The quick list
1. Best overall
2. Best on a budget
3. Best for video editing
4. Best for gaming
5. Most powerful mini PC
6. Smallest mini PC
7. Best Mac mini alternative
8. Best for business
9. Best for students
FAQs
How we test
Don't let the size fool you - the best mini PCs we've tested offer a powerful, portable alternative to laptops and desktop PCs. Our team of reviewers tested the best of the best, benchmarking performance, and comparing specs for a range of uses - from basic office tasks to gaming and video editing.
Mini PCs, sometimes known as a NUC or thin client, are compact boxes that often hide impressively powerful components. Because of their small size (you can mount many to monitor) and reliability, they've become a popular choice for video conferencing, streaming, and server use alongside general office workflows. And while they lack the sheer force of the very best business computers or even best business laptops we've tested, they're a lot more powerful than you might think - and a lot cheaper, too.
Our review team have gone hands-on with a massive range of the best mini PCs for video editing, gaming, office work, and and the cheapest mini PCs for those looking for a low cost machine on a budget. Rigorously benchmarking overall performance, we compared specs, connectivity, and explored features across Windows and Mac mini PCs for the home, office, and everywhere in between.
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Quick list
Best mini PC overall
Our top-rated mini PC, the Apple Mac mini is an appealing machine for everyday users and content creators alike. It’s not the smallest mini PC, but it’s compact and beautifully designed for carrying around.
Best budget mini PC
The Beelink U59 is one of the cheapest mini PCs you can get. With a number of RAM configurations, and following Intel's NUC specifications, we found the U59 to be an excellent, affordable machine.
Best mini PC for video editing
The Minisforum UM790 Pro is a powerful small form-factor PC that impressed us with solid performance across the board. It effortlessly handles everything from office tasks to 4K video editing.
Best mini PC for gaming
The Miniforum Neptune series of mini PCs are an excellent pick for gamers. With the HX100G and HX99G hovering somewhere between full-sized desktop and mini gaming rig, we had no trouble playing triple-A games during our tests.
Most powerful mini PC
Built for professional creatives, an M2-powered Apple Mac Studio can’t be beaten on performance - and having tested it out, we can confidently say it's a powerhouse for heavy workloads and resource-hungry apps.
Smallest mini PC
Probably the smallest mini PC we’ve tested, the Minisforum Mercury EM780 is a quarter of the size of rivals, with high-performance specs for productivity and power. It might just be the best compact PC of its size
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Best Mac mini alternative
The Minisforum UM780XTX is a highly capable Mac mini substitute if you prefer Windows or you like to upgrade your machine. Performance was exceptional during our tests across office tasks and content creation.
Best business mini PC
The Intel NUC 13 Pro is a top-rated mini PC for business - a blistering powerhouse, with up to 12 GPU threads, 64GB of RAM. Gen 4 NVME and Thunderbolt 4 in a range of (admittedly barebones) SKUs.
Best mini PC for students
The GMKtec NucBox K6 for students looking for an impressive performer with the expandability to last well beyond the end of your course. Beyond minor design gripes, the K6 gets almost everything right.
Best mini PC overall
The Apple Mac mini is our pick for best mini PC - with excellent performance and a gorgeous design, it’s a great choice for most people looking for a small form-factor desktop computer.
Packing the incredibly fast M2 and M2 Pro chips, the Mac mini (‘mini’ in lowercase, just to emphasize its compact form) is perfect for running basic office apps, browsing, right up to intensive creative tasks like photo and video editing.
When it comes to performance, we experienced no issues with the Mac mini. It breezed through every task, every benchmark test, with results putting it not too far behind the similarly portable but not so mini MacBook Pro. The machine is also one of the cheapest mini PCs relative to its performance power, with prices around the $600 / £600 mark. If you’re not too concerned about the best processors, you can still occasionally find the M1 model, which is a very good alternative at a cheaper price.
However, this is an Apple device - and an excellent entry-point into its closed ecosystem. But unlike most mini PCs, there’s no barebones option here, no upgrading the system, switching distros, or any other tinkering. This is for those who want a mini PC ready to go from day one.
Prefer a Windows mini PC? Check out our GMKtec NucBox K8 review or head below to see our best Mac mini alternative pick.
Read our full Apple Mac mini (M2, 2023) review.
You could save on Apple products with our Apple promo codes.
