5 Must-Have Features in a all in one touch screen for edu

Interactive touch screen displays in education are poised to make unprecedented changes in how teachers teach and learners learn. There are many reasons to use interactive whiteboards in a classroom and those range from student engagement and performance to teacher and administrator efficiency. And they also come in with a few unexpected benefits as well.

Read the full list of 10 ways an interactive touch screen display can improve your students’ learning journey and your classroom’s effectiveness or visit ViewSonic Education Solutions.

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There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for ideal classroom display solutions. Fortunately, schools have options. Most classrooms benefit (hugely) from at least one interactive whiteboard. Many find that more than one display is ideal for flexible classrooms that maximize active learning.

Interactive touchscreen displays – what some call smart flat-screen TVs – deliver loads of benefits. Here are ten of the top advantages of using an interactive touch screen display in your school.

1. Supporting Active Learning

Interactive touch screen displays are meant to assist with active learning. (Provided teachers use them for more than showing videos and slides). It’s one of the greatest advantages these dynamic devices bring to the classroom.

As the name implies, active learning is learning through engaging with content. By becoming involved in the learning process. That it works so well should come as no surprise to seasoned educators. Countless activities facilitate active learning but many – if not most – are enhanced when instructors and students use interactive whiteboards.

Collaboration. Students working together consistently tops the list of active learning aproaches. Interactive touch screen displays are masterful at enabling collaboration, especially with the multitouch feature that lets several students write onscreen content at the same time. It’s an ideal way to brainstorm, present, analyze text or images. Work through an experiment or engage with a learning game. (All of which, by the way, are recommended activities for active learning.) Add collaboration software and students can cast and share content from their seats. Even better, use an interactive touch screen display that comes with it out of the box or offers secure cloud-based capabilities.

Demonstration.  When students show, explain, and teach, their minds are actively engaged in the learning process. Do these things on a large interactive screen and the benefits blossom. Have a process to demonstrate? Step up to the interactive touch screen and diagram it out. Create a presentation with teammates and present together on the big screen. Break into workgroups to learn about different aspects of a topic, then teach the rest of the class. With an interactive touch screen, students can pull content from the internet. Annotate on top of slides to highlight key points. Add video and audio clips. And so much more. Students are adept at finding creative ways to use tech. Give them the tools. Provide the direction. Then let them loose. You’ll be amazed at what they come up with.

Experimentation. Forget telling students about the results of scientific study. Lecturing is old school. Active learning is paramount to maximizing STEM learning. Interactive touch screen displays bring STEM subjects to life. Students can conduct labs and experiments at the display. Work out equations as a team. And share their inquiry via screencasting to spark group discussion. Try Digital Frog for a humane, formaldehyde-free option. Explore the inner workings of cells with the iCell App. Or build a tower with Mosa Mack Science Design Thinking activities. The options for leveraging big-screen interactivity are endless.

2. Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Interactive whiteboards help students of all ages develop critical life skills. The jobs of today and tomorrow demand greater adaptability, problem-solving and critical thinking. To prepare students for career and college readiness they need to be using tech tools. And they need to be using these classroom tech tools in ways that develop these critical skills.

To stay afloat in a competitive world, students need to be able to think critically. They must be able to observe and analyze. To suss out smart solutions to complex dilemmas. They need to be able to answer higher-level questions that require thought and exploration. They need to learn to ask why, what if, and how to think through all sides of an issue.

As discussed above (and below) interactive touch screen displays do all of this and more.

Collaboration skills are critical. Today’s employers expect employees to work in teams and collaborate effectively. The traditional one-to-many lecture format fails to foster these skills. Interactive displays enable constructivist learning. They enable students to work together to make connections and develop knowledge.

By , 30 to 40 percent of jobs will require strong social-emotional skills. Automation is displacing jobs that require repetitive tasks. Today’s students will engage in work that machines can’t do. Like communicating, managing people, and applying expertise. Using touch screen displays with classmates helps students develop social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies. Skills like self-awareness and self-management. Social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

3. Boost Enthusiasm

Students in classes that leverage an interactive touch screen display are more engaged. They pay more attention. They’re more positive about learning. Teachers often report that increased attentiveness and engagement are the top benefits of teaching with interactive display technology.

This motivating impact of interactive displays is seen at every level of education. A good deal of research shows the benefits of interactive whiteboards in early childhood education. (Note that many researchers still use the term “interactive whiteboard,” “IW,” or “IWB” for all similar technology.) These benefits include gains in achievement, participation, motivation, and cooperation. Students were also able to engage in exploration and activities for longer periods of time. Focus and attention span during lessons increased.

A recent study compared the results of traditional vs. tech teaching with students ages three to six. One of the three groups each used tablets, interactive touchscreen displays, or paper worksheets to learn and practice concepts. The results revealed that students who used tech were more motivated. They also achieved better results than those who used paper. What’s more, the teachers strongly perceived interactive display learners as being the most motivated of the three groups. Why the difference in enthusiasm between the tablet and interactive display groups? It was likely the collaborative component, the authors concluded1.

