The Dell Precision 3680 Tower Workstation is a solid investment for professionals. Like so many of the best workstations and best business computers we've reviewed, it offers strong performance, versatility, and thoughtful design, making it capable of efficiently handling various tasks. This makes it a valuable asset in any work environment. Dell desktops are still preferred for their power, storage, permanence, "always on" features, and other purposes, making them prominent in business. Dell is known for being highly versatile, reliable, trusted, powerful, and sleek, making the Precision 3680 Tower Workstation one of the best options for a customizable desktop solution.

Dell Precision 3680: Unboxing & first impressions

The Dell Precision 3680 Tower Workstation comes securely packaged, with packing material holding everything in place so the computer will arrive pristine. The box contains the tower, the power cable, and essential documentation. My unit also had an external Intel AX211 + Bluetooth wireless card to add Wi-Fi 6E capabilities. At first glance, this tower is compact but mighty. The initial setup is simple, with the system booting up quickly and ready for customization and installation of additional software. Wonderfully enough, I got up and running in no time.

Dell Precision 3680: Design & build quality

This tower workstation features a compact and robust chassis designed for durability and ease of access. The front panel is home to all the ports that I would want quick and easy access to, while the back ports are great for things that will stay plugged in for the most part. This Tower Workstation flaunts a sleek and professional design, while the compact and sturdy build hints at its suitability for various office environments. This machine is an excellent design for home office use or in the office. Either way, the Precision 3680 will fit right in.

Dell Precision 3680: In use

The Dell Precision 3680 Tower Workstation has been primarily at one desk in my suite of desks and computers. So far, it had quickly handled multitasking and demanding applications, making it suitable for professionals in fields like CAD, running the best 3D modeling software or the best video editing software when spec'd out. However, if you use this machine for more business and administrative tasks, a machine with less spec'd will do just fine. Despite its powerful hardware, the Dell Precision 3680 operates quietly, ensuring a distraction-free work environment for your co-workers, cat, or spouse.

While using this desktop tower, my team and I discovered that the Precision 3680 is energy-efficient and quiet. This machine was nearly silent even when churning through benchmarks or rendering video.

One thing that I love about having a mighty tower is that I do not need a docking station. While there is a time and a place for the best laptop docking stations, knowing that all I will most likely ever need is built into the chassis of this powerhouse is fantastic. I can access multiple USB Ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, an SD Card reader, Ethernet, and even a disk reader. I could utilize all the monitors currently at my disposal and connect four monitors to this computer without any issues. I plugged them all in via DisplayPort to the graphics card, and I could appropriately choose which monitor went where and what resolution I wanted to run all of the displays at.

For the last few months, this computer has been the powerhouse I know to be consistent. In my day-to-day, I am testing gear and swapping to different laptops, monitors, chairs, desks, etc. Having the forced consistency of having this desktop set up at a desk with a monitor and peripherals honestly gives a great breath of fresh air. I know I can sit down, and regardless of what else is happening around me, this computer will be on, ready to run, and I don't have to mess with a dock. There are no issues with what mic I need to select, what camera, or what speakers, no issues connecting to the proper Wi-Fi, and no problems connecting to the display, mouse, or keyboard. That's the beauty of a desktop workstation and the power behind a beast like this. If you're looking for a powerful workstation and need something that can be an always-on device and crush anything you send it, check out the spec-out Dell Precision 3680 Tower Workstation.

Dell Precision 3680: Final verdict

The Dell Precision 3680 excels with its processing power and ability to quickly handle multitasking and demanding applications. The base model’s 8GB RAM is sufficient for general tasks, but upgrading the memory like we did is recommended for more intensive workloads. While good for essential use, the integrated graphics may also require an upgrade for graphic-intensive applications. When choosing features while building your Precision 3680, Dell proves its versatility with many build points and components. If you want a new desktop powerhouse or a simple desktop tower to complete some admin tasks, check out the Dell Precision 3680.

Want to power-up productivity on the go we reviewed the best mobile workstations.

Lenovo is a popular name in the world of professional laptops. Even in consumer-grade laptops, the company has made its mark. 

Lenovo has three main laptop tiers. The first is the IdeaPad, which is focused on consumer-level computing power. The best Lenovo ThinkPads are targeted at business professionals. And ThinkBooks like the ThinkBook 16 G7 IML sit somewhere in the middle, aimed at prosumers. 

But is is one of the best business laptops for those who need a machine for work and play? We put it to the test. 

Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G7 IML: Unboxing & first impressions

The Lenovo ThinkBook 15 G7 IML Laptop was securely packaged in an eco-friendly box. Inside were the laptop, a 65W USB-C charger, and the documentation. All around, it was a pretty average unboxing experience.

When I pulled the packing sleeve off the laptop, I appreciated its build quality. It feels high quality and sturdy, and it looks professional. I also didn't mind the grey color. While I prefer black or darker computers, grey still looks pretty good.

Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G7 IML: Design & build quality

The ThinkBook 16 G7 IML has an aluminum top and PC-ABS bottom construction. It has a smooth-typing, spill-resistant keyboard and a large touchpad. It's worth noting that, unlike the ThinkPad, the ThinkBook does not have buttons with the touchpad, nor does it have the iconic red TouchPoint in the center of the keyboard.

As this is the newer generation of ThinkBooks, a dedicated Copilot button at the bottom of the keyboard allows quick and easy access to the Microsoft Copilot Ai assistant. This key is to the right of the right-most alt button, so it's easy to access when desired.

One of the benefits of having a 16-inch screen is that the space allotted for a keyboard is much larger. Because of this, Lenovo was able to add a full numpad to the right of the full-size keyboard. For those who work with numbers or data entry, this could help speed up input exponentially, especially if you are already used to using a numpad.

Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G7 IML: In use

I've had this laptop in rotation for a few months. Writing articles (such as this one) and spreadsheets or managing projects in programs like Notion, Asana, Monday.com, or Trello has been lovely. Thanks to the larger screen and quick processing power, this has also been fantastic for business admin tasks. I've flown through emails, putting together documents, basic photo editing, and a lot of internet-based work.

The 16-inch, high-resolution screen has also been great for portable work, especially around the house. It's larger than I would want to carry around as a remote/hybrid worker, but this has been great around the house. For example, I am writing this review sitting on my front porch while my kids play outside. The keyboard is comfortable enough that I don't need an external keyboard, and the trackpad is responsive. Today is overcast, making the screen bright for outdoor use. If it was a clear sky, and I had more direct sun on the screen, it would be harder to see but still usable.

The entire UI feels fast and responsive, and everything loads quickly. The function row has a mic mute button, volume controls, screen brightness, smart keys, and more.

This laptop features Windows Hello for easy and secure sign-in, allowing you to log in using your face or fingerprint. The ports are excellent, with USB-A on both sides, Thunderbolt and a USB-C on the left side, full-size HDMI on the left side, and an Ethernet port and an SD card reader on the right.

Using this laptop for my business has been a great experience. It's surprisingly powerful and user-friendly. The addition of Copilot has significantly boosted productivity, and the enhanced power is a great bonus.

Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G7 IML: Final verdict

The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G7 IML is a powerhouse for professionals who demand top-tier performance at the prosumer end of the market. It has a quality 16-inch display and a robust, stylish design. Its comprehensive connectivity options and high memory capacity make it ideal for demanding business tasks. While its weight and battery life in certain configurations might be minor drawbacks, the overall package is highly compelling for anyone seeking a reliable and powerful business laptop.

For more Lenovo laptops, we reviewed the best mobile workstations.