Best mini PC on a budget
If you want the best budget mini PC, the Beelink U59 offers good performance during basic tasks, such as browsing and using office apps. It doesn’t have the best specs we’ve seen, 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. For a low cost and affordable mini PC, the Beelink U59 is easily one of the best we’ve tried.
Read our full Beelink U59 review.
Best mini PC for video editing
The Minisforum UM790 Pro impresses with its compact design and powerful performance. When it comes to video editing on a mini PC, it’s important to choose a machine that’s fully specced and ready to tackle even the most resource-hungry software. A number of our recommended mini PCs are up to the task, but the Venus UM790 Pro is a stand-out. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and AMD Radeon 780M GPU, in our tests it excelled in processor and graphics-intensive tasks, including gaming and 4K video editing.
The machine's 32GB DDR5 dual-channel RAM (expandable to 64GB) and dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots (1TB installed) ensure fast data access and storage capacity. The UM790 Pro offers versatile connectivity, VESA mounting compatibility, and effective cooling. Its benchmark scores reflect its exceptional real-world performance, making it just as suitable for creative professionals and gamers as gentler office tasks.
The design might be plain, but it's practical, emphasizing functionality. While priced in the mid-range for a high-end mini PC, its strong performance and features justify the cost, appealing to those seeking powerful performance in a compact form.
Alternatively, we’d recommend the Apple Mac mini or Apple Mac Studio for professional video editors.
Read our full Minisforum UM790 Pro review.
Best mini PC for gaming
Bridging the gap between desktop and mini gaming PC, the Minisforum Neptune HX100G is a powerful yet compact machine that put on an impressive display of performance during our tests.
You can tell from the specs that this mini desktop computer is designed for gamers, creators, and video editors. It features an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS chip and Radeon RX 6650M graphics. The size and weight of the HX100G does stretch the definition of “mini” somewhat. However, the additional size helps with cooling, which is a fair trade-off. And we can’t complain about its gaming prowess. During our review, we tested titles including Assassin's Creed, Cyberpunk 2077, and Tekken 8. All these games showed good performance, although we did note some reductions in Ray Tracing settings.
Considering the compact form, the PC's external power adapter is inconveniently bulky. The price isn’t exactly “mini” either, but you get plenty of bang for your buck, whether blasting through triple-A games or using your mini PC for emulation. If you can’t get hold of the HX100G, as an alternative, try the similarly-specced Minisforum Neptune HX99G.
Read our full Minisforum Neptune HX100G review.
Most powerful mini PC
If you want the most powerful mini PC, a fully specced Apple Mac Studio is our top choice. A beefed-up version of the Mac mini, the Mac Studio is built from a single aluminum extrusion, with a square footprint of 7.7 inches and a height of 3.7 inches.
In our tests, the Mac Studio performed beautifully. It easily handled 8K video editing and the advanced AI-powered photo editing tools in Adobe Photoshop. We even saw the Mac Studio load a detailed 3D scene that took up more memory than most discrete professional PC GPUs come with. And it did all this in near-silence.
The bottom line is that you’re just not going to get another PC of this performance level in such a compact chassis. Its laser-like focus on creative professionals means it won’t be for everyone, but it packs plenty of ports, and if you want a powerful and compact creative mini PC, there’s a lot to love with the Apple Mac Studio.
Read our full Apple Mac Studio review.
Smallest mini PC
At a quarter of the size of a standard mini PC, the Minisforum Mercury EM780 is an ultra small form-factor PC offering potent performance.
Despite its compact design, the EM780 impresses with a AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor, AMD Radeon 780M graphics, and 32GB RAM. 512GB and 1TB SSD configurations are available. We were initially skeptical that a micro PC like this could accommodate the specs. Booting up the machine for the first time dispelled all our fears. The Minisforum Mercury EM780 is fast, breezing through office apps, basic video editing, and even triple-A gaming, although you’ll need to dip into the graphics settings for best results.
It’s not the cheapest mini PC out there, and we would’ve liked more upgradeability options. But if size and performance are the most important factors, the EM780 is the full (tiny) package.
Read our full Minisforum Mercury EM780 review
Best mini PC alternative to the Mac mini
Looking for a Mac mini substitute? The Minisforum UM780 XTX is a good Windows-based alternative that packs the same sort of punch at around the same price in a smaller package than Apple’s fearsome micro-machine.
