Laptops may often get the spotlight in the news, but desktops remain the backbone of business computing, offering power, versatility, and long-term reliability. The right business tabletop PC can improve your workflow tenfold. There’s almost certainly a computer for you but figuring out which one can be intimidating.
Also: The best Windows laptops of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
To help you make a decision, I compiled a list of desktops that will help you tackle work efficiently, meet deadlines, and achieve your professional goals. There are many great options, like the affordable Dell XPS 8960, to powerful machines like the M4 Max Mac Studio and the Lenovo Legion Tower 5.
For our March update, we refreshed our guide and added several new computers.
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What’s the best business desktop right now?
Of all the business desktops we’ve tested so far, the Dell XPS 8960 Desktop remains our top pick for its combination of solid hardware, versatile feature set, and competitive price point. Like many Dell PCs, it comes in various configurations, allowing shoppers to choose the right hardware for their needs.
As much as we like the XPS 8960, it’s not right for everyone. If you’d prefer a smaller PC, we recommend the Blackview MP20 Mini PC. And content creators in particular will appreciate the sheer power of the Legion Tower 5. Read on to find out what the best business desktops are in 2026. For March 2026, we included the aforementioned PCs and updated the entries from the last refresh.
The best business desktops of 2026
Why we like it: The Dell XPS 8960 is a great example of why a traditional desktop is perfect for businesses and office setups. The configuration I’m recommending includes an Intel Core i7-14700 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It provides fast, reliable performance for demanding workloads. What’s great is that it’s not that big, measuring 14.68 x 6.81 x 16.8 inches, so it’ll be pretty easy to find a place for it.
Because it’s a tower, you’ll find plenty of ports on it covering a variety of standards, including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and an SD card reader. You’ll be able to connect all sorts of accessories to the desktop to make it your own.
Review: Dell XPS 8960 Desktop
Who it’s for: Dell’s XPS 8960 is best suited for business professionals or anyone seeking a reliable office workstation with more power than the average laptop. It has the hardware to support demanding design programs, accounting tools, and large files. There are plenty of configurations on there as well. Walmart has a configuration operating on a GeForce RTX 4070 GPU.
Who should look elsewhere: The base Dell XPS 8960 is pretty cheap. At the time of writing, you can get it for less than $300 at Walmart. Some of the stronger configurations are significantly more expensive. The RTX 4070 I mentioned earlier is retailing for $2,419. Also, there aren’t very many of these PCs left. You can find them on Amazon, though only a few at the time of this writing.
Dell XPS 8960 Desktop tech specs: | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | CPU: Intel Core i7-14700 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050
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Why we like it: Lenovo’s ThinkCentre M90a Gen 5 stands out as one of the best all-in-one desktops for a home business setup. It combines solid hardware with a clean, space-saving design. Like the Dell XPS 8960, there are many configurations available, and the one I recommend has a 14th-gen Intel Core i7-14700, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. That’s good enough power for multitasking, video calls, and light creative work without feeling slow.
Permanently attached to the hardware is a 24-inch Full HD IPS display. That’s a comfortable size for daily work while still keeping the PC compact enough to sit on a desk without taking up too much space. Other notable features include Wi-Fi 6E support, built-in speakers, and a webcam.
Who it’s for: We recommend the ThinkCentre M90a to home business owners and remote workers who want a reliable workstation but may not have the room for a separate desktop and monitor. Other configurations are available on Amazon. You can find one running an AMD Radeon 660M graphics card and 2.16TB of storage for $1,299.
Also: The best Lenovo laptops you can buy
Who should look elsewhere: Lenovo’s AIO has the same issues as the Dell XPS 8960: Once you start looking for certain configurations, prices go up significantly. In some cases, close to $3,000. On top of that, it’s not as powerful as the previous entry on this list. An Intel UHD Graphics 770 is a fine GPU for most cases, but it’ll struggle against heavier workloads.
Lenovo ThinkCentre m90 Gen 5 tech specs: Display: 23.8-inch IPS | Display resolution: Full HD | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | CPU: Intel Core i7-14700 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 770
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Why we like it: Apple’s M4 iMac pretty much has everything you could want in a desktop computer. When I reviewed the desktop, its M4 chip felt fast in almost every test I ran. Even when I had dozens of tabs open across multiple apps and was editing 4K video, the computer never once slowed down. An important aspect of that performance is the amount of RAM present. The base model starts off with 16GB of memory. You can upgrade it to 32GB for extra breathing room.
The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display is another highlight. It’s sharp, vibrant, and all-around joy to look at. One of the best things about the iMac is that you can connect an external monitor via the Thunderbolt port, giving you a more workstation-like setup.
Review: Apple iMac M4
Who it’s for: This AIO desktop is best suited for Apple users, creative professionals, and business owners seeking a high-performance computer running macOS. It’s an especially great fit for people working in design, video editing, marketing, and writing. Plus, it looks really nice. The iMac is available in seven distinct colors.
Who should look elsewhere: Like many of Apple’s computers, the iMac can’t be upgraded or reconfigured in any meaningful way. What you buy is what you’re going to keep. Once the software patches stop, you’ll be effectively forced to upgrade. On top of that, the iMac can get pricey.
Apple iMac M4 tech specs: Display: 24-inch | Display resolution: 4.5K retina display | RAM: From 16GB to 32GB unified memory | Storage: From 256GB to 2TB | CPU: Apple M4 8- or 10-core CPU | GPU: 10-core GPU, and 16-core NPU
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Why we like it: The M4 Max Mac Studio is essentially a souped-up iMac. It’s another Mac desktop that leans more toward performance. Under the hood, the computer features an M4 Max chipset, ample unified memory, and fast SSD storage. All these components work closely in tandem to allow the system to handle demanding workloads with relative ease. I tested this computer myself last year, and I was able to run multiple editing programs, dozens of browser tabs, and background tasks simultaneously without slowing down.
Usually, a compact computer like this would run quite warm. To combat high internal temperatures, Apple gave its device a robust cooling system to withstand long work sessions.
Review: M4 Max Mac Studio
Who it’s for: Apple’s M4 Mac Studio makes the most sense in the hands of creative professionals and developers. It’s a great fit for video editing, 3D modeling, music production, or software development. Anyone who pushes their machine to its limits will appreciate the extra headroom this model provides.
Who should look elsewhere: The biggest drawback is its price. Even the base model is expensive, and upgrading either the CPU, memory, or storage drive will push the cost much higher. On top of that, the Mac Studio doesn’t come with a display, keyboard, or mouse. You’ll need to buy those separately.
M4 Max Mac Studio tech specs: RAM: From 36GB to 256GB | Storage: From 512GB to 16TB SSD | CPU and GPU: M4 Max
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Why we like it: It may surprise you to see the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i, a gaming desktop, on a list of business PCs, but it has earned its spot, thanks to its high-end hardware.
The model that we tested came with an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, 32GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card. A configuration like that delivers the kind of performance that works just as well for content creation as it does for gaming. Video editing, photo editing, 3D rendering, and heavy multitasking will all run smoothly. It also reduced export times for large projects. Because it’s a gaming desktop, it comes with a robust cooling system and RGB lighting, which you can disable at any time.
Review: Lenovo Legion Tower 5i
Who it’s for: We recommend Lenovo’s Legion Tower 5i to content creators, designers, and engineers who need a desktop with the power to support their work and projects. It’s especially great for people who don’t want to go through all the trouble of building their own PC. All the components you want come preinstalled.
Who should look elsewhere: We don’t recommend the Legion Tower 5i if you have limited space. The case is shorter and wider than most other towers. As a result, it sticks out a lot. ZDNET Staff Writer Cesar Cadenas frequently bumped into the Tower 5i because of how much it juts out.
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i tech specs: | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB | CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
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Why we like it: The Blackview MP20 Mini PC delivers a full Windows 11 Pro experience in an incredibly compact form factor. This computer measures 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4 inches. As you can see in the image below, it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
Don’t let its size fool you, because this is a well-performing machine. The system adeptly handles everyday workloads such as web browsing, office apps, and media playback without issue, all while remaining nearly silent thanks to its low-noise cooling. ZDNET Senior Contributing Writer Adrian Kinglsey-Hughes appreciated how easy it is to upgrade the RAM and storage, giving the PC a nice bit of longevity. Plus, the included VESA mount lets you attach the device to the back of your monitor.
Review: Blackview MP20 Mini PC
Who it’s for: Blackview’s MP20 is a good choice for remote workers and small business owners who want a space-saving computer that performs reliably. It hardly takes up any room.
Who should look elsewhere: The MP20 is designed for efficiency, not power. Don’t buy this mini PC thinking it’ll handle super-heavy workloads or multitasking. It’s just not that type of computer. Customization is also pretty limited. It doesn’t have any USB-C ports, only a single RAM slot, and an M.2 slot for storage. As a result, upgrading the hardware will require replacing parts.
Blackview MP20 Mini PC tech specs: | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | CPU: AMD Ryzen 3300U | GPU: AMD Radeon RX Vega 6
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The Dell XPS 8960 remains our pick for the best business desktop overall. However, it’s not the best fit for everyone. Maybe you want a small form factor or a macOS machine. With that in mind, I broke down the most important specs across our top picks to see how they stack up.
| Best business desktop | Cost | RAM | Storage |
| Dell XPS 8960 Desktop | $289 | 16GB to 64GB | 1TB to 8TB SSD |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre m90 | $2,809 | 32GB | 1TB PCie 4.0 SSD |
| Apple iMac M4 | $1,299 | 16GB to 24GB | 256GB to 2TB |
| Apple M4 Max Mac Studio | $1,999 | 36GB to 256GB | 512GB to 16TB |
| Lenovo Legion Tower 5i | $1,600 | 32GB | 1TB SSD |
| Blackview MP20 Mini PC | $611 | 16GB | 512GB SSD |
| Choose this business desktop… | If you want… |
| Dell XPS 8960 Desktop | A powerful desktop with excellent hardware at a competitive price. If you have your own monitor(s) and accessories, this desktop provides the power and versatility for whatever tasks you can throw at it. |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre m90 Gen 5 | The best all-in-one desktop for working from home. The ThinkCentre offers the full package with a wide array of customizable options. |
| Apple iMac M4 | An all-in-one desktop that’s ready to go out of the box and packed with Apple’s latest features like Center Stage for videoconferencing and Apple Intelligence for creative tasks. |
| Apple M4 Max Mac Studio | A powerful Mac computer that can tear through heavy workloads. |
| Lenovo Legion Tower 5i | A powerful computer that runs on Windows 11. This gaming PC handles creative tasks like 3D rendering with ease. |
| Blackview MP20 Mini PC | A small Windows PC that doesn’t take up much space and works efficiently. |
There are multiple factors to consider when picking out a desktop for business or productivity. These are the most important:
- All-in-one or classic desktop? All-in-one systems combine a computer and display into a single unit, saving space and keeping your setup simple, so you can start working right out of the box. Traditional desktops like the Dell XPS 8960 are typically more powerful and are upgradable. Although they require additional accessories to function.
- Memory: More RAM means a smoother performance, which translates to better multitasking. For business users, having enough memory is more important than having a powerful graphics card. Keep in mind that increasing memory will also inflate the price.
- Storage: If most of your work is saved on cloud servers, then you may not need much local storage. However, if you work with large files, you’ll definitely want more space. Around 1TB of storage is a good baseline for a modern desktop. Anything higher is more for professionals and their projects.
- Display: All-in-ones come with their own screens, which is convenient, but they’re not always the highest quality. For general office work, a low-cost 1080p display from Amazon is fine for most cases. Users who work with photographs, videos, and design software should opt for higher-resolution, color-accurate screens.
We use a combination of methods to test desktops and laptops here at ZDNET. First, we acquire data from benchmarking software to analyze a system’s metrics under the hood and compare them with the advertised numbers. Then, we spend an extended period with the laptop — usually a week or two — using it the same way a normal consumer would, to assess its portability, form factor, and how well the battery actually holds up. For an extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive laptop testing methodology.
- Benchmarking: First, we run a series of tests to put the computer’s hardware through its paces to see what it’s capable of. Cinebench is one of the most commonly used hardware testing suites, testing a desktop’s rendering performance on single and multiple central processing unit (CPU) cores. PCMark 10 is another powerful program that covers a wide range of workplace tasks, and we use many others in tandem to gather as much data as possible. Some components we test include the following.
- Processor: The “brain” of the laptop and one of the most important factors that determines performance. The four largest CPU manufacturers in today’s computers are Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple, although Apple’s CPUs are used only in Apple machines. These components are tested in benchmarking software.
- Display: The size of the display — measured diagonally from corner to corner — is also what dictates an AIO’s overall size and plays a big role in the device’s cost. Brightness is measured in “nits,” and color spectrums are tested in benchmarking software.
- Graphics card (GPU): Whether it’s integrated into the CPU or a dedicated graphics card, how well the machine handles graphics is a key factor for demanding tasks like video editing, rendering, and gaming. We test the GPU with a combination of benchmarking software, gaming, and media playback.
