Last Updated on September 1, 2023 by Daniel Osakwe
Welcome to our review of the best mini PC. Unlike normal PCs, mini-PCs are more portable, lightweight, easy to set up, faster in performance when compared with other PCs.
Additionally, they’re well designed, durable, and comes with lots of top-notch features.
Having said that, if you’re looking for the best mini PC to buy, you just found the right place. And without further ado, why not check out the 9 best mini PCs we’ve discovered for you below.
Table of Contents
Buyers Guide: Things to Consider Before Buying a Mini PC
Brand: First of all, you should consider the brand of the mini PC. For most by far, the brand is a critical factor. They are also an assortment of brands accessible. All around, the mainstream marks far and wide are the quick victors accessible. Accordingly, while picking a PC, you can think about the brand.
USB Ports: Remember, mini PCs generally sport only mini HDMI output, so you’ll need to buy a screen with an HDMI port. Moreover, check if the mini PC you are buying goes with an HDMI connection, or you’ll need to purchase that autonomously.
RAM: Most of the time, a mini PC doesn’t support a work territory RAM, anyway a respectably humbler, PC RAM. Without a doubt, the work zone RAM is more affordable than a PC RAM, yet the general expense of the mini-PC is lesser, so will disguise the qualification.
Price: Another factor to consider when purchasing mini-PCs is the expense. If you need all the more spending intends to buy an expensive one, you ought to examine the expense and pick the sensible one.
Best Mini PC Compilation Chart
| Name | Features | Where to Buy (New) | Where to Buy (Pre-owned) |
| Apple Mac mini
|
Weight: 2.6 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i3-8100B | Storage: 128GB SSD | Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
| Azulle Byte3
|
Weight: 4.75 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH | Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
| Intel Hades Canyon NUC
|
| Weight: 4.75 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH | Storage: Bring Your Own |
Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
| Azulle Access3
|
Weight: 5.12 ounces | CPU: Intel Celeron N4100 | Storage: 32GB | Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
| HP Z2 Mini G4
|
Weight: 4.85 pounds | CPU: Intel Xeon E-2176G | Storage: 1TB HDD + 256GB | Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny
|
Weight: 2.91 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i5-7500T | Storage: 256GB SSD | Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
| Acer Chromebox CXI3
|
Weight: 1.2 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U | Storage: 64GB SSD | Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
| Alienware Aurora R9
|
Weight: 1.6 ounces | CPU: Intel Core i5-9400| Storage: No onboard storage | Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay |
Best Mini PC in Performance
Apple Mac mini
Size (Inches): 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 | Weight: 2.6 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i3-8100B | Storage: 128GB SSD | Geekbench 3 score: 12,844
Apple took as much time as vital invigorating the smallest of Macs, yet the Mac mini (2018) was unquestionably advocated even despite the delay. The latest Mac mini PC has a smooth new look with its darker space diminished anodized finish, notwithstanding holding comparative estimations and unibody structure as the past model.
It moreover gets a couple of overhauls, like a quick arrangement of ports, including four Thunderbolt 3 ports for interfacing exhibits, storing, and whatever else. It even offers (a dash) of upgradability, with traditional SO-DIMM spaces for including memory, anyway other hardware and limit are not customers useful.
Despite shaking an increasingly prepared eighth-time Intel Core i3 processor, the smallest Mac made sense of how to set up numbers that bested better-readied systems and offers an amazing proportion of power in a magnificently negligible arrangement. Taking into account our testing, it’s the best mini PC as a rule, passing on magnificent power and motivator in an insignificant group.
See our review: Apple Mac mini
| Pros | Cons |
| Improved Mac OS Mojave | Limited upgradability |
| Impressive performance |
Acer Chromebox CXI3
Size (Inches): 5.9 x 5.9 x 1.6 | Weight: 1.2 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U | Storage: 64GB SSD | Geekbench 3 Score: N/A
The Acer Chromebox CXI3 may be the best work territory version of Chrome OS available. Made for use in the examination corridor or the working environment, the Chromebox CXI3 passes on everything exceptional about Chrome – ease of use, direct security, and all the online limit you need – in a mini PC that parades extraordinary features and execution.
