The Best Desktop Macs of 2023
What to Look For in a Desktop Mac in 2023
Apple’s transition from Intel hardware to its own ARM-based Apple Silicon systems-on-chip is almost complete. Despite being first-generation products, M1 Macs are excellent in our experience. The new M1 chips sip power, remain relatively cool under load, and pack in enough performance for all but the thirstiest of users.
Another important part of this transition is software support. We’re now a few years into the move away from Intel processors, and a great deal of software has already been updated to run natively on Apple Silicon. Rosetta 2, Apple’s translation layer which lets you run Intel-based applications on ARM, has done a great job of filling in the gaps, though not everything is supported.
We no longer recommend buying a Mac that uses an older Intel chip for both performance and software support reasons. Rather than considering an older chipset, you’ll now want to decide on whether you want an all-in-one iMac or one of Apple’s separate towers like the Mac mini or Mac Studio and bring your own peripherals.
In terms of the lineup, there are currently several configurations available, starting with the base M1 as found in the iMac and Mac mini (plus MacBook Air) ranges. For more power, the M1 Max and M1 Ultra offer more CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine cores but are currently limited to the Mac Studio. You’re better off waiting to see what Apple’s plan is for a more powerful all-in-one.
Alternatively, if you’d rather spend your money on a portable Mac, the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air range offer Apple Silicon power efficiency and performance in a portable package. That performance doesn’t come cheap, however.
But if you’re looking for a desktop Mac, keep reading for our picks for the best.
Pros ✓ Great value Mac with everything you need to get started
Great value Mac with everything you need to get started ✓ Four-port model has more room for expansion and a slightly better M1 chip
Four-port model has more room for expansion and a slightly better M1 chip ✓ Surprisingly good downward-firing speakers
Surprisingly good downward-firing speakers ✓ Available in six colors and silver Cons ✗ Might not be the best value choice if you already have a display and peripherals
Might not be the best value choice if you already have a display and peripherals ✗ Only four Type-C ports
Only four Type-C ports ✗ The first iMac with a power brick
The first iMac with a power brick ✗ White bezels and protruding "chin" not to everyone's tastes
The iMac is Apple’s all-in-one desktop Mac, providing everything you need to get started. The 24-inch 2021 iMac is the first of Apple’s all-in-ones to receive the Apple Silicon treatment. A base model M1 delivers similar performance to an entry-level MacBook Air with its 8GB of unified RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive.
RELATED: How "Unified Memory" Speeds Up Apple's M1 ARM Macs
In the box, you’ll find an iMac with a beautiful 4.5K display, an Apple Magic Keyboard, a Magic Mouse, and a power brick with a color-matched braided cord. The iMac can be purchased in six vibrant colors (blue, green, pink, yellow, orange, and purple), as well as a more traditional silver version is also available.
We’re recommending the four-port variant here, which ships with a slightly more powerful version of the M1 processor with an 8-core GPU (up from 7 cores on the two-port model) and two fans instead of one. That additional fan should make it possible for this model to operate at higher speeds for longer before thermal throttling sets in. As the name suggests, this version also has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two standard USB 3 Type-C ports.
One of the main reasons to opt for the iMac is its display. It delivers 500 nits of brightness, full P3 wide-gamut color coverage, and a pixel density of 218 PPI. This provides plenty of screen real estate for creative work or multitasking and a high enough pixel density to make text and webpages appear crystal sharp.
Considering a similarly-specced Mac mini costs $699, you’re effectively paying $800 more for a best-in-class 24-inch display, surprisingly good integrated speakers, a Magic Keyboard, and a Magic Mouse. This makes the iMac excellent value and the best Mac on this list considering the performance and quality on offer, and that’s before you’ve fallen in love with the wafer-thin design in a color of your choice.
Best Desktop Mac 24-inch iMac M1 (Four ports, 2021) Apple's redesigned 24-inch iMac looks the part and delivers next-generation performance thanks to the M1 chip and a beautiful 4.5K Retina display.
Pros ✓ The cheapest and best-value Mac with an M1 chip
The cheapest and best-value Mac with an M1 chip ✓ M1 chip puts older Intel models to shame
M1 chip puts older Intel models to shame ✓ A wider selection of ports than most, with USB-A and HDMI out
A wider selection of ports than most, with USB-A and HDMI out ✓ Officially supports up to two 60Hz monitors simultaneously (one 6K, one 4K) Cons ✗ Hard to find a display that competes with the 24-inch iMac for the money
Hard to find a display that competes with the 24-inch iMac for the money ✗ Dongles or hubs necessary to get more ports
Dongles or hubs necessary to get more ports ✗ Cannot be upgraded like the older Intel-based Mac mini
The 2020 Mac mini was the first desktop Mac to make the transition to Apple Silicon. Its M1 chip has 8 CPU and 8 CPU cores, with adequate cooling to sustain the chip at load in a way that the fanless MacBook Air cannot. A base model Mac mini comes with 8GB of unified RAM and a 256GB SSD, though these can be upgraded to 16GB and up to 2TB, respectively.
