Readers' Choice Awards 2022: Laptops and Desktop PCs

When choosing your next calculator, whether it'south for personal use or work, you're likely going to look at a few familiar brands: Apple, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. After all, these five companies accounted for more 84 percent of the PCs sold in the United States in the 4th quarter of 2022, according to inquiry firm Gartner. Given such a concentrated market, sometimes it'southward easy to forget all the other companies making PCs. Don't. Y'all may exist missing out on a better option.

Among the other 15.ix percent of companies making sales in that location are familiar names similar Acer, Microsoft, and Toshiba and some that you lot may not run into every bit often such every bit Alienware (which is owned past Dell), CyberPowerPC, and MSI. As we launch our 2022 PCMag Readers' Choice Awards with the laptop and desktop categories, y'all'll see that, according to our readers, market place share doesn't correlate to client satisfaction. Amongst the top-rated brands in each category are very large companies and not-so-large ones.

The Readers' Choice Awards are based on the results of surveys sent to PCMag readers. They rate their overall satisfaction with the products they use, too as satisfactions with specific aspects of product usage such as ease of setup, reliability, technical support, and repairs. Finally, respondents are asked to rate how likely they would be to recommend the brand of PC that they use, as likelihood to recommend has been shown to be an excellent mensurate of satisfaction. Each company must accept at least l responses to be included in our assay.

The Readers' Choice Award results provide a valuable complement to PC Labs'southward in-depth product reviews, where analysts dig deep into each product they evaluate to give y'all their skillful opinions on functioning, pattern, usability, and other aspects. The Readers' Option Awards survey results and then show you which companies' products stand the test of fourth dimension and how well the companies back their products with the support that you demand.

So which laptops and desktop brands earn the virtually praise from our readers? Read on.

The PCMag Readers' Selection survey for Laptops & Desktop PCs was in the field from January 4 through January 25, 2022. For more information on how the survey is conducted, read the survey methodology .

Each person who completed the survey was entered into a drawing to win a $350 Amazon Gift Carte du jour.

You can win! Sign up for the Readers' Choice Survey mailing list to receive invitations for time to come sweepstakes.

Laptops

Information technology may not exist the market place share leader, simply whenever I'm at tech conferences, Apple ever seems to be the laptop make of choice. However, I was at an accounting software user conference recently and nary an Apple was to be seen. Accounting software however primarily resides in a Windows globe and in past years, I would have seen Dells, HPs, Lenovos, and Toshibas at the briefing. This yr by far the brand of choice was Microsoft. At that place were plenty of Surface Pros tablets and even a few Surface Book sightings. That's pretty remarkable considering it'due south only been 3 years since Microsoft introduced the start Surface Pro.

In final twelvemonth'south survey, Apple tree and Microsoft dominated the laptop category and the 2 companies each received Readers' Choice Awards. Survey respondents rated Apple a 9.2 in overall satisfaction (on a scale from 0 for extremely dissatisfied to 10 for extremely satisfied); Microsoft was shut behind at ix.0. No other company received improve than an 8.3.

This yr, Apple repeats over again as a Readers' Choice Honour winner in the overall laptop category, marking the 9th straight year that it has won the award. Remarkably little changed in our respondents' evaluation of their Apple laptops. Overall satisfaction is once again rated at 9.two and satisfaction with reliability (ix.3) and likelihood to recommend (nine.2) are likewise the same every bit they were in 2022. Satisfaction with technical support improved slightly from viii.two to 8.3 while satisfaction with repairs decreased from 8.five to 8.3. These are excellent results. Very few companies ever accept technical support and repair ratings in these measures of viii.0 or higher.

Apple tree once more shares the Readers' Choice Accolade but this twelvemonth, information technology'due south not with Microsoft. The second award goes to MSI (short for Micro-Star International), a brand headquartered in Taiwan that may non be known to non-gamers. However, readers using MSI laptops gave the company some very Apple-like ratings: Overall satisfaction was 9.1 and satisfaction with reliability was 9.0. The likelihood recommend MSI was viii.7. If you're in the market for a gaming laptop, you should definitely give MSI a look, simply don't ignore Alienware, which focuses on the aforementioned market place. Alienware didn't rate quite as highly as MSI in whatsoever satisfaction measure, but it wasn't far behind. For case, overall satisfaction was 8.viii and likelihood to recommend was 8.5.

Microsoft's satisfaction ratings slipped slightly from last year, simply on average its users are nonetheless quite satisfied with their Surface devices, many of which are a hybrid of laptop and tablet (we'll have a full survey of tablet-only devices afterwards this year). Just it earns an honorabl mention with an overall satisfaction rating of 8.8 (down from 9.0). Likelihood to recommend also dropped from 9.ane to eight.ix. Role of the reason for the drop may be related to reliability. Concluding yr, simply 4 percentage of Microsoft's devices needed repairs; this year, the percentage more doubled to 9 pct. That's however ameliorate than the overall average of 11 percent just satisfaction with reliability dropped from 9.two to 8.9. On the other hand, satisfaction with technical support was rated 8.0, far meliorate than any other Windows laptop brand: Dell and Lenovo were side by side closest with ratings of half dozen.8. Toshiba rated an abysmal 5.1 for technical support and Asus's v.9 was zero to brag about.

