Best mini PC of 2023
When most users seek an alternative to a large PC (opens in new tab) case they are quick to make the jump to laptops (opens in new tab) and all-in-one PCs (opens in new tab). But down the road they may find themselves disappointed by the screen attached to the machine, as it limits your options. If you want to avoid a full size PC, feel constrained by a laptop or all-in-one and at the same time want to keep your freedom of choice when it comes to monitors (opens in new tab), what do you do? You can choose a Mini PC or Mac Mini, that’s where they shine.
Mini PCs (also referred to as thin clients) can be integrated with your choice of monitors (usually one at the low end, but up to four in some devices) and peripherals such as a webcam (opens in new tab), At the same, Mini PCs can stay hidden out of sight, either under the desk (opens in new tab) or behind a monitor. Despite their small size, mini PCs are as functional and compatible with software as traditional PCs.
Lack of standards can be a good thing
If there is one constant rule in electronics is that everything is shrinking, all the time and PCs are no exception. Tasks that some years ago required a bulky tower can be achieved today with a Mini-ITX standard PC case that is one third to a quarter in size of the beige boxes of the past. Yet even Mini-ITX is getting old by today’s standards and you can get ready-made Mini PCs that fit in your pocket or the palm of your hand.
There is a lot of variety when it comes to Mini PCs: various sizes are available and they are designed for various use cases. Some Mini PCs are designed to lay flat under a desk while others have a unique vertical design that allows them to be placed on top of your desk next to your monitor and within arm’s reach. You can also completely conceal them behind your monitor if they come with VESA mounting holes.
Today’s range of Mini PCs are a great alternative to bulky full-size desktops and all-in-one systems for all kinds of uses: from administrative workers doing data entry, to customer service specialists and call center offices, to creative professionals and students learning at home.
We have done the research so you won’t have to and here, we present you with a selection of the best Mini PCs in every size and form factor and for every usage scenario. You will find entries from big PC name brands like Dell, Intel, Lenovo, along with Zotac, one of the pioneers in this category. Finally you will find rising stars like MinisForum and Beelink, and less known, niche brands in this contested market segment.
Best mini PCs
The Mac Mini M1 was launched in October 2020 but is still the best Mac Mini that you can get.
(Image credit: Apple)
Mục Lục
1. Apple Mac Mini, M1 (2020)
Best for Mac users: the first iteration of Apple´s Mac Mini with M1 silicon continues to be the system of choice for Mac users
Our expert review:
Specifications
CPU:
Apple M1 (8 Cores)
RAM:
16 GB Unified Memory (non-upgradeable) 8GB version also available
Storage:
512 GB SSD (mSATA)
Ports and connectivity:
Thunderbolt USB 3.1 Gen 2 USB-C (x2), USB 3.1 Type-A Gen1 (x2), HDMI, Headphone Jack, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6
Weight:
1.2Kg / 2.6lb
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Reasons to buy
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Fast M1 CPU
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Can run the latest Mac OS
Reasons to avoid
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RAM cannot be upgraded
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Updated version due this year
Overall, the 2020 version of the Mac mini with its M1 CPU is still impressive and offers a portable option to take your computing anywhere without sacrificing your favorite Apple OS and software ecosystem.
It has a compact, attractive design and the ability to run the latest greatest OS while also running legacy Intel apps and iOS apps. In October last year, many fans were hoping Apple would present a new Mac mini powered by the M1 Pro or M1 Max chips at their Unleashed event, yet it failed to materialize twice last year.
One of its drawbacks is that memory doesn’t go above 16GB, nor can it be upgraded on the 8GB model to 16. Those coming from Intel-based Mac Minis will despair of finding out they can no longer use external graphic cards (eGPUs (opens in new tab)). Besides, it’s a good alternative to get into the Apple world with minimum desk real estate.
Read the full review: Mac Mini M1 (2020) (opens in new tab)
The M2 Mac mini was just released. Full review coming soon.
At the low asking price, the U59 is a complete no-brainer for anyone wanting to create a Firewall or embedded presentation system. And, with 16GB of RAM, it’s also useable for basic PC tasks.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The Beelink U59 is a NUC-sized PC built around the Intel Celeron Processor N5105 (4C/4T, 4M Cache, 2.0GHz up to 2.9GHz). It can come with 8GB or 16GB of RAM and up to a 512GB SATA SSD installed.
