I review mini PCs for a living and these 13 early Black Friday deals let you downsize for less

The Kamrui E3B was my previous pick for the best budget mini PC as you get plenty of power for the price. However, this deal gets you the upgraded version that comes with a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB M.2 SSD. On the front of the E3B, you get two USB-A ports, a USB-C port with video out and a headphone jack. Around back, you get HDMI and DisplayPort for video out, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and, surprisingly, four more USB-A ports. In my Kamrui E3B review, I praised its near-silent fan and its sleek, all-black design.

The MSI Cubi NUC 1MG may not be the most powerful version of this mini desktop, but it's still at a fantastic price thanks to the discount. Expect an Intel Core 3-100U processor with 16GB of RAM and a 500GB SSD, which will power through everyday tasks to keep up with your workflow. It also comes equipped with a handy microSD Card Reader, two HDMI ports and plenty of USB-A 3.2 ports. I reviewed the latest MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG, and was a big fan of its whisper-quiet design and convenient front ports. And this model keeps that trend.

The Geekom A5 (2025 Edition) is my new pick for the best budget mini PC. It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor and comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB M.2 SSD. While you don’t get a USB-C port on the front (just two USB-A ports and a headphone jack), around back you get two USB-C ports with video out, two HDMI ports, two USB-A ports and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. Oh, and did I mention there’s an SD card reader on the side? In my Geekom A5 2025 Edition review, I said this affordable mini PC performs even better than it looks with its unique rose gold colorway.

The standard Khadas Mind packs an Intel i5-1340p processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD into an absolutely tiny package. There’s a power button on the front, cooling on the sides and around back, you get two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports (one for power) and an HDMI port. However, there’s also a free M.2 SSD slot on the bottom if you want to add more storage to the base Khadas Mind. In my Khadas Mind review, I praised this pocketable mini PC for its slim profile and the fact that you can add more ports or even a graphics card thanks to Khadas’ first-party docks.

The base model Mac mini M4 is a big step up from its predecessor and likely enough for most people without any expensive upgrades. It comes with Apple’s powerful M4 chip, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You also get plenty of ports in a tiny package with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-C ports, HDMI and Ethernet. If it weren't for the awkward power button placement and the complete lack of USB-A ports, I would have easily given this one 5 stars in my Mac mini M4 review.

The Geekom A8 could be the perfect mini PC for you. It has a full aluminum design, a great selection of front and rear ports, and Geekom’s IceBlast 1.5 tech, which keeps it cool in use. The A8 can even power a quad-monitor setup around the back; there are two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB-C port capable of video out and a USB 4 port. While I haven’t reviewed the A8 yet, I did review its smaller sibling, the A6. In my Geekom A6 review, I couldn’t believe that it was smaller than both the Mac mini M4 and even the very tiny Asus NUC 14 Pro. The A8 gives you even more power than the A6 as it packs a Ryzen 9 8945HS processor into the same small case.

The GMKtec EVO-T1 is powerful enough in its own right, but on the front, in addition to your usual front ports, it has an Oculink port. This can be used to connect this mini PC to an external graphics card dock to transform it into a full-fledged gaming PC. Even if you don’t go that route, the EVO-T1 features a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor with built-in Intel Arc 140T integrated graphics. You also get 64GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and a case that lets you use this mini PC vertically if you don’t want to have it lying flat on your desk. Dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports also make it a great choice for those with a NAS, and with 50 TOPs, it’s also great for local AI workloads.

The Asus NUC 14 Pro+ is a slim, two-tone mini PC with an aluminum top and a white base. Its wider, more rectangular design, innovative cooling system and toolless chassis help set it apart. Another great thing about the NUC 14 Pro+ is that you have six different processor configurations to choose from but you can also save quite a lot by picking up a barebones version where you’ll need to provide your own storage, memory and operating system. On the front, you get two high-speed USB-A ports and a USB-C port capable of video out. Then around back, you get two more USB-A ports, dual HDMI 2.1 ports, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 2.5G Ethernet port. While I haven’t reviewed this upgraded model I did review the Asus Nuc 14 Pro which stood out for being smaller than the Mac mini M4 and like the NUC 14 Pro+, how there are multiple configuration options to pick from.

The Geekom IT15 is a sleek, all-black mini PC in a tiny chassis that’s an absolute powerhouse. Equipped with Intel’s latest Core Ultra 5 or 9 processors, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1 or 2TB SSD and Wi-Fi 7, this is a futureproof mini PC designed for more heavy workloads and thanks to its integrated Intel Arc 130T or 140T graphics, even some light gaming. Up front, you get two high-speed USB-A ports and a headphone jack while there’s an SD card reader on the side. Around back though, the port selection is even more impressive with dual HDMI 2.0 ports, two more USB-A ports, a 2.5G Ethernet port and dual USB-4 ports, one of which can be used for power if you don’t want to lug around its external power supply. In my Geekom IT15 review, I praised its excellent upgradability and its futureproof connectivity thanks to the inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 and a 2.5G wired port.