The AIO (All in one desktop) has been one of the definitive tech trends of 2022. Most of us started the year in WFH mode, while many of us might have switched to hybrid or back to office work models, the AIO looks here to stay. The iMac became my primary desktop work machine at the beginning of 2022. Even as my travels have increased during the second half of the year, I miss the large 24-inch screen of my iMac when I’m on the road. ASUS’ AIO has been around for a while and still deserves to be on your consideration set if you’re looking at an AIO around Rs 50K. The bigger question however is – do you really need an AIO?
Looks good on your desk
The V241 looks great on your desk with its premium finish. We like the near-invisible 2mm display bezel that delivers an edge-to-edge viewing experience and stretches the screen: body ratio to 88%. There are multiple connectivity ports that make this device easy to set up and offer multiple use case scenarios including as a second screen. I caught some live sports action and also checked out a few HD videos on YouTube and the colours are quite vibrant. You get a 178-degree viewing angle with a Full HD resolution and an anti-glare display. The 23.8-inch display (1920 x 1080 pixels / IPS LCD) peaks at 250 nits. The Colour and contrast get a boost with 100% sRGB colour gamut coverage.
Play mode
I didn’t miss a touch screen, given that my regular work machine doesn’t come with one. But that might be a deal breaker for some users. There are rival options that also offer a flexible form factor that allows you to switch from portrait to landscape with a touchscreen, but those cost a lot more. The vivid colours make it gaming proof. ASUS is also playing up its advanced SonicMaster audio — featuring a DTS Audio Processing bass-reflex speaker system. DTS Audio Processing enables customising and fine-tuning audio with different pre- sets. Sound quality is good but not exceptional.
Gets stuff done
Our review unit came bundled with a wireless keyboard and mouse. I like the design and the typing experience on the bundled keyboard. It’s not backlit though. You could opt for a more compact keyboard option too. We checked out the top-end variant with an Intel i5 11 th Gen processor with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. It’s enough firepower for most everyday tasks even if your workflows entail a lot of multi-tasking or editing. You could also opt for an i3 processor and 256GB of storage or stretch it all the way to 1TB.
Who’s it for
The ASUS AIO (V241EA) is a great entry-level AIO option that offers an immersive display and a refined design aesthetic. If you’re likely to face frequent power outages and don’t have a UPS or Power back-up, you might still be better off with a large screen laptop or hook up your laptop to a large display like the OnePlus Monitor X2. If you need a large screen and your workflows include frequent ‘split screen’ scenarios, an AIO like this one makes a lot of sense. It can also double up as a binge watch screen or a gaming device when you need to chill.
The ASUS AIO (V241EA) starts at Rs 47,990
