Computers

ASUS Vivo AiO (V272) review: All-in-one goodness?

A complete desktop PC that simply works

Published

June 24, 2018

Marvin Velasco

As a person who builds his own desktop computers and thrives on portable laptops for his on-the-go lifestyle, I admit there are times I just want a PC that can do it all — minus all the hassle of plugging accessories in and finding wall sockets for charging.

That’s exactly what an all-in-one computer aims to do, and the ASUS Vivo AiO is the latest example.

Much like the Zen AiO Pro I reviewed last year, this model only needs a single power cable to get things running. Everything else is already built in or simply wireless. Now, that’s convenience!

Here’s what it can do

Make no mistake about it: This AiO PC is quite big. With a 27-inch LCD on its adjustable base, it takes some effort to take this 8.5kg computer out of its box and setting it on a table. From there, however, the rest of the setup becomes pleasantly easy.

All you have to do is plug in the power cable, insert the wireless keyboard and mouse’s dongle into an open USB port, and you’re all set! Powering the unit on happens by pressing a somewhat hidden button at the back of the display.

You’ll then be greeted by a 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution, which isn’t that dense for a 27-inch panel, but it does allow the system to run more smoothly since fewer pixels have to be pushed at a given time. ASUS claims it has a 100 percent sRGB color gamut, which is great for editing photos and videos more accurately.

Some variants of the Vivo AiO come with a touchscreen. This is kinda unusual to have on a desktop computer, but if it’s already there, then why not, right? Still, I would stick to using the keyboard and mouse, and leave the touch gestures to your laptop or smartphone.

I’m saying this because the bundled wireless mouse and keyboard are actually quite good. While not mechanical or gaming-optimized in any sense, they’re ergonomic and work well on all sorts of surfaces with no noticeable input lag.

Despite having everything in one solid piece, there are enough ports to go around.

Underneath the display, you get a single USB port, which I found to be a perfect spot to plug in the keyboard-mouse receiver, as well as a 3.5mm audio port for your headphones or external speakers.

At the back is a decent selection of ports, from USB 3.1 to HDMI and Ethernet. The only head-scratching omission is USB-C, which is becoming increasingly common on smartphones and thin notebooks. Even ASUS’ own phones and laptops are committed to the port, so it’s strange to see it missing here.

Design-wise, my main complaint is the location of the webcam. It’s situated on the bottom bezel, allowing it to look up your nose during video calls. ASUS brags about the display’s 81 percent screen-to-body ratio, but I would’ve been fine with some bezel up top to house the front camera instead.

Even though you can tilt the unit by a few degrees to find your sweet spot, you sadly can’t adjust the height to remedy the poorly placed webcam.

What exactly can it run?

One look at the specifications sheet, and you can tell what this machine is meant for.

My review unit is equipped with an Intel Core i7-8550U, 8GB of memory, and an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics chip. This setup means the Vivo AiO can handle light workloads such as Microsoft Office, Chrome, and Photoshop with ease, but anything visually heavy will make it struggle a bit.

Like most AiO computers, upgrading components is a pain, so you’ll have to settle for whatever configuration you pay for from the start, so choose wisely.

During my time with this unit, I didn’t experience any lag while browsing websites, writing articles, and editing photos — all at the same time. That’s largely thanks to the quad-core Core i7 processor with Hyper-threading, giving you eight logical cores in total.

It’s only when I fired up a couple of graphically demanding games when the system couldn’t keep up.

For kicks, I played some Final Fantasy XV on this thing. As expected, I was forced to endure the lowest graphics settings on 1080p. However, to my surprise, the game managed to run at a consistent 30 frames per second, which made it totally playable. Any title less power-hungry than Final Fantasy XV — such as Fortnite or PUBG — will definitely run more smoothly.

Video editing on Premiere Pro is enjoyable on the large monitor and its powerful stereo speakers, but don’t expect rendering to be seamless. Still, I highly recommend getting a configuration with both an SSD and HDD to speed up the processing and provide you with enough storage, respectively. My setup has a standard 128GB M.2 SSD and 1TB HDD.

All in with the all-in-one?

In a nutshell, this is pretty much the Windows equivalent of an iMac. And like an Apple product, the Vivo AiO simply works. There’s no cumbersome setup process or annoying cables and dongles to deal with; plug it in and you’re set.

Who is this for other than iMac users wanting to jump ship? I’d say Windows users who want more screen real estate than what a laptop offers, yet need to save as much desk space as possible. An AiO like this is by far easier to transfer from one point to another compared to a traditional desktop PC with its separate monitor and multitude of cables.

