The Best Mini PCs of 2024

Small, but mighty PCs for work, gaming, and more

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

Mini PCs are small and portable versions of the larger towers you might be accustomed to, which allows them to fit in more confined areas, like a small desk, a portion of a dorm room, or a collaborative office workspace.

They're portable enough to carry around with you and slip into a bag, though, unlike a laptop, you'll need to provide a mouse, keyboard, and monitor. However, they're also tricky to upgrade compared to larger desktops.

Pros
  • Great price

  • Very Powerful

Cons
  • Minimal I/O

  • Pricey upgrades

Apple has put its M chip in Macbooks, iMacs, iPads, and the Mac mini. The M2 Mac mini is a fine successor to the M1 with incremental upgrades in speed and hardware.

As for ports, you get one USB 4, one USB 3.1, two USB-A, and an HDMI port. You can add more RAM (16GB or 24GB) and swap out the SSD for a 512GB, 1TB or 2TB one.

CPU: Apple M2 | GPU: Integrated 10-core GPU | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD

Best for Business

HP ProDesk 400 G5

HP-prodesk-400-g5

Amazon

Pros
  • Great price

  • Many ports including on the front

  • Easy upgradability

Cons
  • No wireless connectivity

  • Included peripherals are bad

If you're looking for a mini PC that comes in a small form factor but is still upgradable, the HP ProDesk 400 G5 is a great choice. This is not the latest model available; HP is up to the G7, and the case size increased significantly with the G6 and G7, putting them outside the definition of a mini PC. The G5 has a 9th-generation Core-i5 processor and a lot of ports on the front and the back.

Having ports on the front is essential for office environments where people move around with their mouse and keyboard. Speaking of the mouse and keyboard, the ones that come with this computer are pretty bad, so you'll probably want to replace those soon.

Another important note is that this PC does not have wireless connectivity. There's no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth built-in. You can add connectivity, but not having it built in is a bit of a bummer. The PC's inside is upgradeable, which is rare for a mini PC form factor. A system that can grow with you is essential because this computer will last longer than usual.

CPU: 9th Gen Core-i5 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 512GB HDD

Best Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi 400

Raspberry Pi 400

Erika Rawes / Lifewire

Pros
  • Great for Raspberry Pi beginners

  • Compact design in the keyboard

  • Great community support

Cons
  • Not really in the "spirit" of Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi 400 is a mini PC, albeit in an unusual form factor. All the components you need for a PC are built within the keyboard. Just plug in a mouse and a monitor, and you're off to the races. So, in one sense, you've got a compact computer ready to go anywhere with you, but on the other hand, the Raspberry Pi 400 lives outside the spirit of the Raspberry Pi. This isn't a circuit board for tinkers; it's a computer.

Raspberry Pi OS comes preinstalled on the computer, which gives you some games, a web browser, and LibreOffice for productivity. Moreover, the Raspberry Pi 400 is a much more accessible computer for people curious about Raspberry Pi, but it falls short of being the tinker that previous generations have courted.

CPU: Broadcom BCM2711 | GPU: Broadcom VideoCore VI | RAM: 4GB | Storage: MicroSD

HP Pavilion Wave
Lifewire / Emily Ramirez

What to Look For in a Mini PC

Before you go any further, it’s essential to understand that a mini PC is simply a personal computer (PC) significantly smaller than the norm. Beyond that qualifier, you can find mini PCs that can act as desktop replacements and competent gaming rigs, barebones systems that excel at streaming media, and low-powered pocket-sized computers that can’t handle much more than basic productivity tasks.

While there are a lot of affordable mini PCs out there, you can typically expect to pay somewhat of a premium for a mini PC compared to a full-sized computer with the exact specifications. Mini PCs are also harder to upgrade, and some can’t be upgraded. So, if you have the space for a full-sized computer, you can usually save some money and leave the door open for an upgrade in the future.

If you need the portability of a mini PC, or your available space is minimal, then mini PCs are available to fit just about any need. Most mini PCs run either Windows or Linux, and a few run Chrome OS, but the venerable Apple Mac mini, running macOS, also fits neatly into this category.

Usage Scenarios: What Do You Need a Mini PC For?

Before choosing a suitable mini PC, it’s essential to think about why you need a mini PC. This is important because you can save money by buying a regular PC if space isn’t an issue. Still, it also comes into play due to the wide variety of sizes and configurations in the mini PC market.

