If you’re in the market for a 23.8-inch all-in-one PC (AIO), one of the most common questions I get from small business owners, remote workers, and casual home users is: “What operating system does this size of desktop usually run?” As the owner of an AIO PC supplier who’s been curating 23.8-inch models for over six years, I’ve worked with hundreds of customers to match their OS needs to the practical strengths of this specific form factor. Unlike larger 27 or 32-inch AIOs (which often cater to gamers or content creators needing specialized hardware) or smaller 21.5-inch models (built for tight workspaces), 23.8-inch AIOs hit a sweet spot—they’re compact enough for home desks, durable enough for small office breakrooms, and versatile enough for everything from checking emails to basic photo editing. That versatility extends heavily to the operating systems that dominate this space, and today I’m breaking down exactly which OS you’re likely to find, why they’re the standard, and which one might fit your needs best. All in One PC 23.8 Inch
First, let’s talk about Windows. If you’ve walked into a electronics store or scrolled through major tech retailers looking at 23.8-inch AIOs, 9 out of 10 models you’ll see run a Windows operating system—most often Windows 11 Home or Pro. There’s a really good reason for this, and it ties directly to how 23.8-inch AIOs are designed. For the average user, Windows is synonymous with desktop computing, and 23.8-inch AIOs are marketed to that broad, average audience. Let’s start with Windows 11 Home, which is the default for most consumer-facing AIOs in this size range. It’s designed to be intuitive for anyone who’s used a Windows PC before—familiar start menu, easy file organization, and seamless integration with everyday tools like Microsoft 365, which is a must for remote workers and small business teams. What makes it perfect for 23.8-inch AIOs specifically? It runs smoothly on the mid-range processors we use for these models (most Intel Core i3 or i5, or AMD Ryzen 3 or 5) and doesn’t demand the high-end RAM or storage that more specialized OS setups might. For example, when a customer comes to me needing a 23.8-inch AIO for a home office where they need to write reports, join Zoom calls, and stream music while working, the Windows 11 Home model is our top recommendation. It’s plug-and-play, works with every printer, external drive, and accessory a user might already own, and doesn’t require any extra technical know-how to set up.
But Windows 11 Pro is another big player here, especially for small businesses. When we supply AIOs to small retail shops, daycare centers, or micro-businesses with 2-10 employees, we often go with the Pro version. Why? Pro offers features that consumer editions don’t, like BitLocker encryption to keep sensitive customer data safe, remote desktop access so an IT team can troubleshoot issues without being on-site, and the ability to join a domain, which makes syncing all office devices and accounts way easier. A 23.8-inch AIO running Windows 11 Pro is small enough to fit at every employee’s desk, powerful enough to process sales data or manage social media accounts, and secure enough to handle the small amounts of sensitive data most micro-businesses work with. I remember a client a couple of years ago who owned a local café; they bought four of our 23.8-inch AIOs with Windows 11 Pro for their front counter, staff breakroom, and two back-office stations. Before that, they’d struggled with a clunky old Mac setup that couldn’t run their inventory software, but Windows Pro seamlessly integrated with their POS system and accounting tools. That’s the kind of practical win that makes Windows the go-to OS for most 23.8-inch AIOs.
Now, some people might ask: what about macOS? I’ll be honest—macOS makes up a much smaller portion of the 23.8-inch AIO market, but it’s not nonexistent. Apple only makes one AIO line, the iMac, and their standard consumer model is 24 inches, but it’s often advertised as “23.8 inches” in retail specs, which is where the confusion comes in. So if you see a 23.8-inch AIO running macOS, it’s almost always a base-model Apple iMac. But why isn’t macOS more common here? The biggest factor is cost. Our 23.8-inch Windows AIOs retail for between $400 and $800, depending on specs, while an entry-level iMac starts at around $1,300. That price gap puts Apple’s AIO out of reach for most of our customers, who are either home users on a budget or small businesses looking to outfit multiple devices. macOS also tends to cater to users in Apple’s full ecosystem—people with iPhones, iPads, and other Macs, who want seamless AirDrop, Handoff, and iCloud integration. For someone who only uses a Windows phone or doesn’t own other Apple devices, there’s very little upside to choosing a macOS 23.8-inch AIO over a Windows one. That said, for the small subset of users who live in Apple’s ecosystem, macOS is a solid option for 23.8-inch AIOs—it’s stable, low-maintenance, and great for creative tasks like basic photo editing or graphic design. But for the vast majority of our customers, it’s not the right fit.