Of course, this costs more than a custom-built PC spec-for-spec. You may buy a Vivo AiO with a starting price of US$ 1,000, but you could assemble a more powerful rig for less.

It ultimately comes down to convenience versus power. Which one will it be for you this time? Take a long look at your work space and decide from there.

Computers

Apple unveils new iMac with M6 chip

M6 brings faster AI performance

Published

October 27, 2026

GadgetMatch

Apple has unveiled its new iMac powered by the M6 chip, bringing faster performance, enhanced on-device AI capabilities, and improved connectivity to its all-in-one desktop computer.

Announced on October 27, the new iMac retains its slim design and 24-inch display while introducing hardware upgrades for everyday productivity, creative workflows, and AI-powered applications.

Apple claims the M6-powered iMac delivers up to 18 times faster performance than the most popular Intel-based iMac. It also offers up to five times faster on-device AI performance than the previous-generation M4 model.

The new iMac comes in seven colors: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver.

M6 brings faster performance and AI capabilities

The new iMac features Apple’s M6 chip, with configurations offering either a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU or a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU.

The 12-core CPU delivers improved performance for everyday applications, multitasking, and demanding workloads. Meanwhile, the GPU now features Neural Accelerators in every core to accelerate AI processing and graphics-intensive tasks.

Apple claims the new iMac delivers up to twice the graphics performance of the M4 model. Users can expect improvements in photo editing, video production, and gaming, including titles that use ray tracing.

The M6 also features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which delivers up to twice the AI computing performance of the previous generation. Combined with memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s, the chip can handle demanding on-device AI workloads, including running large language models.

Apple highlights several performance improvements over previous generations:

Up to 2.5 times faster performance in Microsoft Excel compared to the M1 iMac.
Up to 3.3 times faster graphics performance in applications such as Affinity compared to the M1 iMac.
Up to 12 times faster on-device AI prompt processing in LM Studio compared to the M1 iMac.
Up to twice the gaming performance with ray tracing compared to the M4 iMac.

These improvements make the iMac a more capable desktop for professionals, students, and creators who need additional computing power without moving to a separate desktop tower.

A desktop built for AI

Apple is positioning the new iMac as a platform for its expanding AI ecosystem.

Running macOS 27, the desktop supports Apple Intelligence features and Siri AI, Apple’s next-generation assistant. Users can ask questions, search for information across their messages and emails, and perform actions across supported applications.

Siri AI is also integrated into Spotlight, allowing users to search for information and ask follow-up questions. Visual Intelligence lets users interact with content on their screen, whether it’s a chart in a spreadsheet or an image in a browser.

Other AI-powered features extend to everyday applications. Safari can automatically organize tabs into topics and notify users about website changes, including product restocks and price drops. Users can also create Shortcuts automations by describing what they want to accomplish.

For creative professionals, Apple Intelligence adds tools for photo editing and other productivity tasks. The iMac also supports third-party AI applications optimized for Apple silicon, including LM Studio and Topaz Studio.

Apple says these capabilities allow users to run supported AI workloads locally, helping preserve privacy by processing certain tasks directly on the device.

Siri AI is available in beta in macOS 27.2, with language and regional availability restrictions applying to some Apple Intelligence features.

24-inch 4.5K Retina display

The new iMac retains its 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, which offers a resolution of 4,480 x 2,520 pixels and 500 nits of brightness.

The display supports the P3 wide color gamut and more than one billion colors, making it suitable for photo editing, video production, and everyday entertainment.

Apple also offers an optional nano-texture display finish on supported configurations to reduce reflections and glare in challenging lighting conditions.

For video calls, the iMac features a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with Desk View. Its three-microphone array and six-speaker sound system deliver an integrated audiovisual setup without requiring additional peripherals.

The speakers feature force-cancelling woofers and tweeters, with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and faster storage

Connectivity receives an upgrade with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

The higher-end configuration can also be equipped with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, offering up to 2.5 times faster wired connectivity than the previous generation.

Apple claims the new iMac delivers up to twice the SSD read and write performance of its predecessor, helping applications launch faster and large files load more quickly.

Port availability depends on the configuration. The higher-end model includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports, allowing users to connect external storage, docks, and other accessories.

The iMac also supports up to two external 6K displays, providing additional screen space for demanding workflows.

Apple continues to bundle color-matched accessories with the desktop. Depending on the configuration, these include a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and either a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad. The accessories feature USB-C charging ports.

macOS 27 and sustainability

The new iMac runs macOS 27, which brings refinements to the Liquid Glass interface, system performance, and search.