The interactive whiteboard allows several students to perform the activities at the same time, and this encouraged them to interact with each other. For instance, they discussed the correct answers… and they willingly helped their partners if they did not know the correct answer. In this way, the benefits of collaborative learning became very noticeable thanks to enhanced interactivity and accessibility…. 

Primary-age students were similarly more motivated when they used interactive displays. The positive impact of interactive tech was significant. Student learning improved as did the quality of the learning environment. Plus, the interactive displays clearly boosted excitement for the lessons.

Moving up to higher education. The results continue to prove the captivating qualities of interactive displays. A study of first-year students compared classes taught with and without an interactive touch screen display. Those assigned to the “with” class achieved higher levels of “academic press” – the degree to which they cared about academic achievement. The researchers conclude that the difference was a significant positive correlation.

4. Facilitate Student-led Learning​

Students need feedback to know when they’re on the right track. Decades of research have shown that less instruction plus more feedback creates greater learning. In fact, it doubles how quickly students learn.

Harvard Physics professor Eric Mazur was one of the first to figure this out. His Intro to Physics students was floundering. Although they were book smart, they were failing at applying this knowledge in other ways. The prof’s peer-instruction model got them back on track. Mazur assigned students problems to ponder, then discuss in small groups. 

In this example, Mazur didn’t employ an interactive touch screen. But he easily could have. EdTech provides abundant ways to create effective feedback. Small group discussions get an infusion of creativity when students have technology at their disposal. Be it an iPad, Chromebook or touch screen display. Tech-savvy students will turn to the devices at hand to research, draw, diagram, describe, and defend. During these discussions, students provide one another with continuous feedback on their ideas and understanding.

How to Provide Student-led Learning Feedback?

On this note, not all feedback is created equal. The most effective feedback is timely and consistent. It’s delivered frequently and in proximity to the learning event. Interactive whiteboards can maximize effective feedback. Use them to employ formative feedback apps like Formative, Kahoot and Socrative. Get kids in the game with interactive learning apps like MathPlayground, DuoLingo, and Tiny Cards. Students working at interactive display boards receive immediate responses that tell them how they’re doing. Quick action and repetition allow them to try again. In doing so they receive the consistent, ongoing input critical to turning feedback into learning. 

However, if you find your school does not need advanced device management features, there are other great options like myViewBoard Display that allows you to easily present and collaborate without the need for APP download or long pauses in between. ​

myViewBoard Display is also an easy-to-use web-based solution, where you simply use the one-time password to mirror your screen. No need for additional setups so you can jumpstart your collaborative class activities in an instance. 

5. Enhancing Classroom Management

Interactive touch screen displays can be a boon to keeping classes running smoothly. For one thing, the more engaged students are, the less likely they are to be disruptive. By making lessons more dynamic, students are inherently more captivated by the content. (Who doesn’t like learning with a game, video or lively discussion with onscreen annotation?)

For another, interactive displays enable the use of can’t-be-missed visual aids. Visual timers like Time Timer keep kids on task. They help kids conceptualize, manage and visualize time when taking tests or taking turns. Visual noise level cues make “shushing” more fun and spare the teacher from being the bad guy. Two popular options to try: Bouncy Balls and the Too Noisy app.

Finally, experienced teachers know that developing a cohesive classroom community is half the classroom management battle. (Or more.) The classroom interactive touch screen display provides a central space around which to build that community. Use it to conduct your morning meetings. Even better, let students earn the role of morning moderator at the big screen. Take a break from traditional Star Student posters. Let students create multimedia presentations that express themselves in a dynamic new way. Challenge them to join forces with cooperative gameplay apps. 

6. Creating a Common Experience

When schools implement one-to-one learning programs, students can end up spending a lot of time behind a screen. Focused on their own activities. This can be great for differentiated learning. Not so good for maintaining a classroom community. Diverting their focus to the interactive display brings students back to a community mindset. Whether it’s the teacher or a group of students presenting, the display creates a common experience.

The more you use your interactive touch screen display the more it becomes a central gathering point. A visible means of creating common ground among classmates. Collaborative projects, presentations, and gamified learning all do the trick. Or, take a group break from the pressures of the day. Try infusing mindfulness activities from the Calm School Initiative. Your display can even help create a communal atmosphere when students are focused on their iPads or Chromebooks. Use it to display nature scenes or play music from music visualizer.

7. Bringing Greater Inclusivity

Interactive whiteboards help teachers offer more learning opportunities to more students. Lessons that bring students to the board let kinesthetic learners get up and move. Videos and multimedia presentations appeal to visual and auditory learners. And for those that learn best by reading? Teachers can capture and save on-screen notes and distribute the files for independent review.