The moderate Chromebox can be mounted wherever and displays a ton of ports, including a couple of USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output, and a USB-C port. Our model was furnished with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD, joining to offer quick execution and straightforward performing of different errands.
Likewise, it’s more affordable than any correspondingly arranged Windows machine. For likely the best mini PC structure without the swell of Windows, there’s no beating the Acer Chromebox CXI3.
See our review: Acer Chromebox CXI3
| Pros | Cons |
| Has excellent performance | Limitations of Chrome OS |
| Includes plenty of ports |
Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny
Size (Inches): 7.05 x 7.20 x 1.36 inches | Weight: 2.91 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i5-7500T | Storage: 256GB SSD | Geekbench 3 Score: 10,007
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny work zone puts full-sized, business-grade gainfulness into a negligible pack that is more diminutive than a softcover book. It offers a wide scope of business-obliging features into its close to nothing, square edge, with a ton of ports, practical Wi-Fi, and decisions to incorporate an optical drive or even change the mini PC into an All-in-One work territory using Lenovo’s Tiny-in-One screens.
Our study unit offered solid execution under an Intel Core i5-7500T processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB Opal-pleasing solid-state drive. With superior to average execution and a great deal of versatility, it’s the best mini PC for most office customers.
The little size gives a bogus portrayal of the limits inside, with plans that thought up to an Intel Core i7 processor, as much as 32GB of memory, choices of HDD, or SSD accumulating (with Opal-predictable decisions), and ornament for included helpfulness.
See our review: Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny
| Pros | Cons |
| Rugged performance | Integrated graphics only |
| Plenty of ports |
Best Mini PC in Ports
Azulle Byte3
Size (Inches): 5.6 x 4 x 1.5 | Weight: 14 ounces | CPU: Intel Celeron J3455 | Storage: 32GB eMMC | Geekbench 4 Score: 4,011
The Azulle Byte3 is the best mini PC for home delight, with a moderate fanless structure that will adequately fit into your preoccupation network. It’s an exceptional device for media spilling and gives a full PC experience on your TV. With an Intel Apollo Lake Celeron processor, it’s optimal for spilling 4K video and offers all the systems you need with a sound selection of ports.
The little size of the Byte3 (5.6 x 4 x 1.5 inches) will helpfully mount to the back of a TV or screen. The moderate arrangement regardless of everything offers decisions to upgrade after purchase, and the smooth looks infer that despite the way that you can without quite a bit of a stretch disguise it away, you most likely won’t want to. In case you need a mind-blowing mini PC for home preoccupation use, the Azulle Byte3 mini PC is our top pick.
See our review: Azulle Byte3
| Pros | Cons |
| IR remote included | Lousy multitasking |
| Good port selection |
Intel Hades Canyon NUC
Size (Inches): 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.5 | Weight: 4.75 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH | Storage: Bring Your Own
Intel’s Hades Canyon NUC is a mini PC that passes on work territory gaming-grade execution for a situation that is about the size of a book. Because of its Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH crossbreed chip, which solidifies getting ready and discrete designs on a single chip, the Hades Canyon NUC can manage AAA games and VR in a little, dim square that can be tucked into a backpack or added to a home preoccupation network.
Regardless of its little size, the Hades Canyon NUC is stacked with ports, including Thunderbolt 3 ports and HDMI output. If you buy the barebones unit, you’ll need to give memory and limit, and your own foundation of Windows, yet this to some degree small gaming pcs can clash with Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti-controlled gaming tower, and it even dealt with a bit of VR. It’s the best mini PC you can get for gaming without a deal.
See our review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC
| Pros | Cons |
| Customizable RGB lighting | Expensive |
| Tons of ports |
Best Mini PC in Design
Azulle Access3
Size (Inches): 5.5 x 2.36 x 0.76 | Weight: 5.12 ounces | CPU: Intel Celeron N4100 | Storage: 32GB | Geekbench 4 Score: 4,541
The Azulle Access3 takes our favored little stick PC and makes it amazingly better. With a moderate structure that is for all intents and purposes sufficiently minimal to put on a keychain, and sufficiently versatile to be used with any screen or TV, the Access3 gets a snappier processor, speedier USB 3.0 ports, and incorporates Gigabit Ethernet for best execution and accessibility over some other stick PC we’ve investigated.