Users can adjust the transparency of Liquid Glass through a new setting, choosing an appearance that ranges from clearer to more tinted. Apple has also refined app icons and other interface elements.

The iMac continues Apple’s sustainability efforts. Its stand uses 100 percent recycled aluminum, while its magnets use 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. Apple-designed printed circuit boards also use 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin solder.

Apple says the new iMac is manufactured using renewable electricity across its supply chain. The company continues working toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030.

iMac with M6 pricing and availability

In the United States, the new iMac with M6 starts at US$1,499 for the configuration with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Education pricing starts at US$1,449.

The higher-end configuration, featuring a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, starts at US$1,699, with education pricing starting at US$1,599.

Pre-orders in the United States and 34 other countries and regions begin on October 28, 2026. Availability starts November 6.

In the Philippines, the new iMac with M6 starts at PHP 109,990 for the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration. Eligible students and educators can purchase it for PHP 105,990.

The higher-end configuration with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU starts at PHP 124,990, with education pricing at PHP 117,990.

Apple says the new iMac will be available soon through the Philippine Apple Store online and Apple Authorized Resellers. Local availability dates have yet to be announced.

In Singapore, the new iMac starts at SGD 2,099 for the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration, with education pricing at SGD 2,029.

The 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU configuration starts at SGD 2,399, with education pricing at SGD 2,259. Pre-orders in Singapore begin on October 29, with availability starting November 6.

Computers

Lenovo tech behind DreamWorks Animation hit ‘Forgotten Island’

Partnership powers modern demands of animation production

Published

October 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island has definitely become a big screen hit, debuting with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and being well received particularly by a large Filipino fanbase.

And behind the movie is DreamWorks Animation’s partnership with tech giant, Lenovo. The collaboration is helping power the former’s production slate, including the studio’s animated feature inspired by Filipino culture, mythology, and experiences.

In 2025, DreamWorks expanded its relationship with Lenovo by naming the company its preferred compute services, workstation, and solutions provider.

Such partnership brings together Lenovo workstations, high-performance infrastructure, data center technology, and services to support the demanding needs of modern animation production.

It is a collaboration that builds on years of work between the two companies. DreamWorks has used Lenovo workstations as part of workflows across the studio.

Lenovo infrastructure has also supported the large-scale computing requirements involved in creating animated worlds and characters.

Still in cinemas, Forgotten Island follows lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R. and Filipino actress Liza Soberano.

As the two prepare to take different paths after high school, they unexpectedly find themselves transported to Nakali, a fantastical island populated by magical and mythological creatures rooted in stories from their Filipino families.

The film is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and produced by Academy Award nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Its voice cast also includes Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga.

Computers

ROG brings out the ultra-stylish G1000 gaming desktop

Plus, here’s a couple of sleek transport options from ROG.

Published

September 29, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Despite how much higher prices are going today, there are still so many options if you want a PC for yourself. However, only a handful of brands will offer you quite as much style doing so as ASUS. Today, ROG has revealed the new G1000 gaming desktop.

For the first time ever in a prebuilt PC, the ROG G1000 comes with a built-in AniMe Holo, a holographic fan with customizable visuals using Armoury Crate and Aura Sync. Additionally, the holographic fan is inside its own chamber, preventing it from interfering with the main system. Instead, the desktop uses the ROG Thermal Atrium, which uses three fans to channel fresh air through a 420mm AIO liquid cooler.

Now, the ROG G1000 isn’t just a pretty face. Inside, the 104L desktop comes with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor. It also comes equipped with the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080, up to 128GB DDR5 memory, and 1TB SSD for storage. New purchases will also come with a gaming keyboard and mouse, a year of Microsoft 365 Basic, Office Home 2024, and an ASUS No. 1 Quality and Service warranty.

The ROG G1000 will be available from ROG Exclusive Stores and will start at PhP 399,995.

Celebrating ROG at 20

Besides the new desktop, ROG is also launching a couple of storage and transport options for your prized gaming possessions. The ROG SLASH Backpack Edition 20 is a sleek backpack that can fit an 18-inch laptop with enough room for peripherals and accessories. It also comes with a custom FIDLOCK Magnetic quick-release, black-and-translucent-gold buckle. It will be available next quarter for PhP 10,995.

Meanwhile, the ROG SLASH Hard-Case Luggage Edition 20 is designed specifically for transporting your hard-earned gaming devices. The light-but-durable aluminum frame comes with a specialized compartment for laptops, handhelds, and accessories. It also has removalbe foam dividers to better customize the case for your needs. Finally, it has 360-degree silent skate wheels for smoother rolling. The luggage will be available starting next quarter for PhP 15,995.