Acer Aspire C27 AIO Desktop | 27" Full HD Review

The Acer Aspire C27 All-in-One Desktop is a good pick for a family or home office PC where a clean, simple setup is key. It has a large 27-inch 120Hz screen, decent integrated graphics for media, and includes all the peripherals. Just don't buy it for gaming or heavy multitasking, as the CPU performance is only average.

If you're looking for a clean, all-in-one desktop for the family room or home office, the Acer Aspire C27 is a solid contender. It packs an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD into a sleek 27-inch frame, all for around $637. That's a lot of screen and storage for the money, and it comes with a keyboard and mouse, so you're ready to go right out of the box. The big draw here is the clutter-free design. You get a single power cable instead of a tower, monitor, and a mess of wires, which is perfect for a shared space or a tidy desk. It's clearly aimed at everyday tasks like web browsing, video calls, and homework, not high-end gaming or professional video editing.

Performance is a mixed bag, and our database scores tell the story. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is a decent 8-core chip, but it lands in the 27th percentile for CPU performance among similar all-in-ones. That means it's fine for office work and streaming, but don't expect it to blaze through heavy multitasking or complex spreadsheets. The integrated AMD Radeon graphics, however, are surprisingly capable for this category, scoring in the 97th percentile. This isn't a gaming PC—its gaming score is a low 17.9—but it can handle casual games like Minecraft or Roblox just fine. The 120Hz refresh rate on the 27-inch FHD IPS screen is a nice bonus, making everyday scrolling and motion look smoother than on a standard 60Hz panel.

At $637, the Acer Aspire C27 sits in an interesting spot. You're paying a premium for the all-in-one form factor and the big screen. If you compare it to a similarly priced traditional desktop, you'd get a much more powerful CPU and a dedicated GPU. But if a clean desk and simple setup are your top priorities, this Acer delivers a lot of those convenience features. It's a better value than many cheaper all-in-ones that skimp on RAM or storage, as you get 16GB and a 1TB SSD here.

The main competition comes from other all-in-ones and budget desktops. Compared to something like a Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO, you might find similar specs, but the Acer's 120Hz screen is a differentiator for general smoothness. If you're considering a small-form-factor PC like an Intel NUC or a Mini PC, you'll get more power for less money, but you'll need to supply your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. And if gaming is even a remote possibility, steer clear—competitors like the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop or even a used office PC with a added graphics card will run circles around this for the same budget.

Skip this if you're a power user, a gamer, or a creative professional. The CPU isn't cut out for video editing, coding, or heavy data work. Gamers should look at budget gaming desktops like the HP Pavilion Gaming series. And if you just want raw performance for your money, a traditional desktop tower or a mini PC paired with a monitor will give you more power and upgradeability for the same $637.

So, should you buy the Acer Aspire C27? If you want a simple, attractive computer for the family to use for web browsing, homework, video calls, and very casual games, and you really value a wire-free desk, it's a good choice. The 120Hz screen is a nice touch, and the specs are sufficient for those tasks. But if you need power for work, have any interest in real gaming, or are just looking for the most performance for your dollar, you should skip it. There are more capable traditional desktops at this price that will feel faster and last longer.