A desktop PC is a great option if you don’t plan on using your computer on the go. But what is the best desktop PC that you can buy in 2023?
Our team of experts are here to help answer that question, as they’ve reviewed a wide range of PCs over the years. Any PC that scores at least a 4-star rating is considered for this list to make it easier for you to find the very best options.
All the machines ranked below have been tested thoroughly by one of our experts. They have used the computer daily over at least a week period and put it through its paces with real-world tests and a set number of benchmarks. We’ve included both PC and Mac options too and included machines at varying prices.
And if you’re open to the idea of purchasing a laptop instead for more portable working, check out our best laptop, best budget laptop, best student laptop and best gaming laptop roundups.
Best Desktop PC at a glance:
- Best all-in-one Mac: Apple iMac 2021 – check price
- Best desktop Mac: Apple Mac Studio M1 Max – check price
- Best value desktop PC: Raspberry Pi 400 – check price
- Best budget Mac: Apple Mac Mini – check price
- Best desktop PC for digital artists: Microsoft Surface Studio 2 – check price
How we test
Every desktop PC we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, performance and screen quality where applicable.
These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how well it runs the most frequently used apps.
We also make sure to use every desktop PC we review as our primary device for at least a week to ensure our review is as accurate as possible.
- Fantastic design
- Excellent webcam, speakers and microphones
- Bright and sharp screen
- No SD card slot
- Can’t adjust the height
- Simple all-in-one computer
- Handles cooling well
- GPIO port
- No camera or display interface
- Easily fits into existing setups
- Powerful, and with plenty of options to make it more powerful
- Very quiet
- No SD card slot
- Higher-end M2 Pro models get close to Mac Studio’s price
- Wide port selection, including easy-to-access ones on the front
- Small and compact design is easy to find a place for
- So quiet
- Plenty of internal options depending on specific needs
- Gets expensive quickly
- Mac Mini M2 version a better choice for those who don’t need quite so much power
iMac (2021, 24-inch)
Best all-in-one PC
Pros
- Fantastic design
- Excellent webcam, speakers and microphones
- Bright and sharp screen
Cons
- No SD card slot
- Can’t adjust the height
Buying the likes of a keyboard and monitor on top of a new computer can be an expensive outlay, which makes the idea of an all-in-one desktop PC significantly more appealing. The Apple iMac 2021 is the best desktop PC you can buy that fits into this category.
The latest iMac is powered by the M1 chip, which our benchmark tests show to offer fantastic speeds for basic productivity workloads, while also being competent enough to handle more complex tasks such as Photoshop work.
Apple has also given it a lovely redesign for the latest iteration, with vibrant colour options and narrower bezels so your eyes are drawn to the screen. This new iMac isn’t just a product to plonk down on a desk and leave there; it’s designed to be the centrepiece of your modern workspace. We think the 24-inch display is gorgeous too, with an ultra-sharp 4480 × 2520 resolution that provides top-notch detail to images and video.
Apple has also given it a lovely redesign for the latest iteration, with vibrant colour options and narrower bezels so your eyes are drawn to the screen. We think the 24-inch display is gorgeous too, with an ultra-sharp 4480 × 2520 resolution that provides top-notch detail to images and video.
You get both a keyboard and mouse bundled with the iMac, as well as an integrated webcam, ensuring you don’t need to buy any more accessories. The iMac 2021 is such a fantastic desktop PC that we’d even recommend it to those who don’t typically buy Apple products. And if you’d prefer a more portable device, then we recommend checking out the MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Pro.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full Review: Apple iMac 2021 Review
Apple Mac Studio M1 Max
Best desktop Mac
Pros
- Wide port selection, including easy-to-access ones on the front
- Small and compact design is easy to find a place for
- So quiet
- Plenty of internal options depending on specific needs
Cons
- Gets expensive quickly
- Mac Mini M2 version a better choice for those who don’t need quite so much power
While the Mac Pro was on hiatus, there was room for a new desktop Mac – enter the Mac Studio. The new product for Apple is a more modest size than a Mac Pro but still offers stunning power.
The small and compact size of the Mac Studio is really something to behold. It’s far smaller than powerful Windows desktop PCs, akin to around three Mac Mini desktops stacked on top of each other.
Despite its unassuming size, the power packed in is remarkable. The M1 Max model we used performed strongly in our testing, keeping pace with the latest Windows laptops, like the Razer Blade 16 which sports a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 chip and RTX 4090. What’s more remarkable is how quiet this machine remains, even when handling strenuous creation workloads. This is a desktop made for serious editors who don’t want their set-up taken over by a large device.
