Deeper Dive: Our High Examined Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
June 28, 2025: With this replace, we added the Geekom A6 Mini as our newest Finest Price range Mini PC, changing the ECS Liva Z7 Plus. We additionally fleshed out our steering across the newest AMD and Intel NPU-equipped processors which are beginning to seem within the newest mini PCs. Since our final replace, we examined and evaluated three new desktops for potential inclusion on this roundup and our different desktop roundups.
Professionals & Cons
Respectable efficiency for a low-profile mini PC
Properly-balanced configuration for workplace use
Loads of ports, together with a Thunderbolt 4
Multi-monitor help
No VESA mount included
Restricted improve functionality
A bit expensive in take a look at configuration
Why We Picked It
This can be a mini PC match for a house workplace, secondary workspace, or small enterprise, and the configuration we reviewed ensures any of these customers can get actual work accomplished. This compact field begins within the $600 vary, however we examined a extra succesful $909 configuration, which packs a formidable Intel Core i7-13700H processor, 16GB of reminiscence, and a 1TB SSD. Patrons with actually severe workloads to push will wish to search out a bigger PC with a workstation-grade or Core i9 chip, and you will find no discrete graphics within the Mini, however the efficiency is substantial for a compact PC, particularly one below $1,000. Whereas it isn’t excellent, and restricted in what you may improve, the IdeaCentre Mini helps a number of screens, features a helpful choice of ports, and encompasses a nicer-looking design than most.
Who It is For
These seeking to simplify a home-office setup or put collectively a desk for his or her small enterprise, however who nonetheless want legit processing energy, might be happy with the IdeaCentre Mini. A Core i7 H sequence chip represents near-desktop-level processing muscle (it is the category of chip that goes into power-user laptops), so this PC sits effectively above the category of mini PC suited merely for digital-signage or kiosk responsibility. You possibly can arrange a equally fast conventional tower PC for much less cash, so do not go for a mini PC until house constraints are paramount, however this Lenovo effort is a gorgeous all-purpose resolution.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop Class
Small Kind Issue (SFF)
Processor
Intel Core i7-13700H
RAM (as Examined)
16 GB
Boot Drive Sort
SSD
Boot Drive Capability (as Examined)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Intel Iris Xe
Working System
Home windows 11 Dwelling
Study Extra
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini (2023) Evaluation
Professionals & Cons
Glorious worth
Aggressive productiveness efficiency
A lot of ports
Compact design
No front-facing USB-C ports
Weak graphics
Runs loud below heavy workloads
Single configuration
Why We Picked It
Many mini PCs function low-power duties like working a kiosk or operating digital signage, however some work as common dwelling desktops. The Geekom A6 Mini can do each as an inexpensive, space-saving resolution for anybody seeking to get fundamental work accomplished. However crucially, its efficiency is healthier than anticipated from such a tiny gadget, backed by its AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor. This is without doubt one of the quickest mini PCs within the finances tier, with loads of ports. Our mannequin comes with 32GB of reminiscence and 1TB of storage, making for a reliable and competitively priced little field.
Who It is For
Suppose you do not essentially want enterprise-level options however need a compact PC to energy your private {and professional} wants. The Geekom A6 can fill that position as a succesful dwelling workplace or small-business possibility with extra pace than different space-saving PCs. This desktop additionally serves anybody in search of a tiny PC that may concurrently drive a number of screens and make different helpful connections.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop Class
Small Kind Issue (SFF)
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
RAM (as Examined)
32 GB
Boot Drive Sort
SSD
Boot Drive Capability (as Examined)
1 TB
Graphics Card
AMD Radeon 680M
Working System
Home windows 11 Professional
Study Extra
Geekom A6 Mini Evaluation
Professionals & Cons
Compact but highly effective
Glorious connectivity
Consumer-upgradeable
VESA mount included
Costly
Noticeable fan noise
Why We Picked It
Asus has picked up the NUC story the place Intel left off, with the NUC 14 Professional coming in as the subsequent finest mini PC for workplaces and small companies. This mighty little puck is prepared for the cubicle, with sure fashions packing an Intel Core Extremely chip that includes vPro safety know-how. With broad connectivity choices, consumer upgradability, and a VESA mount for becoming it to the again of a monitor, this NUC revival is the most effective enterprise mini PC we have reviewed in a while.
