Our experts put the best business computers to the test – here’s what we discovered and why business doesn’t have to mean boring.
It used to be that office PCs were a bland type. An horde of uninspiring towers in uniforms of off-white or grey, chuntering along through the workday, the fan spinning a hundred miles an hour just opening an email attachment. We’ve come a long way since then. Today, the best business laptops and PCs boast smart designs and exceptional performance for seamless productivity – whether you’re taking a video call or creating complex spreadsheets.
From the best all-in-one computers to the top towers, we tested out the best business computers for the office and home office. As part of our rigorous hands-on review process, we compared key specs like RAM and GPU. We benchmarked performances. We explored features like port selection and built-in cameras for conferencing that makes these the best computers for streamlining processes and boosting your productivity.
The best business computers in 2024
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Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best business computer picks on our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best business computer overall
The iMac saw both a design update and a chipset update with the newest iMac. Moving from Intel to Apple silicon boosted performance to easily outpace the pro model iMacs, swiftly making them redundant. This new AIO from Apple is clean looking with a very simple design while packing impressive performance under the glass.
More people are working from home, and this seems like the best all-in-one PC to invest in without being forced to make considerable space in your existing area. If power is at the top of your list, this is the best business PC for you.
The iMac 24-inch M1 is a highly productive computer with an excellent webcam and improved internals.
Read the full iMac (24-inch, M1 2021) review
The best budget business Mac
Apple dropped a surprise update to it’s popular Mac mini boasting a new M2 chip and a lower price than the M1 (2020) model. For businesses looking to maximize ROI, look no further than the Apple Mac mini M2. Offering incredible performance and a lower price point, it’s a machine that’s hard to beat.
With Apple claiming 1.9 times better CPU performance and 2.6 times faster GPU performance over the M1 model, we are keeping the Mac mini at the top of our best computers for the business list, especially when we compare it to more expensive machines or less powerful ones.
Read the full Apple Mac mini, M2 (2023) review
The best desktop tower PC for business
Like the Millennium Falcon and your very first car, the Dell XPS Desktop might not look like much, but it’s got it where it counts.
The design is the first thing we noticed when we reviewed the 8960 model. At first glance, it’s difficult to see this as anything more than just another humdrum business PC. That classic tower design, in bland black, same as so many. With its half-vented facade, it’s not dissimilar to a modern-day games console. And it is, perhaps, the first subtle hint that this business desktop computer has a lot more to offer.
Putting the XPS Desktop to the test, we were seriously impressed. In our original review, we primarily checked on gaming performance. We went as far as to describe it as “breathtaking.” If a machine like this can handle the likes of GTAV and Cyberpunk 2077, it’s more than capable of powering through spreadsheets, emails, video calls, graphic design – and you can probably open all the tabs you’ll ever need in your browser all at once. Ordinarily, we might not recommend a gaming PC as an option for the best business computer. But that professional design means it can seamlessly fit into any office or home office, ready for work and play.
Read our full Dell XPS Desktop review
The best Windows All-in-one computer
We found the Dell OptiPlex 7400 all-in-one to provide plenty of power in the space of just a monitor due to its 12th Gen Intel Core processors. With plenty of ports for peripheral devices and a large 24-inch touchscreen, you’ll find the OptiPlex 7400 suited to tackle a variety of workloads.
We found the design and ergonomics to be sturdy, sleek, and flexible, though we wish there was a bit more range of motion in the stand design. If you’re really looking for flexibility, it offers a VESA mount so you can customize your workspace to tailor to your specific needs.
With a responsive 10-point touchscreen, built-in web camera, and speakers this all-in-one will get the job done.
Read the full Dell OptiPlex 7400 All-in-One review
The best Mac mini Windows alternative for business
For such a small form factor, the Dell Optiplex 7000 Micro offers an impressive desktop option for businesses, clinics and those short on space. With optional mounting brackets, we can see this machine fitting in a variety of office spaces – under desks, on the back of rolling carts, or only taking up the space of a book on your desktop.
With support for up to 4 independent displays and 12th Gen Intel processors with vPro security features, we think this little machine will be a favorite of IT professionals and end-users alike. Ports along the front and back offer flexible connection options in a sleek profile. We only wish Thunderbolt ports were included.
Read the full Dell OptiPlex 7000 Micro PC review
The best business computer for creatives
The HP Envy 34 all-in-one computer is undeniably powerful, offering an excellent iMac alternative to Windows users who want outstanding design, fantastic features, and great performance for a relatively affordable price. Our coveted five-star rating is rarely given, which should speak volumes about how impressive it is. That’s despite the fact that it runs a last-gen Intel processor and a mobile GPU.