Among laptops less than a year old, Apple and Microsoft receive a Readers' Choice Honour. Within this group of newer laptops, Apple received overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend ratings of 9.1. Microsoft earned ratings of viii.nine and 9.0, respectively. Apple tree besides got the highest score for ease of setup with a 9.ii. Microsoft was close backside with a 9.0, but take note of Asus, which earned an ease-of-use rating of 9.1, in between our 2 award winners.

Among laptops for abode employ lone, Apple and MSI win the Readers' Choice Award and Microsoft once again gets an honorable mention. Satisfaction ratings for these companies were very like to their overall satisfaction ratings although likelihood to recommend ratings were slightly college. This isn't surprising: most people have more involvement in purchases they make for personal use than in those made for business organisation use and are therefore more likely to stand behind their choice. (We'll clarify satisfaction with computers used in the role for a split Business concern Choice article soon.)

Tablet and hybrids PCusage is growing. Hybrids, also known as convertibles or 2-in-1s, are PCs with built-in keyboards that can switch betwixt regular laptop mode and tablet mode. Nearly every laptop company has a few tablet and hybrid offerings, but Microsoft has focused all of its design efforts on this form factor and information technology shows. None of the other companies rated meliorate than 8.one for overall satisfaction with laptop/tablet hybrids, a far cry from Microsoft'south rating of 8.viii. Microsoft wins a Readers' Choice in the category. (Notation again, this category does not include iOS- and Android-based tablets such as the Apple tree iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab.)

Chromebooks continue to grow in popularity, simply they nevertheless remain a pocket-size niche in the overall laptop market. Respondents reported on several brands of Chromebooks including Acer, Asus, Google, HP, Samsung, and Toshiba but none received the minimum 50 responses we require to exist included in our assay. However, equally a group, respondents seem very happy with their Chromebooks, with overall satisfaction averaging to 8.seven. That trails Apple's 9.2, of course, but is far ahead of the viii.0 for all Windows laptops.

When you're purchasing your next laptop, consider your needs carefully. You lot may find a Chromebook to be a viable, bonny, and inexpensive option.

Related Story Run across all of our survey results for laptops.

WINNERS: LAPTOPS

Categories: Overall, Less than a Year Former, Dwelling Utilize
Apple
Once again, Apple receives the highest satisfaction ratings among all the laptop brands. This is the ninth straight year that Apple has won the Readers' Selection. Fifty-fifty diehard Windows users may want to give Apple a shut expect.

Categories: Overall, Dwelling Use
MSI
If you're a gamer or simply looking for a powerful laptop for dwelling, you owe information technology to yourself to check out MSI. Our readers gave the company very impressive satisfaction ratings for their MSI laptops.

Categories: Less than a Yr Sometime, Laptop/Tablet Hybrids
Microsoft
Microsoft has quickly become the Windows laptop brand of choice, specially if you like the thought of a tablet or 2-in-ane hybrid computer. Satisfaction ratings slipped slightly this year compared to 2022 but users remain very pleased with their Surface-make computers and the company behind it.

Categories: Overall, Home Use
Microsoft
Microsoft'southward success with the Surface make spread enough that even when it didn't win in a category of laptops, it managed to get an honorable mention, even in laptops overall. Home use is some other surface area where it shines—people are very happy to have home a Surface Pro or Surface Book.

Desktops

Apple'south production selection has a little bit of Henry Ford'south "You can have whatsoever color you desire as long as its black" mentality. Apple tree doesn't offer a lot of unlike desktops and within the models at that place aren't many configurations. Despite limited choice, the approach works every bit evidenced by Apple tree's long stretch of PCMag Readers' Choice awards. However, some users (specially gamers) desire to design a figurer to their exact specs and upkeep. There'due south a pocket-size group of PC companies that will permit you do just that. When these companies exercise it right, and build fast, reliable computers and back them with great service, they build a very satisfied user base. CyberPowerPC is such a visitor and this yr it shares the PCMag Readers' Pick Award with Apple tree.

Near of Apple tree's satisfaction ratings improved slightly this year from their already excellent levels in 2022: Overall satisfaction went from nine.ane to 9.2, satisfaction with reliability was up from 9.3 to nine.iv, and likelihood to recommend went from 9.two to ix.3. In fact, Apple was the only maker of desktop PCs that received any ratings of 9.0 or better in the overall desktops category. The only rating to decrease from concluding year was satisfaction with technical support, which went from 8.8 to viii.seven, only that still puts Apple tree in a league of its ain: the next closest company is Lenovo, which rated a mediocre 7.1 for technical back up.

