The best all-in-one desktops 2015

Yes, it’s true, desktops are pretty much dead! But there is one area where new ideas are still thriving, because many people are still interested in the unique features these machines have to offer. If you haven’t checked out an all-in-one desktop lately, you might be surprised by how much is happening.

These unique PCs pack all their components, ports and monitors into a single unit, allowing you to easily prop one on your desk, plug in and get to work (or play).

All-in-ones come in a variety of different flavours. You can find Android on lower cost models, Apple OS X on the premium iMac and Windows on a wide array of all-in-ones, many of which have touch screens. Here are the best all-in-ones in every category.

Best Overall All-in-One = Apple iMac 21.5

The Apple iMac 21.5 offers a combination of strong performance, useful software and elegant aesthetics, so this Apple iMac is our favourite current all-in-one! The desktop has an OS X Mavericks operating system and a Haswell processor which lets you blaze through tasks. Don’t forget the cool apps like GarageBand and iMovie which let you bring out your inner artist, and while some all-in-ones aren't very nice to look at, the iMac’s razor-thin aluminium design will make it the centrepiece of your living room!

Best Family All-in-One = Lenovo Horizon 2s

Like its big brother the Horizon 2, the Horizon 2s provides a wide variety of fun tabletop touch games and apps while doubling as a solid everyday PC. The 19.5-inch 2s is the sleekest and most compact Horizon yet, so you can enjoy its crisp full HD and engaging Aura touch interface in any room of the house. Whether you want to play some virtual air hockey, stream movies or just surf the web, the Lenovo Horizon 2s delivers plenty of entertainment.

Best Affordable All-in-One = Lenovo C560 Touch

Who said you have to spend boat loads of money to get a great quality all-in-one? For a reasonable price, the 23-inch Lenovo C560 Touch provides a powerful multimedia complete with a colourful responsive full HD touch screen and rich audio output. If you are an advanced user you can even open the rear panel to upgrade its hard drive and RAM.

Best All-in-One For Photo/Video Editing = Apple iMac with Retina display

Don’t adjust your eyes because the new iMac with Retina display packs a whopping 5120 x 2880 pixels.  With a stunning 27-inch, 5K display that makes every day apps like the calendar and safari look just as great as an ultra-high res video – the sexiest all-in-one is now also the sharpest one on the market! The iMac’s screen is backed by some serious power, packing a 4.0-GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 8TB of RAM, a 1TB Fusion Drive and an AMD Radeon R9 R295x GPU.

Best Gaming All in One = MSI AG220

Most all-in-ones don’t double as robust gaming machines, but MSI’s AG220 is one of the few devices to do so! This all-in-one hits a sweet spot between space-saving style and solid gaming performance, it has a Core i7 processor and GeForce GTX 860M GPU to power your all night gaming sessions. Don’t forget about the 1080p touch display, handy gaming mouse and built-in livestreaming software and you've got a hassle-free desktop that makes it easy to play and broadcast your favourite games.

Best Entertainment or Multimedia All-in-One = Lenovo B50

If you’re looking for an entertainment-friendly all-in-one, the Lenovo B50 is the answer. The machine has a 23.8-inch, full HD display, which is perfect for movie night, while the Nvidia GeForce GT 840A GPU under the hood allows you to play mainstream PC games. No matter how you choose to enjoy this desktop, you’ll be treated to rich, loud audio, thanks to the PC’s BL speakers.

Best All-in-One Workstation = HP Z1 G2

This all-in-one is the only one of its kind, it gives you a beefy workstation within a conveniently customizable frame. The HP Z1 G2 has a 27-inch, 2650 x 1440 display with a zippy Intel Xeon processor and Thunderbolt 2.0 support, this touchscreen workstation is ideal for engineering work, graphic design, 4K video transfers and any other tasks that the average PC can’t handle. And with the easy open shell, it only takes a few seconds to swap out your G2’s components for a setup that better suits your work needs.

Since they are more mobile than normal desktops and offer more screen space than most laptops, all-in-ones provide a cozy middle ground for those of you looking for a reliable computer. So, if you’re looking to purchase one, these are a few of the best!

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Written By: Christine Romans