Size and portability are probably your main concerns if you’re looking for a mini PC, so you may want to consider whether or not a tiny laptop might meet your needs. Unlike mini PCs, laptops have a display and keyboard built right in. Laptops also have the option to run on battery power, which you don’t get with a mini PC. Most laptops also include an HDMI output, so you can always plug into a larger monitor whenever one is available.

If you’ve determined that a mini PC fits your needs better than a standard PC or laptop, it’s time to start thinking about how you plan on using your mini PC.

One of the best uses for a mini PC is as a video and music streaming device. If you’re after that, you’ll want to look for smaller, lower-powered devices. Some of these mini PCs are so small that they can fit into the palm of your hand and plug directly into an HDMI input on your television.

If you’re after a desktop replacement or a gaming rig dealing with limited space, you’re looking for what has sometimes been called a book-size PC. These mini PCs are very small, often the size of a book, but they can pack a lot of hardware in that space.

Mini PCs designed for basic productivity tasks and light gaming bridge the gap between the last two categories in terms of performance and size, and they’re often quite affordable.

Lenovo Legion C530 Cube
 Lifewire / Emily Ramirez

Size: Is Bigger or Smaller Better?

The most important consideration when choosing a mini PC is size, and the power of the hardware largely dictates the size of a mini PC. Smaller is typically seen as better in the mini PC sector, but there’s a limit to the power of the hardware that you can squeeze into a mini PC that isn’t much larger than a USB stick.

If you’re after the smallest of the small, you must temper your expectations in system performance. The smallest mini PCs are capable of basic productivity tasks, like word processing, web browsing, and email, and some of them are even capable of basic gaming.

If your needs are a little more demanding than that, then you’ll have to step up to a slightly larger mini PC. The term larger is relative, of course, since powerful mini PCs that can act as desktop replacements and even decent gaming rigs are significantly smaller than your average desktop PC.

Basic Hardware: Choosing a System on a Chip or Upgradeable System

The general rule is that you shouldn’t upgrade your mini PC after buying it because most computers in this category don’t provide that option. This is especially true of system-on-a-chip mini PCs, which represent the smallest of the small. These mini PCs are remarkably small due to clever engineering that most of, if not all, of the components necessary for the computer to run on a single chip.

If you have more space to work with, you may want to look at mini PCs on the larger end of the scale that include some upgradeable components. Depending on the system, you may be able to upgrade the RAM, onboard storage, or even components like the graphics card.

Mini PCs built on Micro ATX and Mini ITX motherboards are significantly smaller than standard PCs. Still, they typically allow you to upgrade at least some of the components over time to prolong the life of the device.

Processing Power: CPU and GPU

This is where you start to dig into system specifications, so it's essential to have a good idea of how you will use your mini PC if you want to make an informed decision. If you're looking for a productivity machine, you can skimp on the CPU and go for a unit with integrated graphics.

The CPU and GPU aren't crucial if you want to use your mini PC as a streaming device. It would be best to have a machine powerful enough to stream, but you don't have chase system specifications. Look for a mini PC designed to stream in full HD or 4K, depending on your television, and you’ll be fine.

If you’re looking for a desktop replacement or want to play pretty new games, you must pay close attention to the CPU and GPU. Check the minimum and recommended system requirements for some of the games you’re interested in playing, and select a mini PC that meets or exceeds those requirements.

Memory and Storage: Internal Storage and RAM

Memory refers to random access memory (RAM), a volatile memory used when the computer is on and lost when the computer is turned off. It’s useful for multitasking because each program or app takes up memory while running, and it’s also essential for tasks like image and video editing and gaming.

For a mini PC intended primarily for streaming, you want a minimum of 2GB of RAM, with a strong preference for 4GB or more. Basic productivity rigs should have at least 4 GB, with more required if you do tasks like image editing and video editing. If you want to play games, look for a bare minimum of 8GB with a preference for 16GB or more, and check to see if there is any dedicated memory for the graphics. If there isn’t, the memory is shared, and it’s all the more important to go for a setup that includes 16GB or more of memory.

Storage refers to non-volatile memory that doesn’t go away when the mini PC is turned off. You may be familiar with this memory as hard drive space, but most mini PCs don’t have hard drives. Solid-state drives take up less space, and some mini PCs have their non-volatile memory soldered right onto the mainboard.

The amount of storage you need in a mini PC depends on how you plan on using it. Mini PCs used primarily for streaming don’t need much memory, just enough for the operating system and a little left over to buffer videos.

