Computers come in all shapes and sizes these days, a far cry from the large, beige, and mostly uniform under-the-desktops of the 90s and early 2000s. The current consumer market has an ample array of sizes and platforms to choose from; laptops versus desktops, expensive versus budget-friendly,top-of-the-line gaming powerhousesversus systems made only to browse the internet. It’s rather easy to get lost in the chaos whenhunting for a new PC.
This list takes a look at some of Amazon’s highest-rated, and most wished for computers and begs the question: what is making these computers so sought after?
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3
2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop
The 2020 MacBook Air is a substantial choice for creative work, with a 13.3-inch Retina Display. Due to its dedicated 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, the 2020 MacBook Air can also easily tackle editing software, casual gaming, or browse the internet with no interruptions. With an 18-hour all-day battery life, this MacBook Air strikes a balance between power and efficiency.
Apple 2023 Mac Mini Desktop Computer
Looking for something unique? This shockingly small powerhouse comes equipped with an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, making it more than capable of running demanding software, or several programs at once. Although this Mini Desktop Computer can be held in one hand, it’s probably not suited for being carried between classes. to run it, a monitor, keyboard, and mouse will need to be set up alongside it. However, when paired with a Portable Monitor and a lightweight keyboard and mouse, this tiny PC may make for a great travel companion to set up for work in hotel rooms.
HP Notebook Laptop, 15.6" HD Touchscreen
The HP TPN-Q222 Notebook is a great choice for students and professionals alike. Sporting a 3GHz Intel Core i3 processor and 32GB of DDR4 RAM, this laptop can easily handle video editing, conference calls, or running several programs at once. With its 1TB SSD, users can expect speedy boot-up times and smooth transitions between programs.
Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop
The Acer Aspire 3 is a great budget choice for students or professionals looking for a capable laptop without a large price tag. This laptop features an impressive 15.6-inch HD IPS display, with solid specifications to match. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Quad-Core Processor and 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, this budget laptop can handle student and at-home use with little difficulty. The Acer Aspire 3 comes with a 128 GB NVMe SSD, which unfortunately may not be a lot of space for most consumers. Luckily, the SSD and the RAM can be upgraded rather easily.
ASUS Zenbook Duo Laptop
With the impressive ASUS Zenbook Duo, a lapse in productivity is out of the question. Iconic for its dual-screen design, the Zenbook Duo features two 14-inch OLED 3K monitors for multiscreen versatility. Packed with the spectacular Intel Core Ultra 9-185H processor with speeds up to 5.10 GHz, this beast can handle even the most demanding software with ease. Equipped with 32 GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, upgrades right out of the box are not necessary. A great choice for professionals, or passionate tech enthusiasts, the Zenbook Duo may not be the most practical laptop choice for college students or at-home use.
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-525P Gaming Laptop
The Acer Nitro AN515-58-525P features a dedicated GPU, making this laptop a great option for gaming. The included NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU can run casual games with ease and most modern games on low-end to medium settings. This laptop can handle all the processes required for school or work thanks to its Core i5-12500H CPU and 8GB DDR4 RAM (which can be upgraded.) Its physical appearance may not be ideal for some, with a red backlit keyboard and overall bulky design. However, this laptop is a great option for at-home and travel use and is powerful enough to run software for class or work and then game later in the evening.
Skytech Gaming Nebula Gaming PC Desktop
The Skytech Gaming Nebula Desktop PC is the first mid-sized tower on this list. Due to this configuration, this PC can be deemed to be a more future-proof investment for tech-savvy consumers because of the ease with which components can be swapped out and upgraded. Equipped with an Intel Core i5 13400F 2.5 GHz, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD, these upgrades are not immediately necessary as this PC packs enough of a punch to run most modern programs with ease. Surprisingly, this budget desktop PC comes installed with an NVIDIA RTX 4060, making it Ray Tracing ready, and allowing for the mostimmersive gameplay experience.The Skytech Gaming Nebula PC is a great option for gamers, aspiring streamers, and content creators alike.
Beelink Mini PC
The Beelink Mini is another compact Mini PC that packs a surprising amount of power into a small frame. Able to be held in one hand, this tiny PC comes ready with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U CPU, with clock speeds up to 4.3 GHz. With 16 GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD included, this PC works well as a media center, a casual gaming PC, or as a powerhouse used in editing and production. Again, it is probably not ideal to bring to class or work, but this tiny PC would be great as a travel companion when combined with a portable monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
GMKtec Mini PC
The GMKtec Mini PC is a great option for everyday at-home and professional use. The included Intel i5-13500H turbo CPU chip has clock speeds up to 4.7GHz with 12 cores and 16 threads. The GMKtec Mini PC also runs off of Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, capable of mid-range gaming, video, and photo rending, and4K editing and video playback.With an included 1TB SSD and 32 GB Dual DDR5, the GMKtec Mini PC supports easy expansion of up to 64 GB of RAM and 4 TB of storage.
