From the computers that run the stores we shop in to the ones in our homes that help us find information, connect with others, and enjoy the latest entertainment, computers are an integral part of our everyday lives. So much so that many homes have one or more computers.
Recent statistics estimate that there are more than two billion home PCs worldwide. These are supplied by a variety of brands that compete to provide consumers with the best and most cost-effective devices.
With a large range of computer brands, knowing which to buy may be tricky for somebody who doesn’t know much about computers or doesn’t follow the industry news. To aid you in making a sound decision, read on as we uncover the best computer brands to buy.
Dell
Founded as PC’s Limited in 1984, Dell has become one of the best-known international computing brands. This is not only because of the company’s pivot to provide direct-to-customer sales but also because of its focus on enterprise solutions and customer support.
Dell ships with moderate levels of bloatware and is known for pioneering custom PC builds, which offer PCs to various sectors at affordable price ranges. The company is also popular due to its prestigious gaming division, Alienware, which it acquired in 2006.
Some of Dell’s most prominent innovations are its early use of thin bezels on screens and infinity-edge displays. The brand was also one of the first to use carbon fiber in manufacturing its PCs.
Lenovo
Initially called Legend, Lenovo was rebranded to its current name in 2004 after becoming the largest PC manufacturer in China. The brand was known for its reliability and affordability but was catapulted to the international stage after acquiring IBM’s business. Alongside this acquisition, the brand gained the renowned ThinkPad brand, which has continued improving.
In 2013, the brand became the world’s largest PC vendor, a claim it has held consecutively since. Part of this reason remains the sturdiness of Lenovo laptops, great customer support, limited bloatware, and attractive pricing.
The brand also caters to serious gamers through its Legion gaming division. Legion laptops make great use of some of the company’s best innovations, such as its spill-resistant keyboard. Sales of these machines, alongside the ThinkPad series, have made the brand recognizable in almost every country and have given the company an estimated 24% of the global market share.
Apple
Despite being even more prominent in the smartphone industry due to the invention of the iPhone, Apple has been one of the pioneers of personal computing since 1977. That year, it released the Apple II, which was the first personal computer that the public ever saw.
Since then, Apple has continued to innovate, creating fully aluminum PC bodies and the M1/M2 chip series. Another reason for the brand’s success is the Apple ecosystem, which is one of the few PCs that don’t rely on Microsoft’s Windows. Instead, the computers use MacOS, which has seamless integration with other Apple products like the iPad and iPhone.
The brand has a substantial following garnered from its user-friendly operating system, sleek design styles, and reputation for creating high-quality products. All this, along with practically no bloatware, has helped the brand strengthen its identity and justify its slightly higher price point.
HP
HP, founded in 1939, was originally known as Hewlett-Packard. It created various types of electrical testing equipment. The company entered the computer market in 1966, releasing what is considered the world’s first personal computer, the Hewlett-Packard 9100A, in 1968.
In 2002, the company acquired Compaq and quickly began gaining popularity due to its wide range of PCs offering features for enterprise and home use. The brand was also one of the first to adopt touchscreen technology in its PCs and is known for launching privacy screens on select devices.
The brand also has a specialized gaming division called Omen, which is known for its high levels of bloatware. While some of this software limits device performance, much of it aids in boosting device performance so that gamers can enjoy superb processing while gaming.
ASUS
ASUS was established in 1989 by former Acer employees who wanted to focus on creating affordable and reliable components, particularly motherboards and graphics cards. This focus served the company well and quickly grew in popularity, becoming a staple in custom PC builds.
In 1997, the company began to shift focus by releasing well-received laptops due to their price and performance. This led the company to pivot again in 2006 when it launched its gaming division: ROG (Republic of Gamers).
With a firm understanding that apps offer high-quality game content, including online casino apps and casual game options, the company began innovating in the gaming sector. This led to the release of 300Hz displays on select laptops and a unique cooling system called AAS (Active Aerodynamic System). Its focus on gaming has worked well, as the company’s computers are a popular choice among gamers.
MSI
Like ASUS, MSI has a strong focus on gaming. In the same manner, the company focused on motherboards and graphics cards when it was founded in 1986. Creating exceptionally reliable components, the brand became increasingly popular and featured in many PCs.
In 2008, the brand completely shifted its focus to the creation of affordable (and not-so-affordable), performance-driven gaming PCs. It did exceptionally well at this and quickly gained recognition as one of the best gaming PC brands on the market.
Alongside visual innovations, such as per-key RGB backlighting on the Steel Series keyboards featured in the machines, the brand is also known for inventions like the Cooler Boost Trinity+ design, which allows its PCs to run at higher performance levels with lower temperatures.
Acer
Beginning as Multitech in 1976, Acer underwent a rebrand to its current name in 1987. The company entered the global stage quickly by offering cheaper PCs than competitors despite still offering acceptable specifications and reliability.
The brand continued to grow, eventually entering the laptop market, where it also grew quickly due to aggressive pricing structures. In 2007, Acer acquired the Packard Bell brand and, a year later, launched its Predator gaming division.
Still known for offering value-for-money devices, Acer was one of the first early adopters of 3D displays, which didn’t last long but helped grow the brand identity. With sleek designs, the company is also well respected among gamers as one of the cheapest for high-performance machines that also offer unique innovation.