Who It is For
This subsequent NUC is right for anybody seeking to fill an workplace, a name heart, or a retail institution with compact-but-punchy PCs that may energy by way of fundamental productiveness duties. Should you want a PC that may mount to the again of a monitor and is definitely upgradable to maximise its helpful life, undoubtedly think about the Asus NUC 14 Professional.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop Class
Small Kind Issue (SFF)
Processor
Intel Core Extremely 7 165H
Processor Pace
1.4 GHz
RAM (as Examined)
16 GB
Boot Drive Sort
SSD
Boot Drive Capability (as Examined)
512 GB
Graphics Card
Intel Arc Graphics
Working System
Home windows 11 Professional
Study Extra
Asus NUC 14 Professional Evaluation
Professionals & Cons
Extensive number of connectivity
Helps as much as 4 screens
Twin 2.5Gbps Ethernet connectivity
Quiet operation
Slower than Asus NUC 14 Professional
Dear when totally loaded
Why We Picked It
The Cubi 5 NUC 1M we examined is a bit expensive as configured ($649.99; $999.99 as examined), however when you get previous that, you may discover loads to love about this little field. This machine runs rapidly and quietly, powered by an Intel Core 7 150U processor, 32GB of reminiscence, and a 1TB solid-state drive. It delivers twin 2.5Gbps Ethernet connectivity, pushes as much as 4 screens, and has a large port choice. It isn’t as fast because the record leaders, however quibbles apart, it is a full bundle.
Who It is For
Should you’re brief on desk house however need a PC with the most recent connectivity and sufficient energy to drive your fundamental computing wants, the MSI Cubi NUC 1M is a wonderful various to extra highly effective choices. This decrease stage of processing is sufficient to get by way of fundamental computing duties, however the supporting options are extra necessary. For that and its versatile help choices, we advocate the Cubi for quiet operation.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop Class
Small Kind Issue (SFF)
Processor
Intel Core 7 150U
RAM (as Examined)
32 GB
Boot Drive Sort
SSD
Boot Drive Capability (as Examined)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Intel Graphics
Working System
Home windows 11 Professional
Study Extra
MSI Cubi NUC 1M Evaluation
Professionals & Cons
Tremendous-compact design for a desktop gaming PC
Robust all-around efficiency as configured
Loads of ports
Straightforward-access inside for RAM and storage upgrades
Laptop computer-class CPU and GPU have energy and upgradability limits
A bit costly on gaming efficiency per greenback
Why We Picked It
With a deal with dimension and worth, most mini PCs do not carry the discrete graphics required for gaming. The Asus ROG NUC 970 circumvents that with a laptop computer GPU to maintain the scale down however attain the graphics energy wanted to run trendy PC video games. Our evaluate mannequin comes with an Intel Core Extremely 9 185H laptop computer processor, 32GB of reminiscence, 1TB of storage, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, equating to a high-end gaming laptop computer when it comes to efficiency. It retains tempo surprisingly effectively with some full-size mainstream gaming desktops, and whereas you aren’t getting the improve choices you do with a tower, you may open this technique up so as to add extra reminiscence and storage. The ROG NUC 970 can sit vertically or horizontally, would not take up a lot house, gives helpful connectivity, and may ship clean body charges in trendy titles.
Who It is For
Area-strapped players, small-form-factor lovers, and plug-and-play customers will admire this technique’s dimension and flexibility. That is for mini PC customers who wish to play video games at the beginning. Extra conventional customers who need full management over their system or wish to improve or swap industry-standard components sooner or later ought to think about a standard tower as a substitute.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop Class
Gaming, Small Kind Issue (SFF)
Processor
Intel Core Extremely 9 185H
RAM (as Examined)
32 GB
Boot Drive Sort
SSD
Boot Drive Capability (as Examined)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop computer GPU
Working System
Home windows 11
Study Extra
Asus ROG NUC 970 Evaluation
Professionals & Cons
Compact VESA-compatible design
Spectacular efficiency
Simply serviceable, even the graphics card
Ample connectivity
Modular I/O ports
Can get louder than anticipated
Exterior energy brick
Why We Picked It
Most desktop workstation consumers need tons of expandability and upgradability. HP’s Z2 Mini G9 would not have these, nevertheless it has superior efficiency, spectacular connectivity, and shocking serviceability for a PC solely 2.7 by 8.3 by 8.6 inches huge. Although it might disguise below a desk or behind a monitor with an elective VESA mount, the Z2 Mini accommodates the 125-watt processors you may discover in full-size towers, equivalent to our take a look at unit’s flagship Intel Core i9-12900K, and an industry-standard graphics card. The latter should be a half-length, half-height GPU powered by the PCI Categorical slot, however the 12GB Nvidia RTX A2000 in our evaluate system is definitely no slouch.
