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What is the best computer you can buy in 2026? That's a loaded question, but after testing many of the latest PCs over the years, I can say that one size doesn't fit all. Today, it's more about how well a machine fits your workflow, gaming needs, creativity habits or budget — and we've got just the recommendations.
With over 500 hours of testing under our belt, my team of computing experts at Tom's Guide has done the benchmarking, hands-on reviews and real-world handling to find the finest PCs of the bunch. And you'll be happy to know there are plenty to choose from today.
From all-in-one PCs to powerful desktops made for gaming, there are many factors to consider when buying a computer. Need some help? We've got you covered below, but if you've already got a machine in mind, head down to our top recommendations.
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What type of computer should I choose?
Computers aren't just big chunky blocks anymore! But don't worry, PC towers are still very much in fashion. These days, PCs come in all shapes and sizes, from compact, mini designs that still come with mighty performance to desktops that comes with the whole package — monitor included. Have a look at the ones that suit you best:
Standard PC towers are often the most affordable desktop option, as well as the most basic. With simple designs and plenty of configuration options, a basic desktop tower is still the best option for cost-effective computing power. And thanks to the flexibility of the design, you can outfit these standard computers for everything from basic web browsing and media streaming to incredibly demanding uses such as gaming and animation.
All-in-one desktops, as the name suggests, provide a combination of PC and monitor in the same device. These all-in-one designs give you a powerful desktop without the bulk of a tower or the tangle of cables that come with a separate monitor. The best all-in-one computers range from budget-friendly systems to high-powered workstations, so check out our in-depth reviews of the best all-in-one computers.
Gaming desktops, by and large, use the traditional tower design but are outfitted with powerful components optimized for high-performance gaming. These high-octane systems are built to accommodate the latest discrete graphics cards, potent processors, large volume storage, and all of the cooling necessary for a high-performance machine. There are several options for gaming, whether it's your choice of hardware or the stylized design that fits your taste. Check out our in-depth reviews for all of the best gaming PCs.
Mini PCs take a very different approach, leveraging the tiny components used in laptops and tablets to provide a desktop experience that fits in the palm of your hand or into a pocket. These pint-sized or smaller desktop computers can be easily stashed out of sight or incorporated into less traditional arrangements, such as into a home theater system for streaming movies. Whether it's a small box on your desk or a stick PC in your pocket, our reviews lay out the features and performance of the best mini PCs.
There's nothing quite like a clean, satisfying computer setup, especially one that fits your workflow. As a computing expert with over 10 years of testing these machines, I'm here to help you pick up just the PC that will become your go-to digital companion, whether it's for workers, students, gamers or creatives.
The best computers you can buy right now
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The best overall
"While I wish Apple had done more to make the iMac M4 the ideal family PC I know it can be, it's hard to complain about an updated version of one of the best all-in-ones on the market. The upgrade to an M4 chip doesn't hugely improve the iMac M4 over the old M3 model or change what it's capable of, but it does deliver great performance. The bump up to 16GB RAM minimum is a good one for customers, as 8GB just doesn't cut it for most work."
Apple's 24-inch iMac is our top recommendation for a basic PC because the Apple M4 chip inside gives it plenty of power for work and play, while the 24-inch Retina display looks great in a family room or office.
Plus, the 12MP webcam is great and supports Desk View, so you can send a separate video feed (when FaceTiming) of what's on the desk in front of you. The six built-in speakers also sound surprisingly good for an all-in-one PC, which is why I like this PC so much as a family computer: it's great for video calls, especially in a room with multiple people, because the webcam has a wide field of view. And with the nice speakers and wide viewing angles, it's a decent way for a few people to watch a video together in a pinch.
I've reviewed a few models of the iMac at this point, and while it's not great as a gaming PC (though it gets better every year as Apple silicon gets better and more games get native support) you can have a lot of fun with it if you want. You can download all sorts of games from the App Store, including a good number of modern titles that run at decent framerates on the M4 iMac.
As a fellow on the taller side, I wish the stand on the iMac allowed you to adjust its height instead of just being able to swivel it forward and backward a few degrees, but that's not going to be a major issue for most folks. No, in general, this is a great all-around Mac that I often recommend as the best computer to most folks, especially those looking for a family PC.
Read our full Apple iMac M4 review.
The best budget PC
"I quite like the Dell Tower Plus because it's highly customizable and pretty affordable, packing the latest components into a drab mid-tower case that blends in anywhere. For some people, that might be a deal-breaker, but for myself and others like me, I think there's real appeal in having this much leeway to kit out a desktop PC. I reviewed our Dell Tower Plus like a gaming PC because that's how it's outfitted, but you can use these desktops for more than that — with prices ranging from $749 to $3,000-plus, the Dell Tower Plus can fill a wide range of roles."
The Dell Tower Plus is a remarkably customizable desktop PC packed into an unassuming tower case that looks ripped from a '90s PC magazine ad. It's also relatively affordable thanks to its $999 starting price.