The mini PC comes loaded with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, AMD Radeon 780M graphics, 1TB SSD storage, and 32GB or 64GB RAM depending on configuration (upgradeable to 96GB). In our own tests, performance was exceptional. Office software was no trouble at all. Raw file photo editing and high-resolution video editing were both very effectively handled. The system also features the OCulink interface for attaching external GPUs. limits storage expansion. Our only concern here is the built-in storage, which fills up quickly when storing large video files - so you’ll want to expand that. Even gaming, not a strong point for the Mac mini either, was good, with mostly decent frame-rates.
As with most of Apple's line-up, the Minisforum mini PC is on the expensive side. But with its high-performance across the board, the UM780 XTX is one of the best compact PCs for anyone not yet sold on the Apple ecosystem or those who want more expandability from their systems.
Read our full Minisforum UM780 XTX review.
Best mini PC for business
The latest, and arguably the greatest NUC yet, the Intel NUC 13 Pro takes the best silicon from the new 13th Gen mobile product lines and packages them in the classic Intel NUC cases.
What the customer gets is plenty of CPU performance with up to 12 threads and 64GB of RAM combined with Gen 4 NVMe storage and Thunderbolt 4 technology baked into the machine. Starting at around $320 for the Core-i3 models and going to over $1,000 for the top-of-the-range Core-i7 vPro processors, there is plenty of scope for both performance and price. All these machines are provided as ‘barebones’, meaning that you will need to provide RAM modules, NVMe storage and other peripherals (mouse, keyboard, screen, operating system, etc.) to make them fully operational. Extending business capabilities is support for KVM and remote admin.
In our testing, the NUC 13 Pro was much quicker at multithreaded tasks than its predecessors, but the performance of single-threaded benchmarks was only modestly better. The best aspects of the new NUC are the connectivity with Thunderbolt 4.0 and USB 3.2 ports and the near-silent operation.
The Intel NUC 13 Pro might not be the cheapest option for compact computing devices, but it is from a highly trusted source and offers the absolute cutting edge in NUC technology.
For an alternative, check out our Dell OptiPlex 7000 review - another top-rated mini PC for business.
Read our full Intel NUC 13 Pro review.
Best mini PC for students
Boasting many of the features of the GMKtec K8 but at around $100 cheaper, the GMKtec NucBox K6 is a recommended mini PC pick for students who want a reliable performer that won’t break the bank.
Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, AMD Radeon 780M graphics, and 32GB RAM (expandable to 64GB). This little machine proved to be an all-round performer for office apps, browsing, content creation, and light gaming. It’s also one of the quietest mini PCs we’ve tried, making it a good choice when working in shared spaces. In some of our graphics tests, the GMKtec K6 even had the edge over the more powerful K8 model.
The option to expand - and to last the length of your course and beyond - is especially welcome. We did find the mini PC’s design made accessing internal components awkward, and we recommend diving in, your screwdriver in hand, only once you know what to expect inside. Our only other gripe is the lack of Thunderbolt ports. The unit also lacks the AI processing of its bigger brother the K8, which shouldn’t affect most day-to-day users. For us, almost everything else about the K6 is just right.
Read our full GMKtec NucBox K6 review.
Best mini PCs: FAQs
Are there different types of mini PC?
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 best 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.
What is the best use of a mini PC?
Mini PCs excel at everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, video streaming, and light gaming. You can easily connect them to your TV to play games and watch movies either via a platform like Netflix or through your own media server, with the effectively set acting as a monitor. With specs comparable to mid-range laptops, they don’t have the necessary CPU and GPU to run more resource-intensive apps and games. In those circumstances, it may be worth investing in high-spec devices like the best video editing laptops, which are built for heavy workloads.
What are the disadvantages of a mini computer?
While the best mini PCs absolutely shine, they’re not without a few downsides. When it comes to specs, mini PCs pale in comparison to modern desktop computers and the very best laptops. While you shouldn't have trouble using most as a space-saving alternative to the best laptops for graphic design or the best laptops for photo editing, it can make it difficult to use hardware-intensive apps and processes, like any of the best video editing software.
Upgrading those lower-specced internals is usually out of the question. Even some of the best mini PCs can't be expanded with better components (at least, not without some technical knowledge and skill).
They also need to be run from the mains, so while they’re an excellent portable option, you lack the built-in batteries found in laptops. Due to their form, some users may also experience issues with overheating. Mini PCs also lack peripherals, from screens to optical drives.
