing applications. The power and speed of this model could make it the best all in one computer for graphic designers, and others who want to edit photographs or stream live video, but don’t want to break the bank.

    PRICE

    Purchase on Amazon for around $1,900.

    WARRANTY

    Comes with a warranty card providing a 1-year guarantee with a free one-way shipping.

     

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    PROS

    • Touchscreen

    • 2 TB HD

    • i7 with 6 processors

    • 128GB SSD

    • Ethernet port, USB2, USB 3.1, 2 x USB 3.2, webcam and microphone

    • Wireless keyboard and mouse included​

    CONS

    • 11.2 pounds in weight


    Apple iMac 21.5-Inch with 4K Retina Display

    FEATURES

    Key product features include a thin 5mm thickness retina display that shows 1 billion colors and 500 nits of brightness, 43% brighter than the previous model. You can update the processor to 3.5 GHz, and it includes a 7th generation Kaby Lake model that features 2 Thunderbolt ports for faster file transfers, and a Kensington lock slot, to make it super secure.

    PRICE

    Purchase on Amazon, new, for around $1,300.

    WARRANTY

    One-year warranty with a 15-day full money-back guarantee, if not completely satisfied.

     

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    PROS

    • 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 quad core processor

    • Super bright Retina display

    • 1 TB HDD and SDRAM

    • DDR SDRAM

    • 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, 4 x USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet and FaceTime HD camera

    CONS

    • Bulkier than other models


    Microsoft Surface Studio

    FEATURES

    Key product features include a 28-inch touchscreen with 13.5 million pixels of color, which is adjustable. It comes with a powerful i7 processor and hybrid hard drive, making it the best all in one computer for those who like to draw on their screens, including artists, editors, and attorneys.

    PRICE

    Purchase on Amazon for around $4,000 – $6,000, refurbished.

    WARRANTY

    30-day warranty available on all Amazon online purchases.

    Check Price

    PROS

    • i7 processor

    • 2 TB

    • 32 GB GDDR5 RAM

    • 2,000 GB Hybrid Hard Drive

    • Windows 10 operating system

    • Can use with a pen

    • Great design

    CONS

    • Expensive

    • Heavy (weighs around 21 pounds)

    • Loud fan

    • Hard drive speed disappointing

    The Verdict

    The Acer Aspire S24 is the best all in one computer system for regular users who do not spend a lot of time editing photographs or video, but who require a computer fast enough to run multiple Microsoft Office applications and other programs, comfortably, on a large, slim, well-designed computer. It retails for less than $1000.

    The Apple Mac Retina models and the Microsoft Surface Studio all in one desktop computers came in close to each other in terms of power and storage. Ultimately, design preference and budget will be the deciding factors in your choice between these two models. We recommend the touchscreen of the Microsoft Surface Studio for artists and editors, and the iMac Pro Retina for video editors and architects.