Personally, I love the look of the Tower Plus PCs because I review gaming PCs for a living, and I'm getting tired of big, heavy cases bedecked in RGB lights and jagged edges. Our Dell Tower Plus review unit is a breath of forgettable fresh air by comparison, packing enough power to run most games well into a mid-sized white box that blends right into your desk setup. This modest PC will fit right into any office or gaming environment.
Admittedly, the included accessories aren't amazing and you can't achieve the heights of power with the Dell Tower Plus that you can with the priciest and best gaming PCs. However, if you just want a reliable PC for everyday work and that won't break the bank, the modest-looking Dell Tower Plus is a great choice.
Read our full Dell Tower Plus review.
The best gaming PC
"This is one of the best pre-built towers I’ve ever tested. The RDY Element 9 Pro R07 packs impressive performance into a gorgeous design with impressive long-term support and even a 60-day return period, too. And the liquid-cooled gaming ensures long-term stability of the performance, while looking fly as hell."
For anyone looking for some serious power to play the latest PC games, and to power through demanding video edits, 3D creative work and more, the iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro R07 is the computer to put in your shopping basket.
No, it isn't cheap at over $2,000, and the RAM crisis isn't making costs any more affordable. But with its AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU, along with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, this gaming PC gives you fantastic gaming performance for mighty 1440p and even 4K gameplay. That's an investment for longevity.
The mouse and keyboard combo that the RDY Element 9 Pro R07 comes packed with is welcome, but they're far from the best offerings you can get (they can feel cheap and plasticky). Regardless, along with its beautiful RGB-lit design, impressive liquid cooling for stable performance and a three-year warranty, this is easily one of the best pre-built PC towers we've tested.
Is the iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro R07 the most powerful? No, but neither is it the most expensive, and that means you won't have to pay an even higher premium to get top-notch performance to play demanding PC titles.
Read our full iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro R07 review.
The best mini PC
"The Mac mini M4 is a beautifully designed mini PC and its smaller size will likely be a welcome addition on most desks. Not only do you now get ports in the front as well as in the back, they all use the same connector. The base model of the Mac mini M4 also now comes with 16GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most users."
If you need a great computer and space is a concern, the mini PC we recommend most often is Apple's Mac mini M4.
This is the mini PC I'd want on my desk, as it packs a lot of power into a tiny box, making it ideal for those who want a speedy, capable Mac but don't have much room on their desk. Plus, it gives you a powerful Apple machine for the price of the budget-friendly MacBook Neo!
While it may not look like much on the outside, the M4 chip inside the pint-sized PC gives it plenty of power for most tasks. While the latest and greatest games tend to chug and underperform on this machine, kit this mini PC out with a good amount of RAM and storage, and you have yourself a real workhorse PC that can handle writing, spreadsheets, coding and even video editing with aplomb.
Plus, it runs whisper-quiet most of the time and fits into most desk setups with ease, making it an easy PC to work into your life. It's one of the cheaper PCs on this list, too, so it's a great fit for folks who need a good, long-lasting PC for not too much money. Just remember you'll have to pay extra for a monitor, mouse and keyboard, or provide your own!
Read our full Mac mini M4 review.
The best Mac for power users
"I'm starting to feel a bit like a broken record, because the story of the Mac Studio is the same I told about the previous models—you get more raw power than I've ever seen in a Mac that runs quiet and is easy to fit into your desk arrangement. That's why I've always loved the Studio: it feels like the power user's Mac desktop. The iMac and the Mac mini have their appeal, but if you're going to build a setup for editing images or working with audio/video, the Mac Studio seems like the MacDaddy of workstations."
If you want a Mac that can do more than the rest on this list, invest in the latest Mac Studio.
Even though it's just a bit taller and larger than the Mac mini, this tiny PC can deliver a lot more power thanks to the fact that you can upgrade it to pack Apple's top-tier chip, the M3 Ultra.
But you don't need to pay the $3,999 starting price for the M3 Ultra edition to get great performance. The entry-level $1,999 Mac Studio comes with the M4 Max chip, which is not much slower despite costing half as much. Apple sent us a Mac Studio M4 Max for review, and I found that everything I did on it (from browsing to writing to video editing) felt fast and responsive.
Plus, the Mac Studio offers more ports than the Mac mini and can be configured with much more power under the hood: up to 192GB of RAM and up to 8TB of storage, last I checked, which is a tremendous RAM ceiling that makes this little box a beast when it comes to demanding projects and AI work.
Of course, you'll pay a beastly amount for a maxed-out Mac Studio, but if you don't need all that power, you can get one of the still very powerful entry-level models at a reasonable price. While gaming on the Studio still isn't on par with the best gaming PCs, this also remains one of the best desktop Macs for gaming.
So if you need more power than the Mac mini or iMac can offer you, the Studio is right for you.
Read our full Mac Studio M4 Max review.
The best premium gaming PC
"The Alienware Area-51 might be super expensive, but it’s arguably worth every penny for the superlative gaming experience it offers. It’s a beautiful machine that will look great in any gaming den or home office. On top of that, this PC runs whisper quiet, no matter how much you’re taxing it. Price aside, the Alienware Area-51 is a fantastic gaming PC. If you can stomach the cost and have enough room for it, it more than delivers the goods."