How much RAM do you need for a mini PC?
As with desktop computers and laptops, the best RAM is the most amount of RAM you can get within budget. It will make performance much more fluid, especially if you’re using the mini PC for a lot of tasks. We recommend a bare minimum of 8GB memory, although 16GB and above is preferred.
Are mini PCs good for gaming?
It all depends on which games you want to play. The very best mini PCs can ably run lightweight or older games - in fact, many use them as emulators. However, they will typically struggle with newer games, like the triple-A offerings from the likes of Rockstar. They simply don’t have the required CPU and GPU to handle them.
Can you connect a mini PC to a laptop?
Yes, you can connect your mini PC to a laptop and use it as a monitor - but it’s also easy, as many mini PCs lack the required HDMI ports to output to the laptop screen. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by using remote desktop software.
Are the best mini PCs better than laptops?
It depends how you intend to use your mini computer. While both are highly portable, mini PCs are more so, with a far smaller surface area. If you’re working on the go, be aware of the sometimes limited battery life on laptops - if you’re usually running off the mains, a mini PC may be the better choice.
Laptops serve as a great all-in-one solution with everything you need to work and play. Accessories like the best office keyboards and the best monitors for a dual set-up are optional. They also come with a range of tech specs, with options for everyday computing tasks right up to the best gaming laptops.
Like a traditional desktop computer, a mini PC is best when used in spaces with easy access to monitors (or TV), keyboards, and other peripherals on hand. For this reason, mini PCs are great for office use, allowing multiple users to access the device in a variety of locations. Cost is also a factor, as mini PCs tend to be cheaper than laptops.
How to choose the best mini PC for you
When choosing which mini PC is best for you, there are several factors to consider - but first, it's important to be sure a mini PC is right for your needs.
Mini PCs, sometimes known as think clients or NUCs, are ideal for light use, such as web browsing and video streaming. Some can even handle casual gaming sessions. But you won't find the raw power offered by the likes of the best mobile workstations.
Despite their name, mini PCs come in a range of sizes, from tiny machines like the Acemagician T8 Plus to the Apple Mac mini, which on the larger size. But they're all considerably smaller than a desktop, so if you're looking for a space-saver, they're ideal. You'll find plenty that even include a VESA mount for attaching the device to monitors to de-clutter the desk.
If a mini PC is best, consider how you'll be using your machine. In addition to general computer usage, mini PCs have been used as media servers, games emulators, and much more.
For smooth performance. a good CPU, GPU, and RAM are essential. We've included a selection of AMD- and Intel-powered thin clients here, all capable of delivering speed and performance for a range of uses.
However, be sure to check your device's ports and connectivity. Some of the best mini PCs pack in plenty of Thunderbolt and USB ports, memory card slots, and HDMI connections, but some are less generous. If portability is a consideration, remember to check dimensions and weight. You'll find these details in our full mini PC reviews.
How we test the best mini PCs
We've tested thousands of devices, from the best photo editing PCs to best business monitors, including small form NUCs and thin clients.
A lot of time and care goes into selecting the best mini PCs. Appliance-type mini-PCs often have a metal enclosure to help with passive cooling and more than one wired Gigabit Ethernet port. The best 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.
As such, 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 PC for home and office.
As such, when testing which mini PC is best, we study several key areas. This includes build quality and form-factor - we want to see a robust machine, and the best materials available for the cost. This is especially true with mini PCs, as they're designed to be easily carried and used in multiple locations.
We explore the internal specs of each device, and how they compare with some of the other best mini PCs on the market. As part of this process, we also assess the upgradability of the device - from the options on offer to the ease of creating your perfect mini PC. This includes benchmarking performance of the CPU, GPU, and RAM. We're not necessarily looking for the most powerful mini PC. But we want to see suitable performance relative to a range of uses and budgets.
Ports and connectivity are another area where we look at what's on offer - and how it compares with rival devices. Not everyone will need Thunderbolt 4, but we expect to see adequate slots on a mini PC to increase functionality and flexibility.
Price is always a consideration. Depending on how you use it, the most expensive mini PC you can buy may not offer genuine value for money. We've curated a selection of mini PCs here, from premium machines to the cheapest mini PC with great performance.
You can read more about our comprehensive testing methods in our guide How we test laptops and desktops: Our review process explained.
