The best mini PCs of 2024: Expert recommended

5 days ago 2

1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,00010,000

Sqft of Lab Space

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

ZDNET's reviewers spend weeks to months testing each laptop on this list, using it for both everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and gaming, to more performance-intensive work like photo and video editing. We aim to give you a view into how each laptop could actually fit into your life and workflow, and the pros and cons of their various features like performance, display, and battery life.

PCs have been through a number of evolutions in terms of form factor, transforming from big, heavy, and quite ugly beige boxes that took up a lot of desk space to something no bigger than a hardback book that packs enough power to handle all but the most demanding of workloads.

Say hello to the mini PC: A PC that's just as comfortable tucked behind a TV, popped on a shelf, or hidden in a cupboard as it is sitting on a desk. These mini PCs pack a punch and have everything that you could want from a modern PC -- and take up the least amount of space possible.

Also: The best power banks: Expert tested

What is the best mini PC right now?

I've tested and researched the current mini PC offerings on the market, examining specs and paying close attention to user reviews, and my top pick for the best mini PC is the Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon. Whether you want a mini PC for the home, office, or meeting room, this is a solid choice. But I understand that this might not be for everyone, so I've picked a handful more mini PCs, each aimed at a specific use case.

The best mini PCs of 2024

When it comes to mini PCs, it's hard to beat a mini PC built to the Intel NUC specs. I've owned and tested a number of them myself, and have been very happy with them.

With this model, we have a system running a 16-core Core i7 chip that can power up to 3.7 GHz with a built-in Iris Xe GPU. Backing that is 32GB of RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD. That's quite a spec for a system that you can hold in the palm of your hand. As for ports, this system has a multitude of USB ports, along with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and Ethernet.

As mini PCs go, this one is overkill for most, but if you are looking for a really powerful system that runs whisper-quiet and can be mounted behind a TV or put on a shelf, this is the system for you.

Given the price of this system, there aren't a lot of reviews for it, but the ones that have been written by owners are overwhelmingly positive.

Show Expert Take Show less

Just when you thought this list would only include Windows systems, we've got the Mac Mini. This was one of the original mini PCs, and with the switch to Apple Silicon processors, it has seen a new lease of life.

Considered at one point the gateway Mac that got people over to MacOS from Windows (because they could replace their Windows PC with the Mac Mini and keep using their existing keyboard, mouse, and monitor with their new Mac), it's now a staple of the Mac lineup, and the perfect choice for those who want a compact system.

I've owned a few different Mac Mini systems over the years, and I've been more than satisfied by them. They're reliable, well-built, and run cool and quiet.

The biggest downside to this system is upgrading -- bottom line, this Mac will live and die with the same processor, RAM, and storage that it left the factory with. If you want to give it a storage boost, Satechi makes a hub/stand for it that adds a bunch of ports and a port for an M.2 SSD.

As I'd expect from an Apple product, the reviews are strongly positive, with users reporting that they are happy with the performance and overall reliability of the system.

Apple 2023 Mac mini tech specs: Apple Silicon M4 processor with 10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores | 16GB RAM | 256GB storage | 2x USB-C, 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | MacOS

Show Expert Take Show less

This is a tiny mini PC that is a cube measuring 72 x 72 x 44.5mm, weighing only 206g. Inside the cube is a 4-core Intel N5105 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128HB M.2 SSD running Windows 10 Pro.

Despite the tiny size, this mini PC features a handful of USB ports, two HDMI ports, an audio jack, and an Ethernet port. This system has no problems running two 4K@60FPS displays for maximum productivity.

And yet given the power, this system is quiet and very energy efficient (using only 10W), making it a great choice for someone who wants a PC for the home, office, or meeting room, or even to drive digital signage.

Reviewers of this system comment on the performance and overall value of the system, and it's an outstanding system for the price.

Show Expert Take Show less

This mini PC has a few features that set it apart from the competition. While dual HDMI isn't all that rare, finding a system with dual Ethernet and dual M.2 slots is, and finding one with a built-in filter to keep dust out of the innards is even rarer.

The price of this system makes it a perfect choice for those who want a cheap yet powerful mini PC -- as long as you're not running AAA-title games or other heavy workloads, this system has you covered.

The only con to this system is that it runs the older 12th-gen Intel silicon, but for $300, this is still a system that both holds its own and won't break the bank.

Reviews of this system are strongly positive, with owners praising the power and performance of the system, and how quiet it is in day-to-day use.

Show Expert Take Show less

This mini PC describes itself as a gaming system, and with good reason. The combination of AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and AMD Radeon 680M GPU gives this system a lot of horsepower to tackle a variety of workloads, from work to games.

It also throws away the design rulebook. While most mini PCs are cube-like, this one is an upright tent shape. While that might seem like purely a design choice, it does in fact make opening up the system to carry out upgrades a snap as the side panel is held in place with magnets.