HP 14 Laptop 14-dq0040nr
The HP 14 Laptop 14-dq0040nr is the most budget-friendly option on this list. However, what is sacrificed in the name of a low price tag? With an Intel Celeron N4020, a user can expect speeds of 1.10 GHz, with 2 cores and 2 threads. This laptop also includes 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of onboard storage. With these specifications, this laptop is capable of performing basic tasks that are best suitable for school, work or simply browsing the internet.
STGAubron Gaming Desktop PC Computer
The STGAubron Gaming Desktop PC has a unique selling point: included with the purchase of this Desktop comes an RGB Bluetooth Speaker, an RGB keyboard, mouse, and mouse pad all for under $500. Understandably, the main selling point of this PC is not in the hardware components itself. However, add-ons aside, what does the power of this PC add up to and is it worth the price? The STGAubron comes ready with an Intel Quad Core i7-4770, with speeds of 3.4GHz. It also includes 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, with enough space to support several games and programs. The GPU included is a Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5, which is about 8 generations old, but still meets the minimum requirement for most modern games. All in all, one can expect a near-complete PC setup capable of handling mid-range gaming, streaming, and browsing for a surprisingly affordable price.
The Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3 is one of the newer computers in this lineup. Although not well optimized for high-end gaming, the MacBook Pro can support a casual gamer with its all-new M3 Unified Chip featuring an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, and 24 GB of Unified memory. Best suited for creative or professional work, the MacBook Pro features a stunning 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness. Its high-quality display is of the utmost importance when working with photo or video editing.
How To Know If a PC Is"Good?"
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when shopping for a new computer. There are many things to consider upfront:
The “right” choice completely depends on personal preference and opinion. However, there are a few things to keep in mind that can help guide a confused and overwhelmed shopper in the right direction to make an informed decision. When shopping for a new computer, it’s easy to want the cheapest option money can buy (that often leaves consumers dissatisfied and hardly works), or conversely, to save up for the most expensive (and arguably the most overkill for one’s needs) and use it until it breaks.
First, consider hardware. Understand that new, ever-evolving pieces of hardware and software are released frequently and, unless one is a major tech enthusiast, it isn’t fiscally realistic to always stay above the curve. However, remember that hardware is ever-evolving and as time passes, components will slowly become outdated until support and compatibility dwindles. It’s important to find a middle ground between what’s needed and what the budget calls for. If possible, buying just above what one needs hardware-wise will increase the overall longevity of a purchase, meaning a PC can stand the test of time just a little longer before needing an upgrade or a replacement.
All computers and components will need to be upgraded or replaced eventually. Another important fact to consider is how difficult and expensive upgrades will be in the future. Not all products are created equal. Laptops are notorious for being more difficult to maintain compared to a standard Desktop PC due to the size and manufacturing process. However, desktops aren’t an ideal option for every user on the market, either. At the end of the day, it boils down to doing lots of research and making an informed decision that will allow a user to get the most out of their purchase.
The 2020 Apple MacBook Air is by far the most popular computer available on Amazon, and it’s no wonder why. Combining breathtaking, clean aesthetics and overall versatility, this laptop easily appeals to all. Best suited for creative work, the MacBook Air has a long-lasting battery life and enough hardware power to get the job done. Although public criticism notes many Apple products as being difficult or even impossible to upgrade, the 2020 MacBook Air maintains its spot as being the most wished for laptop on Amazon.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo is a conversation starter of a laptop. Highly rated for incredible performance and productivity, the Zenbook Duo is perfect for tech enthusiasts and professionals alike. Its dual screens are highly versatile, and suited for many different situations and environments. However, due to the steep cost of this laptop, it’s not the most realistic purchase for the average consumer.
Not every laptop or computer needs to be the highest-end option. Sometimes a laptop is just needed to work. The HP 14-dq0040nr does just that, at an incredibly affordable price. However, due to the specifications of this laptop, users have reported slow speeds, lagging, and difficulties powering up the system. Regardless, for just shy of $200, this budget-friendly laptop is a great deal for anyone needing a computer without anything extra.
The Skytech Gaming Nebula Desktop PC is a fantastic deal for what’s included. Encased in a mesh mid-sized tower PC case, this prebuilt PC comes equipped with components not too far behind the curve to handle most modern games and demanding programs, all at a reasonable price. Due to its configuration as a Desktop PC, this PC is considered one of the easiest to upgrade, increasing the overall lifespan of this purchase. Most notably, the Skytech Gaming Nebula Desktop PC comes ready with an NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, which is a current-generation graphics card. This PC is best suited for those where desk space is not an issue and if gaming, streaming, or editing is a priority.