CyberPowerPC won a PCMag Readers' Choice Award in 2022 but failed to receive plenty responses to authorize again until this year. Now that it's back, it's once once more setting a standard amid Windows-based desktop PC brands, receiving the highest ratings for overall satisfaction (8.eight), satisfaction with reliability (8.9), and likelihood to recommend (eight.4, tied with Asus). Among CyberPowerPC desktops sold for abode use, the ratings were fifty-fifty better: overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend were 9.0, and satisfaction with reliability was 9.i. The company also earns a Readers' Selection Accolade for Domicile Desktop PCs.

Asus won a Readers' Choice Award in the overall Desktops category final year. Because of CyberPowerPC's entry, however, it wasn't able to repeat that feat, merely information technology does earn an honorable mention. In fact, Asus's ratings improved from 2022: Overall satisfaction went from 8.4 to 8.vii, satisfaction with reliability increased from 8.6 to 8.7, and likelihood to recommend ticked upwardly from eight.3 to 8.iv.

Apple tree also wins the Readers' Choice Accolade in each of our sub-categories. For systems less than a year erstwhile, Apple rated a 9.3 overall, and a ix.v for satisfaction with ease of setup, far ahead of the next closest companies, Asus, Dell, and HP, which all rated viii.7.

Asus didn't win overall, but information technology did earn our second Readers' Selection Accolade for its desktops less than a twelvemonth erstwhile: it had the highest overall satisfaction rating (8.6) and lowest pct of units needing repairs (6 percentage).

The nautical chart of home PCs looks pretty like to the overall PCs (a mix of abode and work and all PCs rated)—information technology's Apple tree and CyberPowerPC on superlative. Asus besides earns an honorable mention for its home desktop PCs.

Every bit nosotros mentioned, Apple tree won our new sub-category, all-in-1 desktops, and did so handily. Information technology got a nine.2 overall for this expanse, and that'southward near a total point higher than the runner up, Dell, at eight.3. Other AIO makers but don't have what it takes compared to the love users accept for iMacs.

I of the biggest changes in the PC market concluding year was the introduction of Microsoft Windows 10. Windows ten tries to deliver and improve upon the best of Windows 7 and Windows eight.ane and PCMag readers have been fairly quick to embrace the new operating system. Seventy-3 percent of respondents with desktops less than vi months one-time were running Windows 10. Among home PCs, the percentage was fifty-fifty college (86 per centum), which isn't surprising considering the operating system has been standard on new PCs since its release last July 2022. Microsoft has also made Windows 10 available as a gratis upgrade and lx percent of survey respondents with home desktop PCs older than six months have already upgraded. Here are 10 reasons y'all might want to upgrade if you lot oasis't already.

Our survey doesn't ask respondents to rate satisfaction with their operating system. However, when nosotros wait at overall satisfaction with desktop PCs based on their operating organisation, respondents running Windows 10 were substantially more pleased. Amongst desktops less than half-dozen months former, overall satisfaction with Windows 10 systems was eight.7 compared to eight.2 for Windows vii. (Windows 8/viii.1 did not become enough responses, a sure sign of new buyers skipping that version.) Amidst older desktops, Windows 10 systems also rated better: 8.4 compared to 8.0 for Windows 8/8.ane and 7.8 for Windows seven.

Windows OS Overall Satisfaction (Desktops)

It'southward not clear if the college satisfaction ratings on these desktop systems are due to the operating system. Perhaps respondents are more likely to upgrade the operating organisation on a PC with which they're already more satisfied. Only either way, it shows that Windows 10 users are pretty satisfied.

Related Story Meet all of our survey results for desktop PCs.

WINNERS: DESKTOP PCs

Categories: Overall, Less than a Year Quondam, Dwelling Utilize, All-in-One Desktops
Apple
It's a clean sweep across categories: Over again, no make of desktop PCs has customers who are nearly as satisfied as Apple tree. Its stellar Ease of Setup ratings show that Apple tree users are thrilled with their computers from the moment they take them out of the box .

Categories: Overall, Home Utilize
CyberPowerPC
CyberPowerPC makes build-to-lodge PCs, primarily for gamers. That can be a tough crowd to please but CyberPowerPC'southward fast, reliable systems are generating satisfied, loyal customers.

Category: Less than a Year Old
Asus
Asus didn't win overall, but with the newer systems less than 12 months onetime, its score was enough to arrive the highest-rated maker of Windows-based desktops, and worth of the Readers' Choice.

Categories: Overall, Habitation Employ
Asus
Satisfaction with Asus desktop PCs continues to meliorate. Amongst new Windows-based PCs, our readers tell us no other company is delivering a better experience. It's also a worthy purchase in desktops overall and at dwelling.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.