The Best New PCs to Upgrade From Your Windows 10 PC

The best new computers to replace your old Windows 10 PC

With Microsoft officially ending support for Windows 10 on October 14th, many of us are facing a critical decision. While you can extend security updates for a year, your older PC likely won’t support exciting new features like Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI PC capabilities, including Windows Recall or advanced Studio Effects for video calls. If your current machine is already showing its age with slow performance, noisy fans, or a dying battery, it’s definitely time to consider a fresh start.

We’ve done the heavy lifting to find some excellent replacements, whether you’re looking for a new laptop or a desktop. Here are our top picks to help you make a quick and informed decision.

The best Windows 10 laptop replacements

Surface Laptop 13.8-inch
The Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop perfectly illustrates the future of Windows PCs. It’s incredibly light, surprisingly powerful thanks to its mobile chip, and boasts an impressive battery life of over 17 hours in our tests. While older Windows programs might encounter some compatibility quirks, most users will find this Surface Laptop delivers one of the best PC experiences available today. For a smaller, more budget-friendly option, there’s a 13-inch model, and a 15-inch version if you prefer a larger display.

Dell 14 Premium
Last year’s XPS 14, now rebranded as the Dell 14 Premium, remains an outstanding machine. It exudes luxury with its premium design and features one of the best screens on the market. You might need a little time to adjust to its innovative invisible trackpad, which blends seamlessly into the palm rest, and its capacitive function key row.

ASUS ZenBook S 14
The ZenBook S 14 impressed us with its robust hardware, exceptional battery life (over 16 hours), and sturdy build quality. It showcases ASUS’s evolution, offering a device that’s lighter than a MacBook Air and packed with useful ports (two USB-C, one USB-A, HDMI, and a headphone jack). Its Ceraluminum case provides a unique, polished feel, and its OLED screen is simply stunning.

Apple MacBook Air
Now, don’t just scroll past! Apple’s latest computers are so good that Windows users should seriously consider making the switch to Mac. While learning a new operating system takes a little effort, the speed and incredible battery life offered by Apple’s M-series chips are well worth it. The MacBook Air continues to be a top contender, featuring an incredibly thin, fan-less design and surprising power. Plus, if you’re an iPhone user, you’ll unlock handy features like phone mirroring that are hard to match on Windows.

The best Windows 10 desktop replacements

Dell Slim Desktop
For a straightforward desktop replacement, the Dell Slim is an excellent choice. While we haven’t personally reviewed this exact model, even its entry-level configuration provides ample power for everyday computing tasks, all within a frame significantly smaller than traditional tower PCs. If you need a bit more oomph, consider the slightly pricier Dell Pro, which supports up to 32GB of RAM and dedicated graphics cards.

Apple Mac Mini
Apple’s Mac mini is one of the most powerful mini-desktops available. It’s adorably small, and often goes on sale, sometimes dropping by as much as $100 from its starting price of $599. As with the MacBook Air, the impressive hardware makes switching to macOS a compelling option. You can easily connect your existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse – no need to replace them.

Geekom A6 Mini
Though not personally tested yet, the Geekom A6 Mini is widely regarded as one of the best Windows mini-desktops in the $400-$500 range. It features a capable AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor with decent gaming potential, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. These specs are more than sufficient for most basic productivity work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to upgrade to a new computer if my current Windows 10 PC still works fine for me?
Your computer will still function after Microsoft ends Windows 10 support on October 14th, but it’s not a sustainable long-term solution. The free Extended Security Updates offer a year of reprieve, but after that, your Windows 10 PC won’t receive security updates or improvements, making it highly vulnerable to hacking and malware. Additionally, an aging Windows 10 machine is likely to experience component failure soon. If you choose to continue using it, ensure you back up all important data and avoid using it for critical tasks.

Can a Mac run native Windows software?
Virtualization software like VMWare and Parallels allows you to run Windows apps within macOS. However, this requires purchasing a copy of Windows and allocating significant disk space. Nowadays, most popular applications are available for both platforms, so it’s worth checking if a Mac version of your favorite Windows app exists.

Can a Chromebook or iPad replace a Windows 10 PC?
Chromebooks and iPads serve specific niches. Chromebooks are excellent budget-friendly devices for web browsing and online applications. iPads enhance mobile internet experiences with their larger screens for browsing, apps, and media consumption. However, neither is an ideal full-service replacement for a Windows 10 PC, which offers access to the entire range of Windows software in addition to web functionality. While they might work for some, we believe the options listed above offer better overall PC replacements.

I have a ton of PC games. What’s my best upgrade option?
Finding a good gaming desktop from a reputable brand is easier than ever. Aim for at least 32GB of RAM (new games are memory-intensive) and an NVIDIA RTX 40-series or AMD Radeon RX 9000-series GPU. For CPUs, we recommend at least Intel’s 13th-gen chips or AMD’s Ryzen 8000-series processors. Don’t overlook gaming laptops either; they’ve made huge strides in power, portability, and versatility for multimedia and productivity tasks.