Who It is For
The Z2 Mini G9 carries the impartial software program vendor (ISV) certifications of its larger desktop brothers and HP’s ZBook cell workstations, making it an important alternative for 2D and lightweight 3D design and CGI rendering in addition to video enhancing, dataset evaluation, and scientific and engineering apps. As much as 64GB of reminiscence and 8TB of storage provide you with loads of headroom, whereas two “flex banks” could be configured with a dizzying array of ports. Apparently no one informed it it wasn’t a tower.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop Class
Workstation
Processor
Intel Core i9-12900K
Processor Pace
3.2 GHz
RAM (as Examined)
64 GB
Boot Drive Sort
SSD
Boot Drive Capability (as Examined)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Nvidia RTX A2000
Working System
Home windows 11 Professional
Study Extra
HP Z2 Mini G9 Evaluation
Professionals & Cons
Admirable slim design, with VESA mount possibility
Respectable efficiency for its dimension
Seven USB ports
Included keyboard and mouse
Just one USB-C port
Costly for the element loadout
Why We Picked It
This fleet-oriented Veriton enterprise mannequin is a well-built and particularly slim PC with snappy efficiency for its dimension, and a load of ports. That alone makes it worthwhile on this class, with seven USB ports (although just one USB-C) and VESA mounting help including versatility. Plus, it comes with a keyboard and mouse, making it and its twelfth Gen Intel processor able to plug and play.
Who It is For
Should you and your enterprise want plenty of ports in a small desktop, plus regular efficiency, this can be a good little bundle. It isn’t the finest worth, a bit costly for the parts, however it’s a fast and environment friendly space-saving PC. Should you’re not one to tinker and have the finances, you possibly can do a lot worse than deploying this field in a single small workplace or 100 cubicles.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop Class
Small Kind Issue (SFF)
Processor
Intel Core i7-12700T
Processor Pace
1.4 GHz
RAM (as Examined)
16 GB
Boot Drive Sort
SSD
Boot Drive Capability (as Examined)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Working System
Home windows 11 Professional
Study Extra
Acer Veriton Vero Mini Evaluation
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The Finest Home windows Mini PCs for 2025
Evaluate Specs
Shopping for Information: The Finest Home windows Mini PCs for 2025
We’re seeing clear stratification out there for tiny Home windows desktop PCs. The very smallest PCs could be termed the “stick class,” pioneered by the Atom CPU-powered Intel Compute Stick we first reviewed greater than a decade in the past (and once more in its refreshed Cherry Path Atom and Core m3 varieties), adopted by comparable sticks from Asus, Azulle, Lenovo, and others.
You’ll be able to nonetheless discover stick PCs in the marketplace, however they’re appropriate just for show/signage use or extraordinarily fundamental purposes, not precise work. After a promising debut these years again, they haven’t seen a lot evolution or momentum. The shape issue is simply too small to develop past these use instances.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
The fashions subsequent in dimension have been way more dynamic, a bunch we historically termed the “NUC class.” NUC stands for “Subsequent Unit of Computing,” a longtime initiative began by Intel in 2013 to spur the event of very small Home windows-based desktop PCs utilizing its mobile-centric processors. Over a decade, the chip big launched a successive sequence of NUC-branded mini PC kits, and several other of the standard PC element makers have adopted swimsuit with comparable fashions.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
A lot of the “basic” NUC mini PCs have been round 5 or 6 inches sq., although later NUCs expanded the footprint to wider and taller designs, with commensurate will increase within the efficiency stage. Intel shuttered its NUC program in 2023 (shares of a number of the ultimate NUC fashions stay in the marketplace for now), however Asus has picked up the NUC-brand torch (and the help obligations for Intel’s NUCs), conserving the NUC identify alive. Asus and some different PC makers (notably MSI and ASRock) proceed to ship NUC-branded mini PCs, with Intel bowing out. These and different firms additionally promote NUC-lookalikes (with out utilizing the “NUC” identify) with first rate energy, plus some that push the platform’s boundaries.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Separate from these is a number of undeniably small PCs that comply with their very own form and dimension guidelines. Zotac, a big participant in small PCs (and one of many class’s unsung innovators), sells an unlimited vary of Zbox PCs that vary in dimension from “basic NUC” dimension upward. Shuttle is one other small-PC pioneer, providing machines in varied shapes, principally these days for enterprise and industrial audiences.
Ought to You Purchase a Naked-Bones or Totally Configured Mini PC?