This system features a power dial on the top to switch it between silent mode, auto, and performance, depending on whether you want power or silence. It also includes a multitude of LED lights, which you might love or hate. If you love them, great, if not, there's an app that turns them off for you.

But the lights aside, this is the perfect mini PC for those looking for a gaming system but who don't want to have a huge box on their desk or beside their TV. There's no harder set of people to please than gamers, which is why it's quite reassuring to find strong reviews for this gaming mini PC.

Show Expert Take Show less

Mini PC	Price	Processor	GPU	RAM	Storage	Operating system
Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon	$949	Intel Core i7-1360P	Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU	32GB DDR4	2TB M.2 NVMe SSD	Windows 11 Pro
Apple 2024 Mac Mini	$599	Apple Silicon M4	Apple Silicon M4	16GB DDR4	256GB SSD	MacOS 15
GMKtec Mini PC	$140	Intel N5105	Intel UHD Graphics	8GB DDR4	128GB M.2 NVMe SSD	Windows 11 Pro
Beelink EQ13 Mini PC	$299	Intel N200	Intel UHD Graphics 32EUS	16GB DDR4	500GB M.2 NVMe SSD	Windows 11 Pro
AceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC	$570	AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX	AMD Radeon 680M	32GB DDR4	1TB M.2 NVMe SSD	Windows 11 Pro

Choose this mini PC…	If you want…
Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon	a general-purpose mini PC. The Intel NUC PCs continue to be the best all-around mini PCs on the market. Yes, there are better, faster, cheaper systems out there, but these systems have continually impressed me over the years.
Apple 2024 Mac mini	to go with MacOS. The Mac Mini used to be the way that Windows PC users would start to make the transition over to Mac. Nowadays, they are all-purpose desktop computers that are perfect for anyone who doesn't want a portable system, from students to developers.
GMKtec Mini PC	a truly tiny PC. This is one of the smallest systems I've seen, but it packs quite a punch, hitting well above its size and weight.
Beelink EQ13 Mini PC	a mini PC with a difference. This mini PC breaks the mold: not only does it have a special dust filter to keep out debris, it also has 2 Ethernet ports, and two M.2 slots to compliment the two HDMI ports.
AceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC	a proper mini gaming PC. Here you have a full gaming PC packed into a tiny footprint. Sure, there are going to be desktop systems that are way more powerful than this system, but for the size, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything faster.

In many ways, choosing a mini PC is much like a regular PC. There are all the usual performance, price, and support for all your peripherals to keep in mind. But if you are after a mini PC, then the mini part does come into play, so there is a size issue to bear in mind. The good news is that mini PCs come in a range of sizes, from systems that can fit in the palm of your hand to systems so small you could fit several of them in the palm of your hand.

Do you need a mini PC? This is the top question when choosing a mini PC. Do you actually need one, or do you just need a regular PC?
Size: This really is the differentiator when it comes to mini PCs. Do you want a PC that's the size of a biscuit tin, or something significantly smaller?
Performance: Pretty standard PC consideration here. What do you want your system to do? Do you want to carry out general PC tasks like word processing and spreadsheets and browsing the web, or do you have more specialist needs in mind, such as gaming?
Budget: Small doesn't always mean cheap, but you can save money by choosing a mini PC that suits your needs.
Ports: Most mini PCs come with a decent array of ports, but if you need something like two Ethernet ports or a bunch of USB ports, you need to ensure you're getting the right mini PC for you.

There are a lot of mini PCs on the market from a variety of different vendors, and I've tested and used mini PCs from all the vendors listed here, I've based my selections on my experience using these brands, as well as current model user reviews.

Product specs and price also come into play, but being able to draw on dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of other people's views allows me to get a broad sense of how well-received a selected mini PC is. I've paid particular attention to reports of performance, stability, how quiet or noisy the PC is, and weeded out many that seemed to have a poor lifespan.

What we're left with is the best of the best, in a broad selection of categories that are applicable to mini PCs.

A mini PC is a compact yet fully functional computer that offers many, if not all of, the capabilities of a desktop PC, but is packaged into a smaller form factor. Mini PCs are designed to save space and can be used for a variety of tasks, from basic computing to more demanding applications such as programming or even gaming.

People often choose to invest in a mini PC for these reasons:

Space-saving: The top benefit of going for a mini PC is that it takes up significantly less space than traditional desktop PCs.
Portable: Mini PCs are lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for users who need computing power on the go.
Energy efficiency: Most mini PCs consume significantly less power than a similarly-specced desktop system, which can lead to cost savings on electricity.
Quiet: Some models are fanless, resulting in quieter operation, and even those that still have a fan are far quieter than a standard desktop system.

It depends on the model. Some mini PCs allow for upgrades -- sometimes very easy upgrades -- to components like RAM and storage, while others have fixed configurations.

On the whole however, like laptops, mini PCs are better aimed at those situations where you buy the PC with the spec that you need rather than relying on an upgrade down the line.

Here are a few mini PCs that didn't make the cut to the main list, but are still worthy of an honorable mention.