For $699 you get a computer and a power cord. You’ll need to supply your own display, with the Mac mini supporting one 6K display (60Hz) and one 4K display (60Hz) simultaneously via HDMI or USB-C. You’ll also need to provide your own peripherals, which is perfect if you already have a keyboard and mouse you’d like to use. If you need the whole package, though, you might want to go with the iMac instead.
Performance-wise the Mac mini M1 is roughly equivalent to the iMac, delivering big gains in apps that have been optimized for Apple Silicon. The Mac mini also has the widest port selection of any M1 Mac, with an HDMI 2.0 out, two USB-A ports, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet It also has an optional 10 Gigabit Ethernet upgrade available when shopping through Apple.
The Mac mini M1 is perfect if you want to dip your toes into Apple’s new architecture without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for Windows users who want to tinker with macOS, or Mac users who prefer to bring their own mechanical keyboard or ultrawide display. For a truly smart buy, get the base model and add your own external solid-state drive to increase total storage.
Best Budget Desktop Mac M1 Mac mini (2020) The 2020 M1 Mac mini is Apple's best budget computer, but you'll need to bring your own display and peripherals.
Pros ✓ MacBook Pro power (and beyond) at a desktop price point
MacBook Pro power (and beyond) at a desktop price point ✓ M1 Max is more than enough for most users
M1 Max is more than enough for most users ✓ M1 Ultra offers insane performance for a price
M1 Ultra offers insane performance for a price ✓ Lots of ports, a media card reader, and dedicated cooling Cons ✗ You'll need to provide your own display and peripherals
You'll need to provide your own display and peripherals ✗ HDMI port limited to 4K at 60Hz
HDMI port limited to 4K at 60Hz ✗ Unified memory means RAM is soldered, so no upgradeable at a later date
Unified memory means RAM is soldered, so no upgradeable at a later date ✗ Storage upgrades are still pricey
The clue’s in the name, but the Mac Studio is one Apple desktop computer that’s aimed squarely at creative professionals. It’s available in two base configurations, one with the M1 Max as seen in Apple’s higher-end MacBook Pro line, and another with the M1 Ultra which is effectively two M1 Max chips slapped together, delivering double the performance.
Which you go for depends largely on what you need from a video editing machine. The $1,999 M1 Max delivers a single video decode engine, two encode engines, and two ProRes decode and encode engines. This is probably enough for most video editors and will chew through multiple streams of high bitrate 4K and 8K video. There’s also a 24-core GPU, configurable to a 32-core version for an extra $200.
The M1 Ultra doubles all of this, with two decode engines, four encode engines, and four ProRes-specific encode and decode engines, plus a 48-core GPU for $3,999. This is Apple’s most powerful machine, and it’s currently your best bet if you’re looking for a dedicated editing station that runs macOS and can handle 18 streams of 8K ProRes 422 at once. You can even up the GPU core count to 64 for an additional $1,000.
You’ve also got Thunderbolt outputs for additional monitors and storage options, an HDMI output (limited to 4K 60Hz), a media card input on the front for quickly ingesting footage, and a cooling system inside that will keep everything ticking over under extreme load.
If you’re only looking to splice together a few 4K videos from your GoPro or iPhone, the Studio is overkill (and you might want to save money by opting for an iMac or Mac mini instead). For most other people, the Mac Studio with M1 Max won’t disappoint. For serious video effects artists, streamers, and those with very deep pockets then look no further than the M1 Ultra.
Don’t forget that the Mac Studio is a standalone desktop machine, like the Mac mini, that doesn’t include a display or any peripherals. Take a look at some of the best displays, and make sure you calibrate that display for color accuracy.
Best Desktop Mac for Video Editing Mac Studio The Mac Studio is Apple’s most powerful Mac, with the entry-level M1 Max chip offering MacBook Pro performance at a cheaper price point (minus the peripherals and display).