The compact size is deceiving once again when it comes to the ports, with the Mac Studio offering two USB-C ports (upgradeable to Thunderbolt 4 with the M1 Ultra model) and a MicroSD card reader on the front. Round the back, you’ll find four Thunderbolt 4 ports, Ethernet, HDMI, a headphone jack and two USB-A ports.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full Review: Apple Mac Studio Review
Raspberry Pi 400
Best value desktop PC
Pros
- Simple all-in-one computer
- Handles cooling well
- GPIO port
Cons
- No camera or display interface
The Raspberry Pi 400 may look like a keyboard, but remarkably, it actually has a computer built inside its tiny frame. Simply plug it into a power source and monitor, and you’re good to go.
You can pick it up in two configurations; a base model which is £60 and comes with the computer only, or spend an extra £35, and you get a mouse, power supply, HDMI cable, 16GB microSD card preloaded with Raspbian, and a ‘getting started’ book. Whichever way you cut it, the Pi 400 offers some amazing value for money.
This dinky desktop PC runs on Raspberry Pi OS rather than Windows, but lets you do all the basics such as surfing the web and catching up on your emails. Our testing shows that the Pi 400 isn’t particularly powerful, which is no surprise given it uses an Arm chip and 4GB of RAM. But again, you should be fine as long as you stick to simple workloads.
The device features ports for Gigabit Ethernet, USB-A, USB-C, HDMI and a microSD card slot, which offers some great connectivity for casual computing and basic workloads. Even in 2023, gigabit ethernet on more of an affordable machine is a lovely port to have. We also found the keyboard to be pretty good, although arguably doesn’t have good enough feedback for typing out large documents on a daily basis.
The main benefit of the Raspberry Pi 400 is undoubtedly the affordable cost, making it one of the best value all-in-one computers on the market and a great choice for children hoping to learn how to code.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Raspberry Pi 400 Review
Apple Mac Mini (2023)
Best budget desktop Mac
Pros
- Easily fits into existing setups
- Powerful, and with plenty of options to make it more powerful
- Very quiet
Cons
- No SD card slot
- Higher-end M2 Pro models get close to Mac Studio’s price
If you already have a display, mouse and keyboard but want a speedy Mac that’ll offer excellent performance and longevity, the latest iteration of the Mac Mini is our pick. Available in either a wallet-friendly M2 version (the same chip that powers the MacBook Air) or a faster M2 Pro variant, this is a capable machine whichever option you choose.
We reviewed the faster M2 Pro model and it can easily handle 4K video editing along with running intensive apps. If you require even more power, both in the CPU and GPU, the Mac Studio is the one for you.
The Mac Mini is a simple machine visually. It comes in one silver colourway and all the models offer HDMI, at least 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, Ethernet and a couple of older USB-A ports. All you need to do is provide the monitor and you’re ready to go.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full Review: Apple Mac Mini Review
Surface Studio 2
Best desktop PC for digital artists
Pros
- Great display
- Excellent screen
- Great to draw on
Cons
- Uses an old CPU
Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2 is a fairly unique desktop PC, allowing you to tilt the screen back and use it like a giant drawing tablet. This makes it a great option for digital artists that require more screen space and power than what a portable tablet will offer.
We found its hinge to offer smooth operation and the Studio 2 to be generally robust in its construction. There is stylus support too in the form of Microsoft’s Surface Pen, which proved pretty accurate, especially thanks to support for 4096 pressure points and 12-gram actuation force, which is enough for pencil sketching and inking.
The screen itself is great too, with our tests showing it to have a high brightness of 500 nits and great contrast. The 4500 x 3000 pixel resolution also ensures on-screen pictures and videos look incredibly sharp with oodles of detail.
But since this desktop PC launched back in 2018, the specs do look outdated compared to the competition, with a 7th Gen Intel Core chip, and Nvidia’s 10-Series GPU. We reckon they’re still decent enough specs for basic video editing and the like, but our testing does show you can now find more powerful machines by spending less money, be it in the form of other desktops or the many excellent laptops we’ve tested.
The Surface Studio 2 is also difficult to find now, with Microsoft no longer selling it via the official website. You may want to hold off on a purchase anyway, with the Surface Studio 2 Plus model confirmed for release in the near future. The new model will have more up to date specs, increasing the performance to a more competitive pace. Keep an eye on Trusted Reviews, as we’re planning to review it in the coming weeks.
Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full Review: Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Review
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See all reviewsFAQs
It really depends on what kind of workloads you’ll give your PC. 8GB of RAM is speedy enough for a productivity PC, but you may want 16GB or higher for gaming or content creation.
The processor is one of the most important specs for any computer, while you’ll want to make sure your PC has a discrete PC (typically from AMD or Nvidia) if you want to play demanding games or engage with intensive content creation. RAM is also important for performance, while the storage space shouldn’t be ignored if you plan on saving lots of files on your PC.
It’s also worth looking out for all-in-one PCs if you want the entire setup in one package. But just be aware it will be more difficult to upgrade components in an all-in-one PC compared to a more conventional PC.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.