Space is valuable. The modern work table has everything from beverages, trinkets, chargers, skincare supplies, and cat photos. Occasionally, it will also have items actually necessary for working, assuming there’s space left over. The solution is simple. Never go to work again. For those who can’t afford to do that, an all-in-one PC will work great. Asus sent over the V272UN AiO for us to test as a work machine (and then some), and here are our findings.
Design: 4.5/5
It’s an elegant machine, to say the least. The matte finish on the body ups the design score, and the machined stand bumps that score up even more. It’s slick in a way that we haven’t really seen in a lot of AiO devices, unless it’s from Cupertino. The screen takes up the entirety of the front, with a very slight chin where the webcam resides. The rest of the bezels are thin and done in a glossy black, which is a little off from the silver of the rest of the device, but helps it blend into the image well enough. Buttons and ports are neatly hidden on the bottom edge and the back of the machine, so visual clutter is thankfully kept to a minimum.
Hardware: 4.5/5
This AiO has a massive 27-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, and a huge 178-degree viewing angle. Our review model was pushing an Intel Core I7-8550U processor that runs at 1.99 GHz, with 8 GB of 2400 MHz, DDR4 RAM, and GeForce MX150 graphics. It can be configured to have up to a 512 GB SSD, and 2 TB of HDD storage. Asus is also nice enough to include a wireless keyboard and mouse in the box. Apart from eliminating the wired mess, the peripherals also match the finish on the AiO itself, though they are done in plastic.
User Experience: 4.5/5
Most of my computer time is spent before a laptop. Part of the reason I chose this is because of the small space it needs. The trade-off of course is a relatively small screen, heat, noise, and cramped ergonomics. Overall, it’s still convenient, but those problems get to me now and again.
The AiO forgoes the portability of a laptop, sure, but what it gives back is a massive screen, better heat management, and an overall friendlier experience. Such is the case with this device from Asus. The first thing that will catch your attention is that huge, gorgeous screen. The impressive 27-inch display and an 81-percent screen-to-body ratio really pop, and is an absolute delight to work on.
The rest of the device is just as gorgeous. Visual clutter is kept down thanks to the placement of the ports and buttons. Looking at the AiO head-on, there aren’t any buttons or ports to disrupt your focus. Those are all located on the nicely textured back of the PC—within easy reach, but entirely out of sight. It even has built-in speakers, so you won’t even have to worry about massing your desk up with those.
Spreadsheets fell to every tap on my keyboard. Documents tried, but failed to overwhelm me with their numbers, and there was no end to the masses of cat videos I defeated with such a roomy display. Fans of multiple windows open side-by-side will love the real-estate available to them, particularly at a fine resolution as on this. 8 GB of RAM is plenty for working, while streaming videos, or opening more than a few programs all at once.
Being a productivity device, it comes with more than a few ports. A USB port on the side, right near the headphone jack, with three more USB ports on the rear make connecting devices a snap. HDMI ports make connecting external displays possible, and a single RJ45 LAN port gives you the flexibility to skip wireless and have a more stable wired connection instead. These proved great, and kept wires, dongles, and other bits and bobs out of the way and out of sight. You will immediately give one port up to use the included keyboard and mouse, so that’s something to bear in mind. Being an AiO, the device requires a single power brick to provide the juice. It’s about the size of a laptop brick, and can be stowed conveniently enough, with a reasonably small footprint. Overall, I feel the whole PC took up less space on my desk than my laptop.
Gaming performance was surprisingly adequate as well. The MX 150 was able to handle both Overwatch and PUBG quite handily, and the screen responded to the action quickly enough to keep pace with the action. This was a great little surprise for us, as this is an AiO, but it is able to hold its own with some light gaming as well.
Value: 4/5
Hovering around the PHP 60,000 mark, it can be argued that a built PC can be made for less. That’s true, but the value of a device such as this is its ability to do so much while taking up so little space. Until someone can machine me a small enough case, and stuff equivalent contents into it at a price point that’s lower than what Asus offers, I will happily recommend this AiO to anyone that might be looking for a powerful PC with a small footprint.
Bottomline:
If you want space without sacrificing comfort or power, this is the way.
Reviewed by Ren Alcantara