The zippy display even supports 4K video output, making it unbelievable for spilling. Whether or not it’s for use in your home theater, powering propelled signage, or essentially giving you a way to deal with watching Netflix on your housing TV, the Access3 presses forward in a structure factor that greater makers have, all things considered, neglected. The Azulle Access3 is our new most adored stick PC, and the best mini PC you can slip into your pocket.
See our review: Azulle Access3
| Pros | Cons |
| Zippy performance with 4K video supports | The optional bundled keyboard is clunky |
| Improved port selection boasts USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet | Slow data transfer speeds |
HP Z2 Mini G4
Size (Inches): 8.5 x 8.5 x 2.3 | Weight: 4.85 pounds | CPU: Intel Xeon E-2176G | Storage: 1TB HDD + 256GB SSD | Geekbench 3 Score: 25,064
The HP Z2 Mini G4 is an ultrasmall workstation PC, pressing workstation-level parts and ISV-affirmed delineations into a work region PC that is more diminutive than specific books.
It has a slick look and an amazingly accessible (and upgradeable) inside, nonetheless, the authentic draw is the force taking care of and representations decisions. It’s furthermore the best mini PC you can get for workstation execution while keeping up that traditionalist size.
Outfitted with a substantial 6-focus Intel Xeon E-2176G processor, 32GB of RAM, and Nvidia Quadro P1000 delineations, the Z2 Mini viably handles remaining weights that other mini PCs fight with and is affirmed to work with an arrangement of vital undertakings, from merchants like Autodesk, Avid, Siemens, Solidworks, and Vectorworks.
On the off chance that you’re an engineer or originator that needs a workstation work region that won’t take up your whole work zone, this is the momentous mini PC we propose.
See our review: HP Z2 Mini G4
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly configurable components and ports | Cooling fans get loud |
| Internals are easy to access |
Alienware Aurora R9
Size (Inches): 18.9 x 8.7 x 17 | Weight: 1.6 ounces | CPU: Intel Core i5-9400 | Storage: No onboard storage | Geekbench 3 Score: N/A
The Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop extends the meaning of a “little” PC at a cumbersome 18.9 x 8.7 x 17 inches, yet still qualifies, as it’s more dainty than customary gaming PC towers. It likewise just looks amazingly cool, helping one to remember the stream admission of some Sci-Fi rocket. Given the brand, this UFO style outside is very fitting undoubtedly.
The guts of this machine probably won’t be so strange in a flying saucer either, with the most recent Intel Core i5-9400 and an Nvidia GTX 1660 Super. Its 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB mechanical hard drive are less great, however, they ought to take care of business for gamers, and help bring the sticker price down to a truly sensible level.
Overhauled renditions are accessible for those with more profound pockets and no enthusiasm for a bargain. Additionally, the bigger case makes this PC simple to redesign. The Alienware Aurora ought to effectively have the option to convey staggering graphical execution in the most recent games for a considerable length of time to come.
See our review: Alienware Aurora R9
| Pros | Cons |
| Great performance | Large & bulky |
| Easy to upgrade |
How We Tested the Best Mini PC
During our testing, we relied on the opinion of experts and feedback from clients based on these major factors: Performance, Ports, and Design.
More analysis of these mini PCs was uncovered from further research and online reviews. From the result and feedback (both positive and negative), we were able to categorize each product according to our standards.
If you take a critical look at our review, you’ll discover how each PC has been categorized. Also, take note that after our testing, the mini PCs that weren’t up to standard were excluded from our list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Getting the best mini PC wouldn’t be stressful anymore (thanks to the list of the best mini PCs we’ve reviewed above). However, if you’ve found one or two PCs above that you’ll like to buy, always ensure you check the necessary features of your preferred choice before purchasing.
