Best Desktop PCs August 2026
Shopping for a new desktop PC? Whether you need a compact machine for home and office tasks or a powerful workstation for creative projects, this guide can help. We've compared the top models on the market right now so you can find the best fit for your needs, based on independent ranking.
Last updated: 14 August 2026
The list is unchanged since the last update.
Desktop PCs: Top 5
1
Apple Mac Mini (2024) - M4 CPU/GPU 10C 16GB 256GB
from £939.004 stores
from £939.00
4 stores
2
Apple Mac Mini (2024) - M4 CPU/GPU 10C 24GB 512GB
from £1,199.003 stores
from £1,199.00
3 stores
3
Apple Mac Mini (2024) - M4 CPU/GPU 10C 16GB 512GB
from £999.004 stores
from £999.00
4 stores
4
nVidia DGX Spark Cortex X925/A725 128GB RAM 4TB SSD
from £4,959.982 stores
from £4,959.98
2 stores
5
Apple Mac Mini (2024) - M4 Pro 12C CPU 16C GPU 24GB 512GB
from £1,599.005 stores
from £1,599.00
5 stores
This base model of the Mac Mini with the M4 chip offers fantastic performance in a compact and quiet package. It's an excellent entry point into the Mac ecosystem, delivering great value for everyday tasks and more. However, be mindful that the base storage is limited and internal upgrades are not possible after purchase.
Pros
Excellent performance for the price
Powerful and efficient M4 processor
Extremely quiet and compact design
Good selection of modern ports like Thunderbolt
Cons
Small 256GB base storage
Upgrades for RAM and storage are expensive
No keyboard or mouse included
This Mac Mini configuration strikes a great balance for users who need more power and storage than the base model offers. With 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, it's well-equipped for more demanding applications and multitasking. It retains the same silent, ultra-compact design that makes the Mac Mini popular.
Pros
24GB of RAM for improved multitasking
Ample 512GB SSD for storage
Powerful and efficient M4 processor
Quiet and compact form factor
Cons
Significantly more expensive than the base model
RAM and SSD are not user-upgradable
Peripherals are sold separately
This Mac Mini variant offers a practical upgrade over the base model by doubling the storage to 512GB. It's a great option for users who find the base model's storage too restrictive but don't need the extra RAM of more expensive configurations. The M4 chip and 16GB of RAM are ample for most tasks.
Pros
Generous 512GB of SSD storage
Powerful M4 processor for daily tasks
Quiet, compact, and energy-efficient
Features modern ports including Thunderbolt
Cons
16GB RAM may be limiting for heavy multitasking
Not possible to upgrade RAM after purchase
Keyboard and mouse must be bought separately
The nVidia DGX Spark is a compact workstation designed for professionals in fields like AI and data science. It boasts an incredible 128GB of RAM, a massive 4TB SSD, and a 20-core processor, all running on a Linux operating system. This is a highly specialized machine for the most demanding computational tasks.
Pros
Massive 128GB of RAM for extreme workloads
Huge and fast 4TB NVMe SSD
Extremely powerful 20-core processor
Ultra-compact and lightweight for a workstation
Cons
Linux OS is not for all users
Highly specialized for development and research
Active cooling may be louder than other options
For those who need more power than the standard M4 chip provides, this Mac Mini features the formidable M4 Pro processor. With more CPU and GPU cores, it excels at professional creative workloads like high-resolution video editing. It comes well-configured with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, offering a significant performance leap in the same compact design.
Pros
Powerful M4 Pro chip for professional tasks
Enhanced graphics with 16-core GPU
Good balance of 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD
Pro-level performance in a compact form
Cons
More expensive, approaching Mac Studio prices
Performance is overkill for average users
Components are not user-upgradable
Compare specifications
| Graphics processor | Apple M4 | Apple M4 | Apple M4 | — | Apple M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Mac | Mac | Mac | PC | Mac |
| RAM size | 16 GB | 24 GB | 16 GB | 128 GB | 24 GB |
| Processor model | Apple M4 | Apple M4 | Apple M4 | — | Apple M4 Pro |
How we create the list
The ranking is updated monthly and is based on data we collect from our own platform. Products that rank highly are popular among our users while also maintaining high quality according to editorial expert assessments. Specifically, we weigh how many users follow the product via price alerts or lists, how it is rated by experts and users, as well as how much traffic it generates to stores and how well it is represented in retail. The texts on this page are AI-generated and created to give you a quick and clear overview. No products are paid placements – the ranking is driven solely by data.