Pros ✓ Everything you need to get started
Everything you need to get started ✓ Hard to find a display that can compete at this price point
Hard to find a display that can compete at this price point ✓ Apple Silicon M1 chip delivers big gains over Intel models Cons ✗ Not portable, so not ideal for all students
Not portable, so not ideal for all students ✗ Mac mini may be better for students who are comfortable sourcing their own display and peripherals
Mac mini may be better for students who are comfortable sourcing their own display and peripherals ✗ Performance very similar to M1 MacBook models
Many students opt for laptops like the MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro (a few of our favorite MacBook models) so they can carry their workstations around campus. With the arrival of the M1, the performance gap between desktop and laptop Macs has closed considerably. For example, the two-port 24-inch M1 iMac has the same 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU as an M1 MacBook Air.
However, the iMac has better thermals and can run under load for longer than the Air. This will be noticeable in tasks that stress the computer, like rendering video, running 3D applications, or compiling software. It’s tough to find a complete system that performs this well, with a display that looks this good.
The iMac has a much larger screen than Apple’s laptops, which gives you far more screen real estate to multitask. You can have multiple web pages or documents open at a time, but on a laptop, you’ll be flicking between desktop spaces.
But if you’re buying an iMac in the mistaken belief that it will perform considerably better than a MacBook (especially a MacBook Pro, which is also actively cooled), then you should reconsider. Buy the M1 iMac for your dorm room because you want a colorful all-in-one solution that can chew through school work, web browsing, and creative tasks like video editing. Just don’t get an iMac if portability is important to you, especially now that Apple Silicon has evened the playing field.
Best for Students 24-inch iMac M1 (Two ports, 2021) The 24-inch M1 iMac has everything you need to study hard, with an Apple Silicon system-on-chip, a stunning display, and colorful Apple-branded peripherals.
Pros ✓ Apple's most powerful Mac to date
Apple's most powerful Mac to date ✓ Cheaper than a MacBook Pro in its base configuration
Cheaper than a MacBook Pro in its base configuration ✓ More than enough power for most applications
More than enough power for most applications ✓ Tons of ports, a card reader, built-in Ethernet, in a charming form factor Cons ✗ Not the Mac Pro you've been waiting for
Not the Mac Pro you've been waiting for ✗ High-end M1 Ultra configuration is expensive
High-end M1 Ultra configuration is expensive ✗ No peripherals in the box
The Mac Pro would traditionally be considered Apple’s “high-end” machine for customers who need the most powerful Mac money can buy, but at the time of writing this machine has yet to transition to Apple Silicon. So instead we’re recommending a newcomer in the form of the Mac Studio, available with the M1 Max and M1 Ultra system-on-chip configurations.
The Mac Studio is a desktop machine that lacks a built-in display. Think of it as a more powerful version of the Mac mini, with a much taller enclosure and a more capable cooling system under the hood.
Both Studio models ship with four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back, built-in 10Gb Ethernet, two USB-A ports for older devices, an HDMI out, and a 3.5mm stereo jack on the back. On the front, you’ll find an SDXC slot for memory cards and two 10Gb/sec USB-C ports (M1 Max) or two Thunderbolt 4 ports (M1 Ultra).
The $1,999 M1 Max configuration is about as powerful as a 16-inch MacBook Pro, with a 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. If you opt for the $3,999 M1 Ultra you’re looking at a 20-core CPU, 48-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine. You can configure up to a 64-core GPU and 32-core Neural Engine for an extra $1,000. Just remember that you’ll still need to pair it with a display, keyboard, and mouse.
The Mac Studio is a compact and powerful Mac for users who want performance but don’t need the slender form factor of a MacBook, or who are happy to provide their display and peripherals. If you need more power than a MacBook then the M1 Ultra delivers in spades, provided you’ve got deep pockets.
The Studio is aimed at professionals who aim to put that CPU power to work on data analysis, edit multiple streams of 4K video in real-time, or 3D artists. It’s also great for anyone who wants a svelte desktop Mac that can handle almost anything you can throw at it.
As for the Mac Pro? Apple has already confirmed an ARM-based Mac Pro is in the works, with the launch expected sometime later in 2022. If you need an upgrade to the Pro, you’ll want to hold off and see what Apple has to offer for this model.
Best High Performance Mac Mac Studio (2022) Available with the powerful M1 Max or M1 Ultra systems-on-chip, the Mac Studio is the perfect stop gap for anyone waiting for a next-generation Mac Pro.
Best Linux Desktop Computers in 2023
Linux is becoming a go-to operating system not only for corporate IT stacks but also for personal home users. Over the past decade, Linux has been slowly and steadily replacing Windows due to its popularity among programmers.
More and more popular computer hardware vendors are extending their support for Linux and its distros. Many vendors are manufacturing a computer assembly that is especially dedicated to Linux and while some vendors are shipping their PCs pre-installed with Linux.