Next, let’s talk about Chrome OS. This is the wild card, but it’s growing in popularity for 23.8-inch AIOs, especially for education, small businesses, and casual home use. Chromebook AIOs (which run Chrome OS) are lightweight, fast to boot, and designed around cloud-based tools like Google Workspace, Google Drive, and Gmail. Most 23.8-inch Chrome OS AIOs are marketed specifically to schools, but a lot of non-technical home users and micro-businesses also love them. Why? They’re extremely affordable—we sell a 23.8-inch Chrome OS AIO for under $350, which is half the price of our entry-level Windows model. They also get automatic updates for 10 years, which means no worrying about outdated security or features for a decade, and they’re virtually virus-proof, since Chrome OS runs apps in a sandboxed environment that prevents malware from spreading. That makes them perfect for things like school classrooms, where students might use them to complete Google Docs assignments, or small retail shops where they need a dedicated device for processing online orders or checking inventory. That said, Chrome OS does have limitations: it relies almost entirely on internet access, so if you need to work offline with large files or specialized desktop software, it’s not the best choice. For our customers who need a simple, no-fuss device for basic tasks, though, it’s a great option.
A lot of people might wonder why we don’t see more Linux-based 23.8-inch AIOs, and that’s a fair question. Linux is a powerful, open-source OS, but it’s primarily used by developers, tech enthusiasts, or users with very specific needs. The problem is that most Linux distributions (like Ubuntu or Mint) don’t come pre-installed on consumer AIOs, and they require a certain level of technical knowledge to set up and maintain. For example, if you’re a small business owner who doesn’t know how to troubleshoot driver issues or install software on Linux, that 23.8-inch AIO becomes a paperweight very quickly. Also, most consumer software—like Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, or common photo editing tools—isn’t optimized for Linux, so it’s not practical for the average user. There are a few Linux-based AIOs aimed at tech-savvy users, but they make up less than 1% of the 23.8-inch AIO market, so we almost never stock them for our customers.
Now, let’s circle back to why this matters for you, especially if you’re evaluating a 23.8-inch AIO. The 23.8-inch size is such a sweet spot because it balances screen real estate, portability, and desk space—so you don’t have to sacrifice a huge chunk of your desk for a big screen, but you also get more space than a 21.5-inch model to work on. The operating system you choose should align with how you plan to use that device. Let’s break down the use cases to make this clear:
If you’re a remote worker or small business owner who needs compatibility with desktop software, secure data storage, and seamless accessory integration: go with Windows 11 Home or Pro. This is what 80% of our customers choose, because it’s flexible, reliable, and works with every tool they already own.
If you’re a home user in the Apple ecosystem, or you need a device for basic creative tasks: a 23.8-inch iMac (macOS) is a great fit, though it comes at a higher price point.
If you need an ultra-affordable, low-maintenance device for school, casual browsing, or cloud-based work: a Chrome OS AIO is ideal.
And if you’re a tech enthusiast with specific needs, Linux could work for you, but it’s not the standard.
I’ve seen a lot of my customers make the mistake of choosing an OS based on hype instead of their actual needs. For example, a teacher I worked with a few months ago wanted a macOS AIO because “it’s more reliable,” but she ended up struggling when her school’s learning management system only worked with Windows. On the flip side, a college student who only uses Google Workspace and doesn’t need specialized software saved over $500 by choosing a Chrome OS AIO instead of a Windows model. That’s why taking the time to match your use case to the OS for your 23.8-inch AIO is so important.
As a supplier, I also prioritize building 23.8-inch AIOs with hardware that complements the OS, which is why you’ll rarely see a high-spec 23.8-inch AIO running Chrome OS—it’s overkill, and it drives up the price for no reason. For Windows models, we use mid-range processors and 8GB of RAM (upgradeable to 16GB if needed) to handle everything from email to video editing. For Chrome OS models, we go with lower-power processors and 4GB of RAM, since the OS doesn’t need much to run smoothly. That balance between form factor, hardware, and OS is what makes 23.8-inch AIOs so popular, and it’s why Windows remains the dominant OS in this space.
At the end of the day, the 23.8-inch all-in-one PC is designed to be a workhorse for everyday life, and its operating system is the backbone of that functionality. While macOS and Chrome OS have their places, Windows is and will remain the standard for this size, simply because it’s versatile enough to meet the needs of most users—from the remote worker to the small business owner. If you’re in the market for a 23.8-inch AIO and want to talk through which OS is right for your specific needs, feel free to reach out to our team to discuss available options tailored to your budget and use case. Whether you need a single device for your home office or multiple units for your small business, we can help you find the perfect match.
HJS OPS References:
- "2024 All-in-One PC Market Report: Form Factor and OS Trends". International Data Corporation (IDC).
- "Consumer Operating System Preference by Device Form Factor". Statista, 2024.
- "Chrome OS and Windows AIO Benchmark Comparison". PCMag, 2023.
- "Apple iMac 24-Inch (2024) Spec Sheet". Apple Inc., 2024.
- "Small Business Desktop OS Adoption Survey". Small Business Administration (SBA), 2023.
Shenzhen HJS Technology Group
Shenzhen HJS Technology Group is one of the most experienced all in one pc 23.8 inch manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to buy CE approved all in one pc 23.8 inch made in China here from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.
Address: F10, Wanhe Technology Building C, No. 7 HuiTong Road, Fenghuang Street, Guangming New District, Shenzhen. China.
E-mail: info@hjs-pc.com
WebSite: https://www.hjs-pc.com/