Classroom technology can be a great equalizer for students with special needs. Interactive touch screen displays integrate easily with assistive tech. Like captions, text highlighters and text-to-speech software. Students that have difficulty holding a pen can write on the display with a finger or tennis ball. Early learners can trace letters and shapes. Advanced learners can collaborate with classmates on more complex lessons at the display.

Students with mobility challenges may not be able to participate at a wall-mounted display. It may be difficult to reach due to height or their reach may be blocked. An ADA-compliant lift with robust functionality adds accessibility. Look for height adjustment and multiple tilt angles. Plus the ability to go fully horizontal.  More options maximize access for more students.

8. Improving Learning Outcomes

Students and teachers agree: interactive whiteboards are fun. They captivate, improve attention span and boost student engagement. They can be an outstanding cornerstone for classroom cohesion. They’re also a proven way to help students learn more, learn better, and be better able to apply that learning as they move forward in their lives.

We know that active learning works. A meta-analysis of 225 studies concluded that it reduces failure rates by 55% over passive receipt of information. It also demonstrated the many ways active learning promotes higher-order thinking. The very foundation for the skills most in-demand by employers.

We also know that interactive displays and active learning go hand in hand. That these dynamic and versatile touch screen displays facilitate countless active learning adventures.

Early research demonstrated a 6-point gain when 85 teachers used interactive displays across 170 classrooms. This jumped to 26 points when instructors used graphs, charts, videos, and other visuals to reinforce information. Success skyrocketed to a 31 percent increase under the optimal circumstances. By adding “interactive reinforcers” and audience response polling, student achievement reached the highest levels.3 

That was in . Today, teachers can leverage the learning potential of interactive displays to an even greater extent. The displays themselves offer a new level of collaborative and interactive capabilities. Add to this a plethora of advanced interactive learning apps. Plus easy-to-use content-sharing software. And readily available response systems. All support greater learning with virtually any curriculum.

9. Easy to Implement

IT departments are big fans of interactive touch screen displays. Compared to traditional interactive whiteboards and projector-based technology, they offer big benefits. Because they’re all-in-one solutions, they’re faster to implement. They require virtually no maintenance. Plus, teachers get up and running with their dynamic displays with minimal training. All of which saves IT time and reduces related costs.

Administrative benefits of interactive whiteboards:

• An all-in-one solution
• Easy installation
• Reduced maintenance
• No bulbs
• No filters or calibration
• Greater reliability
• Longer lifespan
• Lower energy consumption
• Wall or cart-mount for resource sharing
• Often no software licensing fees 

10. Remote Management 

Remote management is a big benefit when it comes to interactive whiteboards. But not all boards have the same remote management systems. Some may require you to download multiple different apps, while others are just plain complicated. ​

Thankfully, ViewBoards are built-in with the myViewBoard software, a comprehensive learning suite that includes remote management features as well.​

​MyViewBoard Manager is an easy and safe web-based solution that is so simple, IT managers or even teachers can learn how to use it. The benefit of having a solid device management tool is that you can set up your classroom with different scenarios, or easily assign boards to specific locations in your school.

As teachers gain experience with their interactive touch screen they begin benefiting from the full range of features. IT teams often report that after brief training most teachers are comfortable with the displays. Some display manufacturers offer webinars and onsite training to help educators optimize the use of their classroom display.

Teachers who’ve previously used projector-based systems are often the biggest fans. Compared to these older-style systems, the advantages of touch-screen displays include: 

• Maximized teaching time; no downtime from burned out bulbs or recalibrating
• Greater reliability for more uninterrupted class time
• Eliminates shadows and glare
• Quiet, fan-free operation
• Crisp, bright display lets teachers keep the lights on
• Easy cart mounting for resource sharing (without recalibration)

ViewBoard 52 Series, for example, is highlighted for collaborative learning environments thanks to bringing a sense of ease for teachers with:​

• User-friendly software​
• Software compatibility​
• Multi-media soundbar​
• USB Type-C​
• Easy casting (MVB Display)​
• Eye-care technology ​
• Shortcut keys

1 Martin, Estefania, et al. Impact of using interactive devices in Spanish early childhood education public schools, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Volume 35, Issue 1. Accessed 5.20.19 at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10./jcal.

The company is the world’s best all in one touch screen for edu supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

2 Hattie, John. Visible Learning Infographic Accessed 5.20.19 at: https://visible-learning.org//02/infographic-john-hattie-visible-learing/

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

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• Best Desktops
• Best Budget Desktops
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Best All-in-One Windows Desktop for Most Users

HP Envy Move

4.0 Excellent

• Carrying handle, self-deploying stand, and keyboard pocket for room-to-room travel
• Sunny p touch screen
• Sharp webcam
• Wireless keyboard with touchpad
• Hours on battery power

• Short on ports
• No headphone jack
• Keyboard lacks some keys

Versatility is king when recommending a PC to all sorts of general users, and it doesn't get much more adaptable in the desktop space than the HP Envy Move. This all-in-one is designed to move around the home, with a lightweight design that includes a handle and self-deploying feet. It can be used in any room as needed with relative ease, thanks to the included keyboard with a built-in touchpad, and even an internal battery for a few hours off the charger. The Move includes a capable 13th Gen Intel processor, a bright 23.8-inch p display, and a decent webcam, so as to not diminish its capacity as a normal desktop. The reasonable pricing helps, too.

