Whether you’re working on a project, editing photos or watching videos, the best computers can help you get your job done. These laptops and desktops are efficient enough to tackle anything you throw at them, while still being lightweight and portable.
Unlike laptops, desktops have more room to add powerful components, so you’ll be able to boost your CPU and graphics speeds. Plus, you can get a bigger display that’s perfect for gaming or creating content.
Dell XPS 13
Dell’s XPS 13 is an ultraportable that’s designed to appeal to a wide variety of users. It’s lightweight, packs a powerful processor, has a gorgeous OLED display, and offers excellent audio. It’s also a bit short on ports, but it comes with some dongles to help you fill those gaps.
The XPS 13 has a brushed aluminum lid, bottom panel and keyboard deck, which are all tinted in a metallic blue color Dell calls “Sky.” It’s an attractive color and looks great in a room filled with silver laptops. It’s also available in a purplish brown, which is a cool option for those who like something more subdued.
It’s not just aesthetics that make the XPS 13 a compelling choice; it’s also comfortable to use. The keys are smooth with a spring-like feel, and the trackpad is glass and responsive. The XPS 13 has excellent audio, too, with a pair of stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support.
For power users, the Dell XPS 13 Plus offers more performance than its predecessor. It sports Intel’s 12th Gen Core i5-1230U processor and 16GB of RAM. This combination should deliver a solid, responsive experience for most Windows applications.
On the downside, though, it doesn’t have a headset jack, which might be an issue for some people. You can use it with a USB-C to headset adapter, but we think most people will want to use wired headphones.
Moreover, the battery life isn’t great. In fact, it’s not much better than what you’ll get from an Apple Mac Mini M1 or HP Envy 34.
The 12th-generation Core i5-1230U is a power-efficient chip that should meet the needs of many Windows users, especially if you’re not a fan of high-end gaming or workstation graphics. It’s clocked at a respectable 3.9GHz, and that helps it achieve some strong benchmark scores, too.
It has Iris Plus graphics, too, which are a step up from the previous-generation integrated HD graphics. That means the XPS 13 should be able to run most games at medium-to-high settings. It also means that it shouldn’t be a bottleneck when you’re trying to watch a full-HD video or stream a YouTube clip, but don’t expect to edit 4K photos on this system.
Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7
If you’re looking for a premium convertible 2-in-1 that’s powerful, versatile and comfortable to use, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 is one of the best choices available. It packs impressive performance, a stunning OLED display, excellent audio and a pleasant keyboard into a small package.
The 14-inch Yoga 9i has a new design that’s more elegant than previous models. It’s also more comfortable to hold and offers a better grip thanks to its curved edges.
It’s a 360-degree convertible, which means that you can open it in clamshell mode to make it look like a laptop, then close it into tent mode for media and tablet modes. Its all-aluminum build quality is top-notch, and the hinges open with one hand.
Inside the Yoga 9i Gen 7, you’ll find a 12th-generation Intel Core i7-1260P processor and 16GB of RAM, backed up by a speedy 1TB SSD. These chips are more than capable of handling standard productivity tasks and should keep the system running smoothly for years to come, even with a heavy dose of multitasking or image editing.
You can choose from three 16:10 touchscreen options, including a full-HD LCD and a 2.8K or 4K OLED with a 100% sRGB and P3 color gamut. These screens are bright enough for most work, and are a great balance between performance and eye candy.
The backlit keyboard is very comfortable and has plenty of travel in each key. The larger, buttonless touchpad with haptic feedback works well with Precision TouchPad, a feature of Windows 10 and Windows 11 that allows for more natural input.
With its long battery life, solid construction, and support for the latest connectivity standards, the Yoga 9i Gen 7 is a terrific 2-in-1 that’s a worthy addition to the premium line. It’s ideal for travelers, students, or anyone who wants a portable and adaptable Windows machine.
It’s a bit expensive for a two-in-one, but you get a lot of value for your money. In fact, you’ll probably be able to save some money by opting for the cheaper Shadow Black version instead of the more expensive Silver option.
Apple Mac Mini M1
The Apple Mac Mini M1 is a powerful computer that’s perfect for a wide range of uses. It’s great for working on projects that involve a lot of graphics and video, but it also offers plenty of performance for productivity tasks, such as word processors, spreadsheets, browsers, and more.
Unlike the other Mac models, the M1 is made with Apple’s own silicon, meaning it should be able to receive updates and support for years to come. This is particularly important, given that Apple has stated that it plans to phase out Intel chips from its computer lines in the near future.
With the M1 chip, Apple claims that it will offer three times faster CPU performance and six times faster graphics compared to the previous generation of the Mac mini. It will also be able to handle complex tasks more efficiently, thanks to its new Neural Engine.
Another highlight of the M1 SoC is its unified memory architecture, which places all the memory on the same substrate as the CPU and GPU. This allows the CPU and GPU to access the memory faster than they would if it was divided into separate pools. This will improve overall performance and may even help boost gaming performance, especially since games usually use a large amount of RAM.
In addition to the M1 chip, Apple has equipped the Mac mini with a dedicated media engine and video encode/decode engines. These help to speed up video processing without sacrificing battery life.
The Mac mini is available in a variety of configurations, with the base model sporting 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of SSD storage. The top-end model is capable of up to 16GB of unified memory and 2TB of SSD storage, and can also be configured with a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port.
Its unified memory design means it can channel memory between the CPU and GPU as needed, which may help to increase overall system performance. It also supports a wide range of USB ports and has an HDMI output capable of up to 6K resolution. The machine is also compatible with Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E.
HP Envy 34
The HP Envy 34 is a premium all-in-one desktop PC that packs a lot of high-end features into a sleek design. It’s a great choice for anyone who needs a powerful computer for work or play.
The Envy 34 is powered by a Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card. It also includes a 34-inch display with support for 5K resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio. It’s TUV-certified for reduced blue light emissions and has plenty of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 connectors and a full-sized HDMI port.
It comes with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. You can add a second SSD to increase the system’s speed or replace the existing drive with a larger one. The Envy 34 also offers four memory slots and two M.2 slots, all of which are user-accessible.
While the Envy 34’s performance isn’t as fast as other premium desktops, it can still handle tasks like editing videos and running games. It also has a 16MP webcam that supports binning technology and can be popped out of its module for a better video calling experience.
Another feature that sets the Envy 34 apart is its curved screen. This allows it to be a little more comfortable to hold and use than other desktops, which are often designed with flat screens. The curved display also makes it easy to position the Envy 34 at various angles and keep your eyesight comfortable.
In addition to the curved screen, the Envy 34 has narrow bezels and a clean look. The base of the PC is cloaked in faux woodgrain and metal accents, making it look and feel very luxurious.
The screen has a wide viewing angle and is bright enough to handle most light conditions without glare. Its wide-screen format means it can be used for multiple tasks at once, and its high-resolution IPS display delivers sharp visuals. It’s also TUV-certified for reduced blue light emissions, which is a nice touch. It also has a 16-megapixel magnetic-mount USB webcam and a slide switch to activate a privacy shutter, so you can be sure nobody is watching you when you’re in an important video call.