Lenovo IdeaCentre A530 √√√√

The looks: A versatile 23-inch screen with one of the slimmest profiles. Mounted on a hinged stand, you can shift the monitor from to any angle from vertical to horizontal. It definitely doesn’t look cheap.

The goods: Most of the main internal components are located at the base below the screen. Inside, you have Intel’s latest i7 processor equipped with a muscular 8GB RAM that works well with the graphics card to help power through intense tasks like photo and video editing as well as gaming.

The verdict: Great-looking with even better components under the hood. Critics have lauded it as a worthy mid-range option. This one’s able to take on high productivity and gaming tasks without a hint of lag.

$1,999 from Harvey Norman

Asus ET2702IGTH √√√

The looks: This one feels savvy with a black bezel screen and silver strip at the bottom, making it a stunning addition to any home or office space. The colors are crisp and bright, thanks to the 2,560 by 1,440 pixel, 27-inch screen, which is better than normal high-definition standards.

The goods: The Asus is right up there when it comes to performance. The processor comes with up to 16GB of RAM, making it super fast, plus you can opt for 3TB worth of memory, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space.

The verdict: This suits heavy-users looking for ample storage and plenty of muscle to last the whole day, be it in the office or at home. It’s good-looking too.

$2,949 from Challenger

Acer Aspire U5-610 √√√√√ (IS-PICK)

The looks: The glass display is stunning, with 80 degrees of screen tilt to play around with. This is one of the best-looking displays we’ve ever seen on the market.

The goods: Although this AIO is designed to be more aesthetically driven and compromised on performance, it has a few tricks up its sleeve, like the Blu-ray combo drive and improved Kepler-based GeForce GTX 7600M graphics card that’s great for media creation and multitasking.

The verdict: Movie buffs will love this. Despite paying a premium for its good looks, buyers in the creative industry will be lured in by the large high-resolution screen coupled with its VESA wall-mount.

$1,999 from Harvey Norman

Dell Inspiron 23 √√√

The looks: A really basic look with a black frame and silver metallic stand, coming with a black keyboard and mouse. Not the type to turn heads.

The goods: What’s impressive is the collection of audio-video ports, not commonly found in the competition, like the old-school VGA jacks that are useful for connecting old monitors or processing units.

The verdict: Scoring well in the looks department has never been Dell’s greatest strength, with their latest AIO looking rather uninspiring—almost like they’re resisting current trends. But that weakness is also its strength—they’re value-for-money and best for light users that are not looking to conquer the world from their desktop.

$1,799 from Harvey Norman

Essentials

Harvey Norman #02 69/71 Suntec City Mall, 1 Raffles Place, 6332-2312, www.harveynorman.com.sg. | Challenger #06-00 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6339-9008 , www.challenger.sg. | Best Denki ##02-07 Vivocity, 1 Harbour Front Walk, 6276-6636, www.bestdenki.com.sg.