In this article, we are going to introduce you to some of the best Linux desktop computers. The PCs that are listed here are either especially crafted for Linux or ship pre-installed with Linux.
1. System76 Thelio
Thelio is a specially crafted Linux PC for power users. It is a tailor-made system which comes with its own Linux distro like the Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS. But you can also opt for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Linux Distro : Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
: Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS CPU : 12th or 13th Gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processor
: 12th or 13th Gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processor RAM : Up to 64 GB DDR4 or DDR5 Memory
: Up to 64 GB DDR4 or DDR5 Memory Storage : Up to 36 TB, 1x M.2 PCIe Gen4 NVMe and 4 x 2.5″ SATA drives
: Up to 36 TB, 1x M.2 NVMe and 4 x 2.5″ SATA drives Ports: 1 x USB Type-C, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (red), 2x USB 2.0/1.1, 1x RJ-45 port
You can customize Thelio to match your requirements with a variety of onboard options to choose from like Intel, Intel Advanced, and AMD. It is a compact sized personal computer which occupies as much desk space as a sheet of paper.
It is a highly customizable PC; you can always upgrade it whenever you need it. It also comes with new swappable color accent panels. You also get the option to bundle it with option System76 mechanical keyboard.
It is an extremely versatile computer which makes it an ideal PC for every type of user. Whether you are a programmer, power user, or a simple home user, Thelio from System76 is a great Linux PC to have.
Buy System76 Thelio
2. Minis Forum EliteMini UM700
EliteMini UM700 from Minis Forum ships-in with a pre-installed Manjaro Linux. Manjaro Linux is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on Arch Linux operating system.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Linux Distro : Manjaro OS Plasma Gamer Edition
: Manjaro OS Plasma Gamer Edition CPU : Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics
: Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics RAM : Up to 64 GB DDR4 Memory
: Up to 64 GB DDR4 Memory Storage : Up to 2 TB NVMe SSD
: Up to 2 TB NVMe SSD Ports: 1 x USB 3.0, 3 x USB 3.1, and 1 x USB-C Ports
Manjaro Linux which is installed on this desktop is a rolling release distro. You will always have the latest version of kernel installed on your system.
This desktop is fast and reliable enough to handle three monitors at a time. On top of that, the choice of ports available on this desktop is quite amazing and useful for every type of user.
It also ships-in with some of the very useful pre-installed apps such as Firefox, Okular PDF, VLC Media Player, LibreOffice, Steam, and Skype.
A great Linux desktop to have for every type of user.
Buy EliteMini UM700
3. Lenovo ThinkStation P620
Lenovo ThinkStation P620 is a powerful desktop which can be used by any type of user. This desktop is listed on Amazon with Windows 11 Pro but you can replace it with any Linux distribution that you want.
SPECIFICATIONS:
CPU : AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro Dodeca-Core 5945WX 4.10GHz
: AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro Dodeca-Core 5945WX 4.10GHz RAM : Up to 32 GB DDR4 Memory
: Up to 32 GB DDR4 Memory Storage : 1 TB NVMe SSD
: 1 TB NVMe SSD Ports: 2 x USB-C 3.2 Type C, 2 x USB-C 3.2 Type A, 6 x USB 3.2 Type A
It is a great desktop for programmers and developers. It offers faster software builds, thanks to its top-notch sixteen cores CPU. It is a highly customizable PC and comes with superb internal design.
Lenovo offers this desktop with various configurations, the cheapest one comes with 256 GB SSD and the most expensive one comes with 1 TB SSD. Depending on the Integrated Development Environment that you use, it will be easier for you to choose the correct configuration.
Buy on Amazon
4. Dell Precision T5820 Workstation
T5820 workstation from Dell is one of the best Linux PC out there with much customization it offers. You can choose the graphics as well as the storage that you want at the time of purchase.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Linux Distro : Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS CPU : Intel Xeon W-2123 6-Core 3.60GHz Processor
: Intel Xeon W-2123 6-Core 3.60GHz Processor RAM : Up to 64 GB DDR4 Memory
: Up to 64 GB DDR4 Memory Storage : 1 TB NVMe PCIe SSD, 2 TB 7200RPM HDD
: 1 TB NVMe PCIe SSD, 2 TB 7200RPM HDD Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1
Dell is one of the first vendors to provide the support for Linux and it makes great progress by doing that. But it is not that easy to find a Dell desktop which is pre-installed with Linux like Dell laptops.
