Although laptops are the popular choice among students and bi-city professionals, AIO computers are a solid alternative if you primarily work from home. That said, finding the right one requires careful consideration of various factors, including screen size, internal components, and port selection.
Screen size – A 15-inch laptop screen will feel cramped if you work with a lot of applications, causing you to squint and slouch over your keyboard like a neanderthal. This is where an AIO can come in clutch, offering a large, high-resolution display for enhanced productivity. The best AOIs feature a 24-inch or larger screen, giving you plenty of space to juggle your documents and Chrome tabs.
No matter the display’s size, we recommend a minimum resolution of 1080p. Ideally, the higher the resolution the better—a 1440p display offers a sweet spot between sharpness and affordability. Meanwhile, a 4K display delivers sharper visual clarity, making it an excellent choice for those who edit photos, videos, or graphics.
Processor – The processor serves as the brain of your AIO, orchestrating everything from simple tasks like web browsing to demanding creative work. The latest chip from Apple is the M3—it’s notable for combining the CPU, GPU, security enclave, neural engine, and shared memory into a single unit. For Windows machines, Intel and AMD are the primary CPU makers, with the latest being Intel’s 13th Gen Core and AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors.
To ensure smooth performance, especially for demanding tasks, consider the processor’s clock speed (measured in GHz) and number of cores. The higher the GHz and the more cores generally translates to better performance. If you primarily browse the web and check emails, a processor with a lower GHz and fewer cores will suffice. However, for heavy multitasking, gaming, or creative work, a processor with a higher GHz and more cores is recommended.
RAM – To ensure smooth multitasking and prevent your computer from slowing down or freezing, consider the amount of RAM needed for your typical computer usage. For basic tasks like web browsing and emailing, 8GB of RAM is plenty. If your typical usage includes more demanding tasks like photo/video editing or running multiple applications simultaneously, we recommend 16GB of RAM or higher. The more RAM will provide smoother overall performance even during heavy workloads. While it can be expensive to configure your computer with more RAM, it may be worth it since you generally can’t upgrade after the fact.
Storage – There’s no reason to settle for 128GB of internal storage in 2024. At a bare minimum, the AIO you purchase should have a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD), giving you room for a good number applications, documents, photos, and games. The reason we recommend SSDs over traditional hard drives is because they have no moving parts, translating to faster and more reliable storage. In addition to your computer’s internal storage, a portable SSD or hard drive can offer additional storage for large files and media you only occasionally need, freeing up space on your computer.
Ports – Ports are essential for expanding your computer’s capabilities, allowing you to connect various devices for transferring data, charging, and more. USB-A is the most common type of port, while USB-C is becoming increasingly popular (likely it’ll soon be standard) due to reversible design, faster data transfer speeds, and ability to deliver power. Thunderbolt 4 is the latest and most advanced type of USB port, offering blazing-fast data speeds and video output capabilities.
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