Not all mini PCs ship as full programs. You get a PC package with some fashions: a tiny chassis with a motherboard preinstalled. (Normally, a soldered-on processor is in place as a substitute of a socketed one.) Plus, generally, wi-fi connectivity is inbuilt. To finish the package, it’s essential to store for and set up your working system, a storage drive (normally an M.2-format SSD, however maybe a 2.5-inch drive, too, relying on the mannequin), and RAM modules.
This association is what resellers name a “bare-bones PC.” You may wish to be sure you know what you’re getting. Generally, a given mini system is available in bare-bones type and pre-configured variations with storage, RAM, and Home windows current.
You have to issue these components and a Home windows license (until you propose to make use of Linux, if supported) into the full price. Thoughts you, the components you have to might be small: the type you’d sometimes discover in a laptop computer, not a desktop. Many small PCs like these use DDR4 or DDR5 SO-DIMMs—laptop-style RAM modules—for his or her predominant reminiscence as a substitute of full-size desktop DIMMs.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
The shape issue of the storage varies extra. Relying on the mini PC you’re looking at, as talked about, you could be capable to set up an old-school 2.5-inch drive (a solid-state or laborious drive), however virtually all new fashions help a slimmer number of SSD, often called an M.2 SSD. Such drives are the scale and form of a stick of chewing gum. Try our information to those considerably sophisticated drives on the hyperlink. If you want to set up an M.2 SSD on a bare-bones desktop, it’s essential to find out about some interface/bus and sizing subtleties earlier than you store. (It is all too simple to purchase an incompatible drive.) M.2 SSDs are an ideal match for tiny PCs like these, and most up-to-date fashions help them. Some mini PCs help them completely; others could help a number of M.2 drives and maybe a 2.5-incher.
If a given system is a bare-bones package, you may must get greater than a bit arms on with it to get it up and operating. However a package provides you most flexibility when it comes to element choice. Regardless, other than the extra simple setup, one benefit of a pre-configured mini PC is that an OS (normally Home windows 11) comes put in; you will not want to put in and replace the OS and its drivers.
Ought to You Get Devoted or Built-in Graphics in Your Mini PC?
Most mini PCs are as “mini” as they’re as a result of they depend on the basic-grade graphics acceleration constructed into most CPUs to energy video output—no separate graphics card is concerned. This built-in graphics silicon will suffice for productiveness work and video playback. A couple of outlying fashions, although, incorporate the identical discrete cell graphics chips that seem in gaming laptops. A couple of compact workstation desktops even use Nvidia’s professional-grade graphics and as much as Intel Xeon processors for high-power, ISV-certified duties.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Some bigger NUC fashions within the Intel NUC lifespan included discrete cell and desktop GPUs, some as precise separate playing cards. Meaning well-above-average graphics efficiency in a system this dimension. These “Excessive” Intel NUCs made room for a dual-slot graphics card as much as 12 inches lengthy. That opens up some severe productiveness and gaming energy, however the NUC Extremes are a bit above the “mini” dimension class. And once more, Intel’s out of the NUC enterprise; these Extremes can be found solely as end-of-life fashions now. It is all relative. From the Asus ROG NUC to the Geekom Megamini G1, different manufacturers are joyful to hold this torch, however these fashions are likely to depend on laptop-grade discrete graphics, not precise desktop playing cards.
Should you’re sticking with a tiny PC, a devoted graphics chip is seldom an possibility for house and thermal design causes. We’ll see what this 12 months brings on this division, however a standard gaming PC will at all times be your finest wager to maximise energy for severe gaming.
What Connections Do You Want in a Mini PC?
Some mini PCs embrace mounting kits that allow you to connect them to the again of an LCD monitor. If house financial savings are vital to you, verify for that characteristic. Additionally, verify the again of your monitor for mounting holes, which, if current, normally adjust to the VESA mounting customary.
Additionally, verify for 802.11 Wi-Fi (wi-fi networking) of some taste. Nearly all micro PCs embrace not less than that as a typical characteristic (and most additionally incorporate Bluetooth), however double-check that the system or package would not require buying a separate Wi-Fi card within the Mini-PCI Categorical or M.2 type issue. Some do.
USB and video outputs could seem to be apparent issues to search for, however with smaller PCs like these, the quantity offered could be lower than you might be used to. Verify for sufficient of every for the peripherals you want to join. Some fashions could shock you. We have seen tiny programs with as many as 9 USB ports. USB Sort-C makes that potential.