Even with that modest silicon, the U59 performs well at basic tasks and has potential as a small office machine or for embedded applications.
For 8GB customers, the RAM can be upgraded to 16GB, along with the M.2 SATA storage. There is also a bay inside for a 2.5-inch drive for even more storage options.
What seals this deal is the relatively low asking price of both the 8GB and 16GB models and the bloatware-free Windows 11 installation.
Including dual HDMI outputs and dual gigabit LAN ports neatly positions the U59 for embedded use, ideal for providing product presentations or as a self-contained firewall.
The Beelink U59 is easily one of the better NUC-sized machines we’ve seen, and it’s cheap enough for even the tightest budgets.
Read the full review: Beelink U59 Mini PC Review
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
3. Acemagician AMR5 Mini PC
A powerful Mini PC that isn’t a NUC
Our expert review:
Average Amazon review:
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Specifications
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 5600U
RAM:
16GB DDR4 RAM (Expandable to 64GB)
Storage:
M.2 2280 512GB NVMe SSD
Ports and Connectivity:
3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Mbit), 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x universal audio jack
View at Amazon
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Reasons to buy
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AMD Ryzen 5 powered
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Easy access to the internals
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Dual M.2 Slots
Reasons to avoid
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Not ideal for gaming
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Only one 10Mbit USB port
With so many brands simply turning out NUC clones, it’s nice to see something different from Acemagician.
Built around the powerful AMD Ryzen 5 platform, the AMR5 sports a six-core CPU with the ability to process twelve threads simultaneously. When combined with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of NVMe storage, the little AMR5 can outperform many full desktop systems.
While the flashing LED scheme might be more suitable for home users, this small system can chew up and spit out office tasks easily, and it also has some potential as a mini server, especially for media.
What we especially liked in this design is that internal access requires no tools, and it has two M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe slots that enable easy cloning of the system to bigger or faster drives and useful expansion.
A few have suggested that this system could be used for games, but the Radeon GPU in the Ryzen isn’t powerful enough for modern titles. But it has plenty of potential for other tasks, and it’s eminently affordable.
Read the full review: Acemagician AMR5 Mini PC
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
4. BOSGAME U56 Mini PC
A by-the-numbers AMD NUC design
Our expert review:
Average Amazon review:
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Specifications
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 5600U
RAM:
16GB DDR4 RAM
Storage:
M.2 2280 512GB NVMe SSD
Ports:
2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Mbit), 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x universal audio jack
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Reasons to buy
+
AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 powered
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Easy access to the internals
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M.2 and SATA storage
Reasons to avoid
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Not ideal for gaming
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Intel 660p storage
Built around the powerful AMD Ryzen 5 platform, the U56 has an excellent platform with six cores and twelve threads available to deliver exceptional performance.
VESA mountable to a monitor, this NUC was designed for creating an ad hoc all-in-one system, and it comes with suitable cabling to achieve this objective.
The weakness of this design is the Radeon GPU that’s now been outclassed by the Intel Iris XE on other Intel-based NUCs. But, the U56 is still a very flexible design that could easily take on numerous tasks. It could be a desktop PC replacement, media server, security camera manager, firewall, or handle a dozen other critical jobs.
It’s not ideal for gaming, and it hasn’t PCIe slots to add cards, but for the asking price, this is a valuable piece of equipment and easy to repurpose.
The only other significant issue with the U56 is availability. It’s easy to find on Amazon.com in the USA, but it isn’t widely available in other regions at this time.
Hopefully, BOSGAME will soon make purchasable in more places, as there are many potential customers for a NUC with this hardware specification.
Read the full review: BOSGAME U56 Mini PC
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
5. GEEKOM Mini IT11 Mini PC
Another polished performer from Geekom
Our expert review:
Average Amazon review:
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Specifications
CPU:
Core i7-1195G7 (4 Cores, 4 Threads, 12M Cache)
RAM:
16GB DDR4 RAM (Expandable to 64GB)
Storage:
Intel 660p M.2 2280 512GB NVMe SSD
Ports:
2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 4.0 Type-C (20Mbit), 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x Mini DisplayPort, 1x universal audio jack, 1x SD card reader (USB2.0)
:
View at Amazon
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Reasons to buy
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Mobile Core-i7 power
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Upgradable storage and RAM
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Highly portable
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VESA mount included
Reasons to avoid
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Slow NVMe drive
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Not ideal for gaming
A high-performance NUC that utilises the latest 11th Gen Intel mobile chippery to provide plenty of performance in a remarkably tiny PC. Plenty of memory and storage, but both can be user-upgraded easily should the default prove insufficient.
With nicely engineered designs like the Mini IT11, Geekom is rapidly establishing a reputation for high-specification NUC designs that aren’t expensive.
It comes with either a Core i5 or Core i7 mobile CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. Memory can be upgraded to 64GB, and the storage to at least 2TB.
Our only complaint about the Mini IT11 is that Geekom used the Intel 660p NVMe SSD in it, which isn’t the quickest storage device available for M.2 NVMe slots.
Not ideal for gaming, but with more than enough power for office applications and development tools.
With the possible exception of Intel-made NUC hardware, probably the best of its class.
Read the full review: GEEKOM Mini IT11 Mini PC
A tiny system that can turn a monitor into a workable PC. But it’s not that cheap, and the performance isn’t anything special. Budget to use the M.2 slot for an enhanced user experience.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
6. ECS EliteGroup LIVA Z3
Tiny computers get an Intel Jasper Lake upgrade
Our expert review:
Specifications
CPU:
Intel Jasper Lake SoC Pentium Silver N6000
RAM:
4GB DDR4-2666 (2x 2GB), upgradable to 16GB
Storage:
128GB of eMMC memory, 1x M.2 2280 SSD (PCIe) slot
Ports:
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C, 3 x USB3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1x MiniDP, 1 x universal audio jack
View at Amazon
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Reasons to buy
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Very small
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Includes a VESA mounting plate
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Upgradable storage and RAM
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Silent
Reasons to avoid
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Slow boot drive
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Poor graphics performance
Using the latest Intel Jasper Lake 10nm silicon, the Z3 is an incredibly compact NUC system that requires no active cooling.
It comes with a VESA mounting plate to connect it to a monitor, providing a way to make an easy-to-transport system that isn’t a laptop. Considering how tiny the Z3 is, there are plenty of USB ports, sports Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11ac WiFi adapter, and it can connect to two monitors via HDMI and Mini DisplayPort.
However, keeping the system so small and fanless has dictated an SoC that only consumes 6W, has four cores, and lacks hyperthreading. It also uses an eMMC boot drive, further reducing mediocre performance.
This performance profile makes the Z3 only suitable for light office work, as it doesn’t have the power to meet more challenging tasks.
If you still want one, we recommend using the internal PCIe M.2 slot (2 lanes) to boost drive performance. And, maybe also want to upgrade the DDR4 RAM to get the most out of this hardware.
Read the full review: ECS EliteGroup LIVA Z3
How we chose the best mini PCs
Before we get into our selection criteria, we have to describe the vast array of configurations that the “mini PC” moniker encompasses: The largest mini PC is roughly the size of an electric toaster. But the majority are about the size of a stack of a handful of CDs -if you can still remember what those were. Additionally, there is the appliance type, usually a fan-less thin rectangular box without fans.
Appliance-type Mini-PCs often have a metal enclosure to help with passive cooling and more than one wired Gigabit Ethernet port. The Mini PCs are perfect for leaving unattended in a small network cabinet, rack, or locker, where they can be used as fixed-function mini-servers, such as a firewall for an office network or file storage for a small shop.
There’s also a class of mini PCs that are small. These range from palm-sized to slightly more significant than a thumb drive, often with an HDMI male connector and built to be attached to the back of a TV or monitor for entertainment or web browsing on a big screen.
Thus, selecting a “Mini PC” is no easy task. First, we had to filter them based on size. We started from the tiniest ones, the thumb drive-sized PCs, up to the palm-sized devices, then moving to the TV-box-sized machines. In each size jump, we looked for the usage scenarios for each based on the capabilities of the CPU and amount of RAM and included ports, then we weeded out the ones with sub-par specs; this removed several dozen entries with the same Celeron CPUs and low RAM.
Once we got to the higher-spec entries, the winners started to show up either by expansion capabilities, unique features, or suitability for the purpose. Final filtering by brand name and support considerations is how we ended up with our selection of picks for the best Mini PCs for the small office, for the corporate office, the best Mini PC for multiple-screen usage, the best one for gaming, and the best Mini PC for firewall use. The higher you go in price, the more careful you need to be about the issue of after-sales support.
We’ve also highlighted the best business computers (opens in new tab)
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