The Alienware Area-51 is one of the largest gaming PCs we've ever reviewed and certainly the biggest on this list. Its considerable size isn't just for sure; it serves as a housing for equally formidable internal components, all encased within a futuristic chassis. This gaming PC delivers uncompromising performance... for those who can afford it.
Our review unit packs high-end components like the powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, fast Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and 64GB of RAM. This combination lets the system easily achieve frame rates well above 60 frames per second across a wide range of graphically demanding game titles. In addition, the innovative positive-pressure cooling system ensures that the machine maintains a low noise profile regardless of the intensity of the gaming load or other demanding tasks.
However, this level of performance comes with a steep cost. With a starting price nearing $4,000, this gaming PC isn't cheap. Beyond the cost, the Alienware Area-51's enormous size and considerable weight can make it difficult to comfortably keep in your workspace. Due to its size and weight, I advise keeping it on the floor to be safe.
Despite its considerable price tag and substantial physical footprint, the Alienware Area-51 delivers an exceptional gaming experience. Its powerful components and efficient cooling work in concert to provide smooth, high-fidelity gaming across a demanding selection of titles. Thanks to its top-tier performance and innovative design, the Alienware Area-51 has earned a place in this guide.
Read our full Alienware Area-51 review.
The best modular PC
"The Framework Desktop stands out from typical mini PCs, and that’s one of its biggest strengths. Instead of a fully pre-built design, it lets you customize the look and features with its tiled front panel and Expansion Cards. You can also choose different side panels and CPU fans — or even use your own — making it a much more personal and flexible experience than most other mini PCs."
The Framework Desktop is a powerful, highly customizable mini PC designed for work, gaming, and local AI tasks. True to the Framework philosophy, its value extends beyond a typical mini PC.
Like Framework's laptops, this desktop is exceptionally easy to build and repair due to its replaceable components. Its customizability goes a step further than other mini PCs: you can configure the front ports using Expansion Cards and personalize the magnetic front panel with various swappable tiles.
The only parts that are not swappable are the AMD Ryzen AI Max processor and the soldered LPDDR5x memory, a limitation imposed by the chip itself. When configuring the Framework Desktop, you can choose from three distinct CPU and memory configurations. Furthermore, there's the option to purchase storage and the operating system at checkout or to supply your own to reduce the overall cost.
As we said in our review, the Framework Desktop could be a new way forward for mini PCs as well as small form factor desktops overall. Only time will tell, but so far, it has rightfully earned its place among the best mini PCs you can get today.
Read our full Framework Desktop review.
Also tested
FAQ
Do I actually need an AI PC?
In 2026, artificial intelligence can be seen in nearly every device you use. And yes, that means the latest computers, too. With chips from Intel, AMD, Qualcomm and Apple all pushing ready-to-use features like summarizing emails or helping out with video edits, is an AI PC essential?
As you might expect, the answer is simple: it depends. If you're looking to take full advantage of Large Language Models (LLMs) in your workflow, whether it be for demanding tasks such as video editing, coding and more, then a PC with an NPU or Neural Engine (for Apple's computers) is a no-brainer.
However, if you're just heading online to work on documents, answer emails and more, AI isn't a requirement, and you won't be missing out on much right now. That said, the PCs on this list, and many you'll find today, are already ready for AI tasks, and can often help with offloading tasks to the NPU to deliver smoother performance and better power efficiency. So, if you are picking up a new PC, expect it to be AI-powered, anyway. For even more options, check out our list of the best AI laptops.
Should I choose Windows or macOS?
The age-old debate. Deciding between a Windows PC or a Mac is a matter of preference, but it also depends on what you're looking to get out of your computer.
Windows: Some may need Windows as it provides the widest selection of apps, the best gaming experience (thanks to clients like Steam, GOG, Xbox Game Pass and more) and is hugely customizable. Plus, you'll find plenty of different variations of PCs out there to fit your needs, from Intel or AMD chips to a wide variety of options in all computer form factors.
macOS: For those already in Apple's ecosystem, or looking to get on board, Macs offer a streamlined operating system that's easy to use and complements many workflows. It's also getting wildly better for gaming, and it integrates with other products, including your iPhone, iPad and AirPods.
How we test computers
As we evaluate and review all sorts of computers, we run a series of standardized tests to measure how each machine performs, what uses it's best suited to, and what sort of capability you get for the price.
These standard tests include generalized performance benchmark tests, like Geekbench 6 (for processor performance), 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra (for graphics) and a custom file transfer test to measure hard drive performance.
Gaming-oriented benchmarks test the performance of systems using current games, measuring the frame rates each desktop will produce in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Black Myth: Wuking, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077. We'll also run individual game tests and the SteamVR performance test to evaluate how well-suited they are to the unique demands of virtual reality.
Most importantly, we spend a ton of time simply using each desktop computer for everyday activities. We watch movies, do work, play games, and blast music on the speakers, all to get a better sense of which ones are worth your money.
For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.