Additionally, verify for multi-monitor help if that may be a issue for you. Some small PCs are designed explicitly for digital signage and should help extra concurrent shows than you would possibly count on from a bit system. Word, although, that these fashions could emphasize video outputs as a substitute of different connections, and even a lot in the way in which of CPU energy.
Which CPU Ought to You Search for in a Mini PC?
You may see quite a lot of mobile-grade CPUs within the small PCs on the market, starting from Intel Celeron and Pentium chips in older fashions (very fundamental and OK at finest for easy productiveness work, e-mailing, and net shopping) as much as Core i5 and i7 (and in a number of instances, i9) processors that may do some modest media-crunching and rendering work. At this time, these Core-grade designations are gravitating to Intel’s newer Core Extremely traces, which you may see because the Intel Core Extremely 5, Extremely 7, and Extremely 9 (no “i”). These Core Extremely processors embrace various grades of built-in AI processing silicon, dubbed a neural processing unit (NPU). Additionally, Intel’s low-end N100 sequence is taking up in new fashions from the Celerons and Pentiums, two extra Intel manufacturers which are going away.
Whether or not Intel Core i, Intel Core Extremely, and even an AMD Ryzen chip, it is best to verify whether or not you’re looking at a mobile-grade CPU (the type utilized in laptops) or a desktop-strength chip. The dimensions of the PC is not at all times an ideal predictor of that. (That stated, the very smallest mini PCs will at all times use cell chips.)
How you can inform? A lot of the mini PCs in the marketplace use Intel silicon, and the lifeless giveaway (whether or not you are taking a look at a cell CPU or a desktop one) is normally the letter on the finish of the processor’s quantity. Search for a “T,” a “Okay,” or no letter in any respect as a lifeless giveaway for a desktop chip (for instance, Core i5-13400T), or a “U,” an “H,” or an “HX” for a cell one.
With the chip household and era being equal, you may count on extra muscle (normally a consequence of extra cores and better base clocks) from the desktop model of, say, a Core Extremely 5 than from a cell Core Extremely 5. As well as, Intel chips ending in “H” and “HX” are higher-powered cell processors than the “U” fashions, occupying the center floor between the mainstream cell chips and all-out socketed desktop chips. They’re unusual in mini desktops however not unprecedented; certainly one of our favourite picks, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini, packs a thirteenth Gen Core i7 H-series CPU.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
You may additionally discover occasional AMD flavors, such because the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H chip, within the small however mighty Geekom A6 Mini. We count on to see the cell Ryzen AI 300 sequence, which excels in laptops, present up in some mini PC fashions, too. These chips are well-suited to mini PC use.
Intel additionally has its first and second generations of its Core Extremely cell platform, often called “Meteor Lake” and “Lunar Lake,” respectively. They’ve Intel’s first stabs at onboard AI-ready NPUs; Lunar Lake packs a extra sturdy NPU than Meteor Lake, unlocking Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI expertise in Home windows 11. (The primary Lunar Lake-based mini PC we’re conscious of is Asus’ NUC 14 Professional AI Plus, which helps Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI options; extra AI desktops, from MSI and others, are slowly becoming a member of it in the marketplace.) We have even seen a number of Qualcomm Snapdragon X-based mini PCs with NPUs from Geekom and Lenovo, like this Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo mannequin.
What to glean from that mobile-versus-desktop perception? Our benchmark testing will quantify the developments, however not one of the mobile-grade chips in these small PCs is a correct substitute for a desktop chip if you happen to’re a heavy multitasker or a media professional who wants actual processing muscle (say, to transform a lot of video or picture recordsdata from one format to a different). Normally, the CPU is the only most important think about the price of a mini PC, so keep watch over the efficiency numbers in our critiques for a relative thought of what you’re getting.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Rule of thumb? You will get by with a cell or desktop Core i3, Core 3, or Core Extremely 5/Core i5 mini PC for gentle workplace work. Nevertheless, you may wish to err on the facet of a higher-end Core Extremely chip if you happen to want additional pep for severe multitasking, file conversions, heavy calculations, or multimedia content material manipulation.
Able to Purchase the Proper Mini PC for You?
Between our purchasing recommendation and useful spec chart, it is best to have sufficient data to decide on amongst our really useful fashions. Should you’re searching for a small desktop to save cash, you may additionally wish to take a look at our picks for the high low cost desktops.
If you would like to go a bit larger, take a look at our high decisions for standard-size desktops, together with some small-form-factor PCs, or see our information to the high all-in-one desktops, which save house in their very own method by that includes built-in shows.