If you're a casual, everyday user looking for an all-in-one desktop, you should be happy with this one. For those of you who may not make extensive use of the mobility, we'd still recommend it as an effective general-use AIO. For those who may want to move it around the house or office, it's painless to do so, and various family members can enjoy it for a range of tasks. Just note that the performance doesn't hit the higher end of some more potent AIOs, if that's what you need.

Desktop Class All-in-one Processor Intel Core i5-U Processor Speed RAM (as Tested) 16 GB Boot Drive Type SSD Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 TB All-in-One Screen Size 23.8 inches All-in-One Screen Native Resolution by All-in-One Screen Type IPS touch screen Graphics Card Intel Iris Xe Graphics Operating System Windows 11 Home GET IT NOW Learn More HP Envy Move Review

Best Basic Budget All-in-One Desktop

Dell Inspiron 24 AIO ()

4.0 Excellent

• Sleek, compact design
• Pop-up p webcam
• Wide array of ports
• Wireless mouse and keyboard

• p at 24 inches looks dull
• Merely adequate performance
• Unresponsive mouse

Dell's Inspiron 24 nails the essentials at a lower price in the face of more versatile alternatives. This AIO features a broader array of connectivity than many, including USB-C, plus a sharp p webcam for video calls. Its adequate speed makes for an excellent home-entertainment-focused machine rather than a productivity hub, but it's also versatile enough for some light office work. We also appreciate how many ways Dell lets you configure this AIO above its low starting price before checkout. Still, our $799.99 test configuration is a decent mix of affordability and efficiency.

If you're looking for a home entertainment machine for the family room or den and you'd like to upgrade a bit from our budget pick, consider the Inspiron 24 . Not everyone may love the all-white design, but it's potentially less of an eye-sore in different environments than the classic black, and the legs are elegant, too. With its bigger display and better audio, this AIO is clearly aimed at families looking to have fun at the computer.

Desktop Class All-in-one Processor Intel Core 5-120U Processor Speed RAM (as Tested) 16 GB Boot Drive Type SSD Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 GB All-in-One Screen Size 23.8 inches All-in-One Screen Native Resolution by All-in-One Screen Type IPS touch screen Graphics Card Intel Graphics Operating System Windows 11 Home

Best Premium All-in-One Windows Desktop

Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i Gen 8

4.0 Excellent

• Big, bright, and beautiful 4K display
• Blazing Core i9 processor
• Handsome design
• Wireless keyboard and mouse

• No discrete GPU
• Unimpressive webcam
• Hard-to-reach ports

A beautiful 31.5-inch screen and Intel's 13th Gen Core i9 processor is enough to sell this high-end AIO. When you combine that with an elegant design, it's easy to see why it's our top pick. The 4K display is bright and spacious, and we found the performance more than good enough for this type of PC. It's the fastest, nicest AIO at this size for general and professional use.

If you work with a lot of windows, sheets, tabs, and generally multi-task quite a bit, you'll love the sharpness and digital real estate the display provides here. The processor ensures you won't see slowdown during that, also, but note that there is no discrete graphics option, potentially a dealbreaker for some users. If you have the physical space to fit this handsome AIO, it's a joy to use.

Desktop Class All-in-one Processor Intel Core i9-H Processor Speed RAM (as Tested) 16 GB Boot Drive Type SSD Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 GB All-in-One Screen Size 31.5 inches All-in-One Screen Native Resolution by All-in-One Screen Type IPS Graphics Card Intel Iris Xe Graphics Operating System Windows 11 Home GET IT NOW

Best Overall Mac All-in-One Desktop

Apple iMac (, M4)

4.0 Excellent

• Powerful M4 processor tops past iMac chips
• Bold colors, slick design elevate the iMac's appeal
• Beautiful 23.5-inch 4.5K display with anti-glare option
• Color-matched accessories included

• Limited port selection
• No height adjustment

Shades of the '90s gumdrop iMac live on in today's 24-inch iMac. Apple's current iMac comes in seven lively colors, from yellow to purple (with a matching mouse and keyboard in each box), so one is sure to fit the decor of any room in your abode. But it's not just a pretty face: The previous M3-based iMac line has been upgraded to Apple's M4 chip for speedy performance, while the 4.5K display and Center Stage webcam are first-class. As an added value for sticking with Apple, macOS's integration with your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch is unparalleled—now featuring iPhone mirroring on Macs.

Its ultra-thin flat panel makes the iMac the most fashionable all-in-one and a top choice for students or home-office entrepreneurs using the Apple ecosystem. Like most Apple wares, it's not cheap (starting at $1,299 with a skimpy 256GB of storage), but it remains an iconic home computer. You won't find a 27-inch option anymore, so this looks like the main iMac going forward.

Desktop Class All-in-one Processor Apple M4 (10-core) Processor Speed RAM (as Tested) 16 GB Boot Drive Type SSD Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 TB All-in-One Screen Size 23.5 inches All-in-One Screen Native Resolution by All-in-One Screen Type IPS Graphics Card Apple M4 (10-core) Operating System Apple macOS Sequoia

Best All-in-One Desktop for Business

HP EliteOne 870 G9

4.0 Excellent

• Excellent, near-silent performance
• Sharp webcam
• Classy design
• Wireless charging in base stand
• Loud speakers
• Three-year warranty

• Screen could be brighter

You'll find a lot to like about this system for business users, from its slick design to the attractive price. A crisp 27-inch p touch display provides plenty of space for productivity, and the 13th Gen Core i5 processor is fast enough to keep you moving through multiple applications and tasks. That's all backed up by a robust supporting feature set: The webcam has a sharp picture, the stand can wirelessly charge your devices, the speakers deliver ample volume, and it all runs quietly. Our model was just $1,029 despite that, and it starts just under $1,000, providing some budget flexibility.

This machine has few downsides for average business use, well suited to lower-end to moderate professional demands. Most businesses favor traditional minitower or small-form-factor desktops because the computer and monitor can have separate lifespans, and they can sometimes drive more performance. However, offices choosing the AIO route will be thoroughly satisfied with the EliteOne 870 G9.

Desktop Class All-in-one Processor Intel Core i5- Processor Speed 2.5 GHz RAM (as Tested) 16 GB Boot Drive Type SSD Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 GB All-in-One Screen Size 27 inches All-in-One Screen Native Resolution by All-in-One Screen Type Touch Screen Graphics Card Intel UHD Graphics 770 Operating System Windows 11 Pro

The Best All-in-One Computers for Compare Specs

Your Selections

HP Envy Move

$916.99 at Amazon See It

Dell Inspiron 24 AIO ()

$599.99 at Dell $649.99 Save $50.00 See It

Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i Gen 8

$1,499.99 at Lenovo See It

Apple iMac (, M4)

$1,193.00 at Amazon $1,299.00 Save $106.00 See It

HP EliteOne 870 G9

$1,048.87 at HP See It

HP Envy Move

$916.99 at Amazon See It

Dell Inspiron 24 AIO ()

$599.99 at Dell $649.99 Save $50.00 See It

Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i Gen 8

$1,499.99 at Lenovo See It

Apple iMac (, M4)

$1,193.00 at Amazon $1,299.00 Save $106.00 See It

HP EliteOne 870 G9

$1,048.87 at HP See It

HP Envy Move

$916.99 at Amazon See It

Dell Inspiron 24 AIO ()

$599.99 at Dell $649.99 Save $50.00 See It

Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i Gen 8

$1,499.99 at Lenovo See It

Apple iMac (, M4)

$1,193.00 at Amazon $1,299.00 Save $106.00 See It

HP EliteOne 870 G9

$1,048.87 at HP See It Rating 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 Best For Best All-in-One Windows Desktop for Most Users Best Basic Budget All-in-One Desktop Best Premium All-in-One Windows Desktop Best Overall Mac All-in-One Desktop Best All-in-One Desktop for Business Best All-in-One Windows Desktop for Most Users Best Basic Budget All-in-One Desktop Best Premium All-in-One Windows Desktop Best Overall Mac All-in-One Desktop Best All-in-One Desktop for Business Best All-in-One Windows Desktop for Most Users Best Basic Budget All-in-One Desktop Best Premium All-in-One Windows Desktop Best Overall Mac All-in-One Desktop Best All-in-One Desktop for Business Desktop Class All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one All-in-one Processor Intel Core i5-U Intel Core 5-120U Intel Core i9-H Apple M4 (10-core) Intel Core i5- Intel Core i5-U Intel Core 5-120U Intel Core i9-H Apple M4 (10-core) Intel Core i5- Intel Core i5-U Intel Core 5-120U Intel Core i9-H Apple M4 (10-core) Intel Core i5- Processor Speed 2.5 GHz 2.5 GHz 2.5 GHz RAM (as Tested) 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB Boot Drive Type SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 TB 512 GB 512 GB 1 TB 512 GB 1 TB 512 GB 512 GB 1 TB 512 GB 1 TB 512 GB 512 GB 1 TB 512 GB Secondary Drive Type Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) Optical Drive All-in-One Screen Size 23.8 inches 23.8 inches 31.5 inches 23.5 inches 27 inches 23.8 inches 23.8 inches 31.5 inches 23.5 inches 27 inches 23.8 inches 23.8 inches 31.5 inches 23.5 inches 27 inches All-in-One Screen Native Resolution by by by by by by by by by by by by by by by All-in-One Screen Type IPS touch screen IPS touch screen IPS IPS Touch Screen IPS touch screen IPS touch screen IPS IPS Touch Screen IPS touch screen IPS touch screen IPS IPS Touch Screen Graphics Card Intel Iris Xe Graphics Intel Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics Apple M4 (10-core) Intel UHD Graphics 770 Intel Iris Xe Graphics Intel Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics Apple M4 (10-core) Intel UHD Graphics 770 Intel Iris Xe Graphics Intel Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics Apple M4 (10-core) Intel UHD Graphics 770 Operating System Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Apple macOS Sequoia Windows 11 Pro Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Apple macOS Sequoia Windows 11 Pro Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Apple macOS Sequoia Windows 11 Pro Buying Guide: The Best All-in-One Computers for

So, you just started shopping for an AIO. The first thing to look at (no pun intended) is the display—the centerpiece of any AIO. While some less-expensive AIO PCs will come with panels smaller than 23 inches, those are better suited to exceedingly cramped spaces such as classroom labs or dorm rooms. (Go much smaller than that, and you might as well just buy a big-screen laptop.) What you want is a display at least 23 inches on the diagonal—and larger is better if you can do it. The biggest all-in-ones we've seen to date have curved 34-inch screens.

With a screen 23 inches or larger, you're almost guaranteed a native resolution of at least 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (aka, full HD), and larger screens will go even higher. In many cases, that's up to 4K—3,840 by 2,160 pixels—for a conventionally shaped screen or 3,440 by 1,440 pixels on an ultra-wide display. High resolutions of that kind allow you to view multiple windows side by side or view a spreadsheet three to four pages wide. Indeed, if you're a multitasker, the more screen room, the better.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Though it's not a concern to those with 20/10 vision, a larger screen and a higher native resolution will let you increase the font size on your Word documents or Excel spreadsheets while still keeping a lot of information on the screen at one time. Desktop screens tend to be brighter than laptop displays in general, as well. Look for in-plane switching (IPS) technology for the best screen quality. IPS screens are inherently better at off-axis viewing, so you won't have to sit perfectly centered to see accurate colors and all the detail in your images.

To touch-screen or not to touch-screen—that is a question of personal preference. Modern Windows operating systems were designed with touch panels in mind, which makes interacting with your various applications as easy as ever. Although these can be fun and functional for families, a touch screen isn't 100% necessary for everyone, especially if you plan to use the all-in-one like a traditional computer. If you're looking at an Apple iMac all-in-one, on the other hand, the decision is made for you: macOS doesn't take advantage of touch screens, and no Macs include them.

(Credit: Brian Westover)

Don't fret either way. Scrolling with a mouse or a touchpad will still be as quick as or quicker than on a touch screen because, with an AIO, you have to reach up to the screen, taking a hand off the keyboard or mouse. Selecting text for copying and pasting is easier with a mouse, too. If you fill out forms online and switch among text-entry boxes, pull-down menus, and checkboxes, you can quickly enter data with a keyboard and mouse.

If you're planning on using the touch screen at least 50% of the time, look for one of the handful of systems with screens that can recline down to horizontal or almost horizontal. This lets you use the system like a large tablet, so you don't have to hold your arm out constantly to use the touch screen. Think about using an ATM: The vertical screen is fine for a 90-second transaction, but it would become tiring after 10 minutes or more. It comes down to simple ergonomics.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Speaking of vertical orientation, the occasional AIO will come with a stand that lets you pivot the screen into a portrait orientation. Portrait mode lets you view content such as webpages and appropriately shaped pictures without wasting space on the sides of the screen. It's a boon for web developers and layout artists still working on print publications. If portrait mode is something you'd be interested in, make sure the system features auto-rotate; without it, you'll need to switch display settings every time you pivot the display. Portrait pivoting is far more common in stand-alone desktop monitors than in AIOs.

Which Core Components Do You Need in an AIO Desktop?

PC manufacturers are generally slower to update AIOs than their other products, so some of the units here are not necessarily running the newest generation of processors. When comparing CPUs in AIO PCs, a key distinction to make is whether the AIO uses a full-desktop CPU or a mobile one.

All else being equal, a full-desktop chip is preferable but not often deployed in an all-in-one due to space constraints. How to tell: Mobile chips from the likes of Intel will have "U," "H," or "HX" appended to the end of the chip model number. A desktop CPU will have no letter at the end, or perhaps "K" or "T." Most desktop AIOs will use Intel chips, as opposed to ones from rival AMD.

Most PCs have, by , adopted at least Intel 13th Generation ("Raptor Lake") processors, if not 14th Generation ("Raptor Lake Refresh"). We've yet to see an AIO with one of Intel's or AMD's new AI-ready chips (Intel's Core Ultra "Meteor Lake," "Lunar Lake," or "Arrow Lake," or AMD's "Strix Point"), but we expect that to change before long.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Other types of AIO, including extreme-budget Windows models and the handful of ChromeOS desktops that exist, may use less powerful chips, like those from Intel's Pentium line. Any modern processor will help edit photos or videos or run intensive media processes in the background while you work on several tasks in the foreground.

AMD's Ryzen chips have appeared in a few all-in-ones, in the form of Ryzen 5 and lower-powered Ryzen 3 processors. Some of our past top picks have been Ryzen models, and the company's chips turn up in some highly regarded, powerful laptops. We may also see Ryzen AI chips deployed in AIOs in the future. But in general, Intel CPUs dominate the AIO PC market.

Meanwhile, among Macs, Apple's 24-inch iMac was based on the Apple M1 processor, which was a harbinger of the iconic iMac's future. Sure enough, the  iMac came equipped with the M3 chip, the iMac debuted with the M4, and these AIOs (and all Apple computers) will continue to run on Apple's homebrewed silicon for the foreseeable future.

(Credit: Brian Westover)

An 8GB helping of DDR4 or DDR5 RAM should be the minimum amount of system memory you settle for. Although 4GB will work fine for the most basic tasks, you'll feel the pinch of such a low-spec computer. Having 8GB or 16GB will let you keep dozens of tabs open on your browser and still have room left over for a demanding program such as Photoshop. Plus, 16GB is the recommended minimum for professional content-creation use.

How Much Storage and Which Ports Do You Need in an AIO?

You won't see them in new models, but avoid traditional spinning hard drives, which are relatively slow at booting and loading apps. Insist on an AIO that uses a solid-state drive (SSD) as the boot drive. (Almost all now do.) If you keep all your files on a central network-attached storage (NAS) device or stored in the cloud, just about any SSD 500GB or larger should be sufficient. That's enough for the operating system and a handful of frequently used programs. Look for a boot drive of at least 1TB capacity if you store heaps of video on your PC. Videos clog up hard drives faster than just about any other file type.

You can have the best of both worlds with an all-in-one PC that boots from an SSD but has an additional spinning hard drive for storage, though that arrangement is rare nowadays. If you're a power user, look for at least a 256GB SSD boot drive and 1TB of supplemental hard drive storage. You'll need more storage (2TB to 4TB) if you keep your entire video, music, and photo collection on your AIO.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Adding an extra terabyte or so is also easy with an external drive. SSDs cost more per gigabyte than regular spinning hard drives, but SSDs boot up and wake from sleep so much faster than regular drives that we highly recommend them as boot drives. Unfortunately, some AIO PCs are hard or impossible to upgrade yourself, so make sure you get what storage you need at the start.  

Because an all-in-one is, at its heart, a computer, it should have all the ports you expect to need during your day-to-day activities, particularly USB ports (in easy-to-access places, if at all possible). You may also want a dedicated Ethernet jack, though all-in-ones today all come with Wi-Fi support built-in, so you can easily hook up the system to the wireless network you already have in your home or office.

Also handy is an HDMI input port, which allows you to use the AIO as a discrete display for a separate PC, game console, or video source. This gives an AIO with a sharp display some potential usefulness years down the road as a stand-alone monitor when the PC portion inside becomes obsolete.

Why Is It a Good Idea to Buy an All-In-One PC?

On the most basic level, one of the main reasons for choosing an AIO is that you don't need to buy separate parts in addition to your computer tower, like a monitor and speakers. All-in-one PCs represent exactly what the name implies: a complete desktop computer in one package, delivering a plug-and-play experience. Your screen and components are all tied up in one device, like a laptop, which takes up less of your desk or floor space than a desktop tower and monitor combination.

Even if you find a laptop you like with a roomy 16- or 18-inch screen, you'll need a strong back to carry it anywhere; 6 pounds and up, plus an AC adapter, is typical for machines like these. We suspect you won't travel with a true desktop-replacement machine like that all that much, and that could make even a small-screen AIO a viable stay-at-home alternative. And because AIO desktops are plugged in, you won't ever run out of battery power.

Because AIOs tend to use more powerful processors than many laptops do, all-in-one PCs will execute CPU-intensive tasks more rapidly, on the whole. Some 3D games will run better, too, thanks to the discrete graphics chips in some A-grade AIO PCs. To find AIOs with discrete chips, look for one of the very few (Microsoft's Surface Studio line is the rare example) graphics solutions dubbed GeForce RTX, as opposed to Intel Iris Xe, UHD, or HD Graphics, or AMD Radeon (no "RX") integrated graphics.