More storage is needed if you plan on using your mini PC as a desktop replacement or gaming rig, although the specific amount depends on your situation. Some people can get by just fine with 250GB of storage, while others will fill that up very quickly.

Check if the mini PC you’re interested in includes USB ports or a dedicated SD card slot. If it does, you can always add more storage with an external USB drive or an SD card.

Operating System: Windows, Linux, or even Chrome?

When choosing a mini PC, the operating system is up to your preference. If you’re familiar with Windows, choosing a mini PC with Windows preinstalled is the path of least resistance.

Linux has a steeper learning curve. It’s an acceptable choice for streaming devices, even if you don’t have much Linux experience, but less so if you need to use your mini PC for productivity.

Chrome OS is a simple operating system built on Linux, so the learning curve is gentler. If you use Google Docs, Gmail, and the Chrome browser, you’ll find Chrome OS very easy to use for streaming and productivity.

Windows is the best choice to game on your mini PC. While many games are available on Linux, Windows is still the platform of choice for PC gamers. 

Ports and Connectivity: Accommodating Inputs, Outputs, Peripherals, and More

The smallest mini PCs typically have built-in Wi-Fi, and some have built-in Bluetooth, but that’s typically it. If you need to plug in headphones, USB devices, or additional monitors, the smallest mini PCs can’t accommodate any of that.

Mini PCs that trend toward the larger end of the scale still don’t have as many ports and connectivity options as your average-sized PC, but they provide many other options. You can find mini PCs with standard USB ports, USB-C ports, Ethernet ports, headphone jacks, auxiliary audio outputs, and more.

To avoid headaches, identify the peripherals you need to connect to your mini PC, write down all the ports required by those peripherals, and use that to guide your decision-making process. You can get around some obstacles by adding accessories like USB hubs but try to find a system that can accommodate your needs immediately if possible.

Lenovo Legion C530 Cube
 Lifewire / Emily Ramirez

Accessories: Some Systems Need More Than Others

Mini PCs typically have everything you need to get up and running immediately, but some exceptions exist. Some systems are more barebones than others, so checking what comes in the box is essential.

If your mini PC isn't designed to plug directly into a TV or monitor, ensure it comes with an HDMI cable and is long enough. Otherwise, you'll want to pick up an HDMI cable of sufficient length.

Similarly, you'll also want to ensure that your mini PC comes with an ethernet cable and it's long enough if it has an ethernet port.

If you're starting from scratch, the minimum you'll need to add to your mini PC to get it operational is a mouse, a keyboard, and a monitor. Some mini PCs have Bluetooth for a wireless mouse and keyboard, or you can use a USB mouse and keyboard if the mini PC has enough free USB ports.

HP ProDesk 400 G4
Lifewire / Emily Ramirez  

How to Pick the Best Mini PC 

The mini PC category is pretty broad and services many different usage scenarios, so it’s important to know what you need your computer to do before you start looking. Focus on your specific needs, whether streaming video, playing games, or productivity, and then go from there.

Size is a significant concern when selecting the best mini PC because they’re available in a relatively wide range of sizes. If you’re dead, set on a mini PC that will fit in your palm; for instance, your gaming options will be limited, as will your future upgrade options. So you have to figure out what you need your mini PC to do and then find one that can accomplish those goals while still meeting your size constraints.

Performance and specifications are predicated on how you plan on using your mini PC, just like any computer. Go with a mini ITX system with a discrete video card if you want to play games now with the option to upgrade later, or a smaller, less expensive system on-chip if size is more important than performance.

FAQ
  • Do mini PCs run hot?

    Like full-sized desktop towers, whether or not a mini PC will tend to get excessively hot depends on its components, internal layout, and the efficacy of its cooling system. The difference is that, unlike a big tower PC, mini PCs have little or no extra space inside and are more likely to run hot. However, it's important to note that you can avoid this limitation with a low-power system or high-end liquid cooling.

  • Should I get a mini PC or a laptop?

    A laptop is better for travel since it is entirely self-contained but has fewer ports and is typically less powerful than a comparably priced mini PC. Mini PCs are like a desktop tower in a smaller, space-saving box.

  • What is a VESA mount and why is it important?

    A VESA mount is an excellent addition to a computer that allows you to mount a mini PC to the back of a monitor. TVs and monitors use a mounting standard called VESA. If your mini PC has that, and you have a monitor with a stand and a VESA mount, you can mount the computer to the back of your monitor. It's a space-saver that more mini PCs should have.

Was this page helpful?