There are many factors to consider when searching for the best computer to purchase, and we can help you narrow down the choices to find the best option possible for your needs. 

One of the most important factors to look for is getting a PC equipped with the best processor and the best GPU well suited to your needs. Pay close attention to the memory as well – while 8GB of RAM is enough for office workers and students, it's barely enough for gamers and even less so for content creators. Ensure that you're getting enough storage space for your needs – 256GB of storage, for example, isn't good enough if you're saving a lot of videos, hi-res photos, and games.

If your demands include intensive tasks like video editing or gaming, you might need a computer with more powerful specs, with one of the best gaming PCs being a great choice. But, if you only need something for sending out emails and streaming content, you're better off with a lower-spec PC that's more affordable. Luckily, you have a lot of options just with the type of computer you want, not to mention the specific brands and what they bring to the table. 

Whether it's the best budget gaming PC or the best all-in-one computer you're after, chances are we've tested it. And, you'll find something from our picks below to suit your needs and wallet. We've even included the best prices available so you can save if a PC deal is available.

The quick list

With so many options on the shelves, we whittled down the list to make it easier for you to choose the best PC for your needs. Whether you need a gaming computer, a mini PC for your small setup, or an all-in-one, we've got all the top choices right here. Be sure to click on "Read more below" to know more about your choice before you fully commit.

The best computer 2023

The best computer for most people

We called the Dell XPS Desktop (8960) a “formidable gaming PC dressed as an office cog” for good reason. Though the XPS line isn’t exactly marketed by Dell as gaming computers, it’s gotten a massive boost in specs in the last few years so that at its highest configurations, it’s a worthy opponent to the most kitted out gaming and content creation PCs. 

And it does that without shedding its office attire, which in our opinion is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, that minimalist design allows it to fit right in, in just about any setting. On the other, it’s become bland, boring, and a bit archaic at this point. 

When it comes to performance, however, there’s nothing archaic about this new generation. Of course, if you just need something office work, the lower configurations, which are much more affordable, should serve you well.

But if you want something for gaming and content creation, the highest configurations proved to be capable of handling just about any workload, no matter how intensive. Running it through our suite of benchmarks, it managed to keep up with the more powerful RTX 4090-powered Alienware Aurora R15 in at 1080p, and go neck and neck with the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i in both 1080p and 4K gaming. On top of that, it comes stays impressively cool and quiet under pressure.

Read our full Dell XPS Desktop (2023) review 

The best budget PC

We have yet to fully review the Acer Aspire TC. But we can already assure you that it's guaranteed to give you the best price to performance ratio if you're looking to save money on your next PC or if you only need something to browse, send out emails, do homework, and stream on.

The graphics options on this isn't the most exciting, but overall, the available specs should see you through everyday workloads and maybe some light gaming. What's more, there are more than enough ports on it for most people, including two HDMI ports that will let you hook up two monitors, if you so choose.

It's true that the design could be better. It's not in any way ugly, but it is a bit of a plain Jane, which shouldn't matter if you're more concerned about functionality rather than form. The one thing that could be a bit of a turnoff is its cooling – those fans tend to get loud when its pushed.

The best Mac desktop for most people

If you didn't think the Mac mini could get any better, then think again. The Mac mini (2023) is by far the best mini PC you can buy right now, with Apple improving the smallest Mac in every way that matters. While it's still not upgradeable, it's more powerful than ever, powered by the new M2 and M2 Pro chips. We performed similar tests on the Mac mini as we did on the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023), and it performed brilliantly, seeing us through editing 8K movie files and making projects in Ableton Live 11 without a sweat.

It's also touting a cheaper price - or, at least a price of entry, which makes it accessible to more people, especially those with smaller setups. What's more, it's body is every so slightly thinner so you can slip easily slip it in your backpack to take to the office or while traveling. If you’re looking for a compact PC to sit unobtrusively on your desk, in a studio, or even under a TV, this is an excellent choice – even die-hard Windows users may be tempted.

Read the full Apple Mac Mini M2 (2023) review

The best all-in-one computer

The 2021 redesign of the ever-present iMac is as good as it looks, boasting an enlarged display (24 inches, up from the previous 21.5-inch models) and a selection of vibrant color schemes. The new iMac runs on Apple's own silicon now, utilizing the powerful Apple M1 chip to elevate performance beyond the older Intel-powered iMacs. It's a versatile and effective platform for any professional workload, and gaming on a Mac is even a tangible option nowadays too.

If you want an all-in-one system that is ready to go straight out of the box, the 2021 iMac is a fantastic choice, arguably the very best option on the market right now. It even comes with Apple's wireless Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse - colored to match your iMac, we might add - so you can get to work the moment you set it up. A full HD webcam and studio-quality triple microphone setup make for excellent clarity in video calls. The new display is a bright and colorful high-resolution screen that serves wonderfully for photo and video editing, too.