(Credit: Brian Westover)

Other advantages? You can share the PC among family members, and use it to store centrally accessible photos, music, and videos. And a large, widescreen AIO PC makes for a fine videoconferencing system. Rather than having the family crowd around your iPad or a little laptop screen, seat them in front of a 27- or 34-inch AIO desktop so you're not subconsciously squeezing together to "fit on the screen." Plus, a large AIO screen is ideal for watching a movie from 5 or 6 feet away, so a couple in, say, a studio apartment could use a big-screen AIO as a TV in front of a small sofa or loveseat. Or, if you place the system in a central location, such as your kitchen counter, you can monitor your children when they're online.

But these PCs aren't just suitable for play. A few years back, Apple brought the AIO further into workstation territory with the iMac Pro. The starting price for this monster machine at launch was high at $5,000, but it packed a jaw-dropping amount of muscle: It had a 27-inch 5K screen and was configurable with up to an 18-core processor, 128GB of memory, and 4TB of solid-state storage. (Note that it is still for sale at this writing from non-Apple sources, usually used or as a refurbished model, but as of March , Apple discontinued it.)

This kind of muscle is usually found only in elite-grade tower PCs, but the best AIOs can rival a high-end desktop. Apple's homebrewed M-series chips in the latest iMacs mentioned earlier are pretty fast. While many Windows AIOs trend toward the budget side, you'll find some models with potent processing options, like the Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i Gen 8.

Why Is It Not a Good Idea to Buy an All-In-One PC?

Of course, all-in-one designs come with some considerable limitations. If something goes wrong with the display, it's not as easy as swapping out the monitor, as you might with a standard PC tower setup. The screen is part of the package; the same goes for any component here. This is much closer to the laptop experience: When one part goes, it usually makes the system less usable overall. You're much more likely to buy an entirely new laptop or AIO when a part (or multiple parts) stops working well.

Sticking with the laptop comparison: While AIOs have bigger screens, you're giving up a lot of portability versus a laptop. AIOs are more portable than tower PCs, but you're unlikely to move your AIO once it's in place, apart from purpose-made models like the unique (and aptly named) HP Envy Move, shown below.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Compared with standard desktops, PC towers tend to have a higher power ceiling than AIOs. Most all-in-ones employ higher-end laptop processors, given their slimmer design and limited cooling, so traditional desktops contain more power potential. High-end towers are a much better fit for intensive work, like CAD/CAM or scientific data processing, and this is doubly true on the graphics front. AIOs lack desktop-equivalent graphics cards because of size and thermal concerns; the very few that have discrete graphics at all opt for laptop-level mobile graphics chips. PC gamers will get far more value and satisfaction from a stand-alone tower (where they can swap out a graphics card) than from a fixed-config AIO PC with much weaker integrated graphics.

Crucially, all-in-one PCs lack the expandability of most towers, which is again related to their slimmer, more space-limited designs. This brings us to the next point.

Can You Upgrade Parts in an All-in-One PC?

Generally speaking, this is a highly restrictive aspect of owning an AIO compared with a traditional tower desktop. AIOs have much more in common with laptops; both may let you upgrade the memory or storage, at best. For some users, that's enough, but it's still not all that common for these mostly sealed designs. Like with laptops, memory or the SSD may be directly integrated or soldered onto the motherboard, meaning you're stuck with what you have. And CPU and graphics upgrades are a nonstarter.

End-user upgrades are just not a priority with AIO designs. Even if an AIO chassis does open up easily and its components are not soldered down, it's more like upgrading a laptop. An AIO may use mobile SO-DIMM RAM (possible to acquire, but not the same size as desktop RAM), and M.2 SSDs may be size-limited versus the full-size slots on most desktop motherboards.

With a traditional desktop tower, installing a graphics card into a system you originally purchased without one is at least an option (provided it has the space, the slot, and an adequate power supply). You'll never fit one in an AIO's interior, however. If substantial future upgrades are a priority or even a concern, an AIO is not the right pick. Get a tower-style desktop.

What Is the Lifespan of an All-in-One PC?

As mentioned above, AIOs function on more of a laptop lifecycle, since it's one complete package rather than discrete parts. Regardless, at minimum, you should still get several years of use out of your machine. As far as speed and performance do, modern processors are snappy as a baseline, so you should be set for the near future and should expect to get a minimum of three years out of your machine.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

For reasons outlined, though, it's often harder to fix when something goes wrong with an AIO's hardware than with a tower. (If your AIO display goes bad, it's not as easy as buying a new monitor, so hopefully, it's still under warranty if this happens.) With AIOs focused on business users, you'll find more support and longer warranties, like the three-year coverage for the HP EliteOne 870 G9. One- or two-year warranties are more common otherwise.

If you're lucky and you don't suffer component malfunction or damage, it comes back to speed and deprecation. If you're a power user, you may see sluggish performance after a few years, and if you hold on to an AIO for a truly long time—approaching a decade—the processor may no longer receive security patches, or Microsoft may drop support for the aging Windows version the PC shipped with.

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