- Design: A desktop’s overall design and form factor make a big difference in how well it fits into your workspace. You have to consider the computer’s size, how much desk space it will take up, how easy it is to access its ports, and whether the system supports upgrades or extra monitors. Each desktop on this list was tested in a real work setup for several weeks to see how it performs.
- The human element: As we mentioned earlier, metrics and system data are important, but numbers alone don’t give you the full picture. This is where we weave in our personal experience with the device and tap into the practical use cases that consumers actually care about.
Ultimately, our goal is to break down the capabilities of each and every desktop we test into digestible terms that real people find useful. There can be a lot of noise and confusion when navigating the consumer market, so we hope to bring an intuitive element to the process by leveraging our team’s decades of experience.
Latest news on business desktops
- Microsoft recently announced a new type of device, Cloud PCs, that will connect directly to the company’s cloud services. It improves worker efficiency while reducing the attack surface for bad actors. The Asus NUC 16 for Windows 365 and the Dell Pro Desktop for Windows 265 will be among the first.
- Apple is bringing more of its microchip manufacturing to the United States, and at the heart of this new venture is a massive manufacturing plant in Arizona.
- Intel announced a new series of desktop processors called the Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus. According to the company, these chips will deliver up to twice the performance for creators compared to the competition. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is said to be “Intel’s fastest desktop gaming processor ever”.
A new desktop is an investment, and making it last is essential to maximizing its value. To care for your new computer, choose a location that makes sense in your home or office. Depending on the size of the device, a desk or workspace that’s close to an outlet (with a connected power strip!) makes the most sense.
Besides these obvious factors, you’ll want to keep the software and drivers up to date. For AIOs, make sure your display is positioned away from windows and light sources to minimize glare.
If you want a computer you can just plug in and fire up, an all-in-one is the way to go. These computers couldn’t be easier to put together and require very little setup. Apple’s iMac and the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90 both connect to power with a single cable and support either wireless or single-cord peripherals that connect easily.
Also: The best all-in-one computers of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
Not everyone wants to hand-select a suite of accessories for a computer you’ll be using for work, and if you just want something powerful that can handle productivity software and office applications, you might consider an all-in-one desktop to get the job done.
You can game on most computers, but you’ll get the best performance from a computer designed for gaming, like the Alienware Aurora R16. Hardware is also a factor, and business- and productivity-focused computers lack the graphics power needed for high-end gaming.
Also: Not enough people are talking about the most capable Lenovo laptop right now
Most business desktops are fine for casual or entry-level gaming, but once you start running graphically intense games, you’re going to run into performance issues, and the computer will not be able to compensate for the heat generated by the hardware.
On this list, the Dell XPS 8960 Desktop has powerful enough hardware to run most games, and Apple’s iMac M4 has great gaming performance that I’ve tried firsthand.
Restart your computer, and when the startup screen appears, press F1, F2, Del, or Enter, depending on your model. It will often specify on the screen, but note that this screen may only appear for a second or two before Windows starts up.
Desktop computers marketed to businesses come with a lot less bloatware than regular consumer desktops. This is because OEMs tend to subsidize the price of consumer desktops by pre-installing third-party programs. Just think of how many times you’ve had to delete Candy Crush from a new computer.
The best business desktops don’t have this problem. Although they may cost more, you’re getting a clean, mostly bloatware-free experience right out of the box when you opt for a business-grade desktop computer.
Business desktops come with high-quality hardware and ample storage, so they are typically a little pricier than base-level consumer machines. That said, their price points can vary widely depending on configuration. Adding extra features can double the starting price or more. Many business desktops start at around $1,200, but prices can easily reach $2,500 or more.
On this list, the Dell XPS 8960 Desktop has one of the lowest starting prices at $650. That is still a very competitive price for this machine, however, and that is one of the reasons why it’s our top pick for a business desktop overall.
Latest updates
- March 2026: We revamped the entire guide. The introduction was rewritten, half of the entries are brand-new, the others have been updated to include new information, and we refreshed the FAQ section.
Other business desktops we’ve tested
HP’s OmniStudio X 31.5 is a solid all-in-one business desktop with a large 31.5-inch 4K display, an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, making it a great choice for multitasking, light creative tasks, and video conferencing.
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Lenovo’s IdeaCentre Mini X is a unique desktop because it runs Windows on ARM. This single piece of hardware allows the PC to be energy efficient while still performing well.
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For more, check out the best computers and best laptops of 2026 so far.
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