But Dell doesn’t stop you from installing a Linux distro on their desktop. You can buy a suitable desktop with pre-installed Windows but you can always replace it with any Linux distro that you like.
This workstation is great for developers and programmers since it is a powerhouse of a desktop.
Buy on Amazon
5. Dell OptiPlex 3000 Micro
OptiPlex 3000 Micro series from Dell is one of the best with Linux onboard and is cheaper, too. It is a great system with room for expansion to match every type of the user’s needs.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Linux Distro : Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS CPU : 12 th Gen Intel Core i3 Processor
: 12 Gen Intel Core i3 Processor RAM : Up to 16 GB DDR4 Memory
: Up to 16 GB DDR4 Memory Storage : 256 GB NVMe PCIe SSD Class 35
: 256 GB NVMe PCIe SSD Class 35 Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A
It is quite an affordable desktop with stable version of Ubuntu LTS onboard. If you have a tight budget but still wants a reliable Linux desktop, you can definitely go for this.
If you purchase it from Dell’s website, you can configure this as much as you need. Personally, I am a big fan of the quality of hardware which is offered by Dell in its system.
Conclusion
These are the best Linux desktop that you can buy in 2023. Some of the desktops that are listed here do not ship with pre-installed Linux but you can install any Linux distro alongside Windows or by replacing Windows.
Best Desktop Computers in 2023
The most excellent desktop PCs provide significant processing power and memory storage. Many versions allow you to add more RAM for faster and more consistent file access, while others include additional drive bays for adding traditional hard disk drives or solid-state drives.
Here are the seven best desktop computers for every purpose in 2023, from alternatives for creative professionals to tiny versions.
Dell XPS desktop computer
If you’re in the market for a new desktop pc, go no further than the Dell XPS Desktop Special Edition. It can be set up in a lot of different ways. It has an Intel i7 processor from the 11th generation that can be overclocked, two storage drives (an MVNe SSD and an HDD) that can hold up to 2TB each, and up to 128GB of RAM.
It also has ten USB ports, including one USB Type-C port, so you can connect anything from flash drives and external hard drives to mice and keyboards.
M1 for Apple iMac
The 24-inch Apple iMac with M1 CPU has been on the market for more than a year and is due for an update shortly, but it’s still a sleek, small, and enjoyable machine that packs everything you want in a great desktop. The M1 iMac design, available in seven pastel colors, harkens back to the original, more colorful iMacs from the 1990s, which were available in the same color palette (minus silver).
HP Envy 34 All-in-One Computer
Because both Apple and Microsoft have discontinued their larger-screen all-in-one desktops, the HP Envy 34 AIO is almost the best pick in that class by default as one of the few remaining premium big-screen options.
It’s a good system with a gorgeous 34-inch display and some handy features like a magnetically attachable webcam and a Qi charging station in the base. Therefore, it appears to be a good home or traditional office system for folks that require large screens in a limited space.
Omen 45L from HP
The HP Omen 45L adds to what made the Omen 30L so unique. The Omen 45L, like its smaller twin, has a toolless casing design that allows you to update any of the components within.
The revolutionary Cryo Chamber design is one of the reasons for this. The all-in-one liquid cooler is separated from the main chamber, allowing direct access to air on all sides. This results in substantially lower temperatures and less fan noise in the Omen 45L.
Surface Studio 2 by Microsoft
The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 has 13.5 million pixels on a 28-inch touchscreen panel, providing unmatched detail for digital art, photography, and filmmaking. The panel supports DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamuts, and another 4K UHD display may be connected for a multi-monitor arrangement. Furthermore, the display is supported by a hinged base that can be adjusted to practically any angle with a single hand.
The front-facing camera records and streams in 1080p HD, and the dual speakers utilize Dolby Sounds technology to provide deep, rich audio.
The Acer Aspire TC
The Acer Aspire TC is a low-cost desktop that provides enough power for an average workday. It has an Intel Core i5-9400 CPU and 8GB of RAM for fast file access and loading times—for extra memory, increase the RAM to 32GB. It also has a 1TB hard drive for storing Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and other information. Furthermore, the integrated Intel UHD 630 graphics allow you to record and broadcast video.
PC 5000T from Origin
If you’re frustrated by the limited configuration options available for prebuilt gaming computers, hiring a custom builder is the best approach to satisfy your craving. The $5,000-plus expense of this custom-configured system is out of most people’s league. Even for gaming, many people do not require everything to be at its maximum. However, comparable combinations are available for less than half the price of my assessment equipment.
Origin PC creates reliable systems. Unless you’re going for dirt cheap, you’ll be able to put something together that you enjoy at a price you can live with.