Read the full iMac (24-inch, 2021) review

The best gaming PC for most gamers

There aren't a lot of configurations of the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i available, and not all of its configurations are available in one place. For example, in the US, you can only get our review unit at Best Buy - at least at the time of writing. However, it is worth seeking out, especially if you're looking for something affordable as your gaming PC. This mid-range option offers great 1080p performance at an affordable price.

It proved to be a surprisingly solid performer during testing, hitting over 70fps on Ultra settings when we played Cyberpunk 2077, pretty impressive considering that's a demanding title, and delivering great results when we ran Far Cry 6 and Gotham Knights all on pretty high settings. 

Of course, being a mid-range gaming PC, it does have its limitations. Both Control and Hogwarts Legacy struggled a little on max settings - our test unit, which would be your best bet if you don't want to spend a lot, only had an RTX 3060, after all.

However, if you're willing to give up ray tracing and to play some titles at lower-than-high settings, then it's a great value. That's especially if having attractive RGB lighting and an elegant design is a priority to you.

Read our full Lenovo Legion Tower 5i review

A premium gaming PC with impressive cooling

There's a good reason why we declared the new Alienware Aurora R16 an office-worth gaming PC. The first model to adopt Alienware's new sleeker, more compact design - it's so compact you might be able to slot it in the chassis of its predecessor if you tried - this stunner impresses with its robust gaming performance and superb ventilation. 

It still has remnants of Alienware's signature space-age look, but it now sports modern touches, which makes it a wonderful addition to your office setup as well. That's especially if you have a home office and want the same unit for both work and play.

On test, we found it an incredibly capable computer, handling high-end PC titles with ease. Cyberpunk 2077 and Dirt 5, for example, respectively ran at nearly 60 fps and over 150 fps on lower settings. Although the mid-range configurations will prove to be a little limited. Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K resolution did drastically dropped frame rates down to around 16 fps.

We can, however, guarantee that no matter how hard you push it, its ventilation is going to keep up. It didn't experience a single moment of overheating during our long gaming sessions - that's while keeping things whisper quiet.

Read our full Alienware Aurora R16 review 

The best Mac for serious professionals

If you're a creative professional, the Mac Studio is basically the best computer you can buy right now. Think of it like a super-charged Mac Mini aimed directly at digital content creators, equipped with a powerful M1 Max or M1 Ultra chip from Apple along with a whopping 128GB of RAM. These chips are actually more effective for high-end content creation than the newly-introduced M2 chip thanks to their laser focus on creative workloads rather than the more general functionality of the M2. 

Heavy workloads like rendering complex 3D animations or editing 8K footage are all in a day's work for the Mac Studio, provided you've got a suitable display to plug it into. Like the Mac Mini, the Mac Studio is extremely compact and effectively silent when running, so you won't have to worry about clearing desk space or listening to fans humming while you work. 

Unlike some of the computers on this list, the Mac Studio can't be upgraded - a side effect of its compact design - and it's also very, very expensive. But if you're a professional creative, this is undeniably worth the asking price.

Read the full Apple Mac Studio review

How to choose the best PC for you

Finding the best computer can be challenging since there are so many different types of desktop PCs. We look at all different kinds and compare them to other PCs in their class and consider everything from price to performance.

Just because something is cheap doesn't mean it's bad, so budget PCs need just as close an inspection as high-end systems, and in all cases we consider the performance of the PC against the expected price for a product in that class.

That means a PC less than $500/£500/AU$800 won't be as powerful as the best gaming PC, but if it outperforms our expectations then it is a strong candidate for our list. Meanwhile, if a PC has best-in-class performance but is selling for three times what it should, we're very unlikely to recommend it to anyone since you can pay considerably less with just a slight decrease in performance.

Frequently asked questions about PCs

How we tested these computers

Here at TechRadar, we believe in rigorously testing every piece of hardware that passes through our hands. If it fails to impress during testing, we'll always let you know; we won't recommend you buy any product that falls short of the performance median for its price range.

Our testing process varies from product to product, but we're always sure to run the most appropriate tests considering the target purpose of whatever we're reviewing. This means we're always sure to run plenty of gaming tests on a gaming laptop, or editing benchmarks for a desktop workstation PC. We also always examine the build quality of a product to see whether it aligns with the attached price tag.

If you want to know more about how we test and rate the computers in this guide, check out our explainer on how we test laptops and desktops to learn more.

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Michelle Rae Uy is the Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor here at TechRadar. She's a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She's an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives.