Dell XPS One 27 Touch review

Windows 8 goes large with Dell's new touch powerhouse

Dell XPS One 27 Touch
The Dell XPS One 27 Touch is an all-in-one PC you won't mind showing off

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The Dell XPS One 27 Touch is easily one of the nicest looking all-in-one PCs we've seen, with that huge and beautiful 27-inch ultra high definition screen rightfully taking centre stage.

While the £1,779/AU$2,499/US$1,999.99 price tag for the model we tested may seem steep, compared to an iMac that has lower specifications in many areas, it begins to look like better value.

Also, to get a decent 27-inch display at 2560 x 1440 pixels, such as the Apple 27-inch Cinema Display or the Samsung Series 9 S27B970D, you're going to be spending a big chunk of money on the monitor alone.

The fact that the Dell XPS One 27 Touch includes a PC that's rocking some pretty fine components for not much more money makes it even more tempting.

The downsides are that the screen isn't quite as flawless as we'd have hoped - though it's still miles better than some we've seen in all-in-ones - and the reliance on integrated graphics means it's not quite the all-singing, all-dancing powerhouse that the iMac can claim to be.

We liked

Large, good looking screen, Blu-ray options, HDMI and TV aerial inputs and a hefty hard drive makes the Dell XPS One 27 Touch a great living room PC.

The touchscreen works extremely well with Windows 8, and there's enough power behind the scenes for this all-in-one PC to keep up with pretty much any day-to-day task. Full screen Windows 8 apps look fantastic on the large screen - this is a product that definitely has the 'wow' factor.

We disliked

The lack of a dedicated graphics card is a bit of a problem if you want to use the Dell XPS One 27 Touch for gaming and video editing. It won't be a problem for everyone, and the absence of a graphics card keeps the price a little cheaper, but it's worth considering. It's the only blot on an otherwise excellent product.

Final verdict

As a living room PC that's dedicated to media, there's practically no faulting it, especially if you go for a model with Blu-ray built in. A Windows Media Centre remote is included, and Windows 8 comes with some pretty nice media streaming apps. The Dell XPS One 27 Touch has a lot going for it.

If you're looking for an all-in-one PC that will double as a workstation, especially one that's going to be used for graphically intensive tasks, then the Dell XPS One 27 Touch won't really fit the bill.

If you're looking for a Windows 8 PC that will cover most media bases, and looks fantastic, then the Dell XPS One 27 Touch will be seriously tempting. One look at the gorgeous screen and you'll be smitten.

If you need an all-in-one PC that will to double as a workstation, then you may be better off looking elsewhere.

Matt Hanson
Managing Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. Ever since he got an Amiga A500+ for Christmas in 1991, he's loved using (and playing on) computers, and will talk endlessly about how The Secret of Monkey Island is the best game ever made.