Among the many things we appreciate here are its movable 16MP webcam and excellent selection of ports. On test, however, it’s its stunner of a display that hogs the spotlight. This height-adjustable, 34-inch, 5K 21:9 screen isn’t just gorgeous; it’s also bright with 500 nits of brightness and 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut, which makes it ideal for video editors that work in that color space.
Don’t like upgrading to a new computer every couple of years? It’s also expandable up to 4TB M.2 storage and 128GB DDR4 RAM so there’s room to grow here.
Read our in-depth HP Envy 34 All-in-One review
The best business computer: FAQs
What computer is best for business?
A recent development in the desktop PC world has been a modest diversification of the system case. The typical business PC comes in a mini-tower box, probably best suited under or beside your desk.
But a smaller case would be a better choice if space is at a premium. Dell, for example, delivers its Optiplex models in the mini tower, ‘thin’ desktop, and ‘compact’ small form factor sizes, each offering the same computing power but in a different case.
Three other formats that have grown in popularity are:
1. All-in-one, or AIO, combines the monitor with the base unit. The move to power-efficient components, the falling price of LCD panels, and the ubiquity of touch functionality make AIO an increasingly popular choice for businesses. The all-in-one PC resembles a slightly larger than normal LCD display containing the processor, hard drive, and memory built into the screen casing. The end result is a very elegant, clutter-free desktop PC.
2. Ultra-small form factors, known as nettops or mini PCs, borrow many of their designs (and components) from laptops. They are laptops without a screen, input peripherals, and battery.
3. HDMI dongles inspired by tablets and smartphones often share parts with the latter. These are usually used for display signage or in niche markets. They are usually not powerful enough for most tasks, but things will likely improve with the expansion of Thunderbolt technology.
What is the difference between workstation vs desktop PC?
• TechRadarPro Q&A with Anu Herranen, Director of New Product Introduction, Advanced Compute and Solutions at HP Inc.
The main thing here is that you must ignore the form factors. In this case, the question would be, what is the difference between a (regular) desktop PC and a desktop workstation? The answer is that the workstation has been developed for a specific professional workflow.
It is not just about the raw performance of a device’s processor or other components. It is about how well they perform in specific tasks relevant to the work they are designed to do. Do they make that system easier and faster and remove unnecessary complexity so you can focus on the task and be more productive and creative?
Usually, data scientists will not emphasize the color accuracy of a display. Still, they will care about having a device that can process huge data sets for hours without crashing mid-way. A graphic designer or VR developer, on the other hand, will care about processing jobs quicker by managing how power is split between the CPU and GPU, depending on the task.
You also need to get beyond the box. What software stack or operating system does the workstation need to run? Does the workstation need to run the full Adobe creative suite? Are the keyboard and other input devices optimized for the user’s needs? Examples might include a VR headset or a set of separate programmable keys.
Security and manageability in workstations are also designed to work seamlessly across the whole stack and conform to specific requirements defined by role and managed by IT departments. Devices are often configured to get the best out of a given software. They may even carry certifications that guarantee performance for certain software, such as those from Autodesk.
All of this adds up to a curated experience – a device dedicated in every way to a workflow and ready to go out of the box, saving days of configuration time.
The final key difference is that workstations are very expandable – designed with upgrading in mind. Whilst that is true of many PCs, workstations are engineered with this capability in mind. A workstation is designed to be a device that can expand with your needs over a long period of time.
How to choose the best business computers for you
When choosing the best business computers for yourself, start by assessing the nature of your business, the number of computers you need, and the operating system.
If you’re in architecture, graphic design, or any other field that demands the use of resource-intensive apps, then you’ll want to opt for powerful computers with impressive graphic capabilities. But if your work primarily involves using an internet browser or data entry, an entry-level computer should work perfectly well.
How much RAM you need will depend on how resource-heavy the apps you use are and whether you do a lot of multitasking. The more apps you run simultaneously, the more RAM you’ll want for a smoother experience.
You’ll want to evaluate what operating system works best for you. If your employees are used to working on Windows, sticking to that is more efficient than switching to a new system.
Consider the size of the machines if you don’t have a lot of desk space or want a neat workplace setup. You’ll also want to consider the pricing of the computers and whether the seller offers discounts on bulk purchases.
How we test the best business computers:
To test the best business computers, we first looked at their specifications, like the CPU, graphics, RAM, storage, connectivity, and dimensions. We considered the types and sizes of businesses they’d be suitable for and whether the tech configurations were expendable.
We assessed how well they handled multiple apps simultaneously, how smoothly they ran resource-heavy apps, and how easy the setup process was.
We evaluated the dimensions and weight of the computers to check whether they take up a lot of desk space and are light enough to be moved around easily. We also considered whether the computers had dual monitor capabilities, ports for external displays and swift wireless connectivity.