The best mini PCs pack quite a lot of power into some absolutely tiny cases and can handle everything from simple tasks like web browsing and office work to more demanding ones like video and photo editing and even gaming.
I’ve been using one of the best mini PCs as an alternative to a laptop or a big, bulky desktop for the past six years and it’s worked out really well for me.
Whether you want a mini PC you can slip in your pocket or bag to travel with, something closer to a game console or as much power as possible in a tiny package, there’s something here for every budget and use case. These are the best mini PCs you can get today.
The quick list
The Mac mini M4 is an even tinier powerhouse that’s cheaper and faster than its predecessor thanks to the speedy M4 chip. The option to upgrade to the M4 Pro version ($1,399) sweetens the deal, turning this into a decent Mac for gaming or light photo/video editing. It’s the best mini PC for most Apple users.
The Geekom A5 2025 Edition is a sleek, shiny and colorful mini PC thanks to its unique rose gold colorway. It’s also very affordable and can often be found for less than $300. Despite its budget price, this mini PC has plenty of ports including an SD card reader, supports up to four displays and you can upgrade its RAM or storage.
The AtomMan G7 Ti is an incredibly thin mini PC thanks to its unique design that makes it appear like a gaming laptop without a screen or keyboard. It has a powerful Nvidia laptop GPU and is well-equipped for both work or play. While its design allows it to take up very little space on your desk, it won’t be for everyone and its external power supply is on the larger side.
The Khadas Mind is an absolutely tiny mini PC and the only one you can easily slip into your front pocket. You can use it on its own but if you want more ports and functionality, you can magnetically attach it to Khadas’ standard or graphics dock. If you want even more power and a newer processor, Khadas recently released the Mind 2.
The MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is a powerful Copilot+ mini PC that’s ideal for mounting behind a monitor thanks to the included external wired power button. It’s available in several configurations, though you can also pick up a barebones version for even less. The Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG has a great selection of front and rear ports including two Thunderbolt 4 ones.
The Geekom A6 is a tiny yet very powerful little mini PC that’s as close as you can come to the Mac mini M4 while still running Windows thanks to its all-aluminum design. It has plenty of ports, integrated AMD graphics for some light gaming and there’s only one configuration to choose from. The A6 can get a bit loud under heavier workloads but that’s a worthwhile tradeoff given its tiny size.
The Framework Desktop straddles the line between mini PC and small form factor PC thanks to its larger and highly customizable case. You do have to build it yourself but that’s part of the fun and this lets you give the device its own unique look and personality. While you can add swap out or upgrade some components, its powerful processor means you can’t upgrade its RAM.
Anthony Spadafora prefers desktops to laptops and when you're short on space, a mini PC is the perfect solution. After building his own small form factor PCs for years, he started testing and reviewing pre-built mini PCs as part of his work at Tom's Guide. Anthony also covers standing desks, office chairs and other home office furniture and his work with mini PCs ensures he's able to put together brand new desk setups to show off all the tiny computers that he goes hands-on with.
The best mini PCs to buy now
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The best mini PC overall
Besides being the smallest Mac, the Mac mini has always offered excellent value and is the perfect entryway into Apple’s ecosystem. Now with the Mac mini M4 though, Cupertino has outdone itself as this latest entry in the Mac mini lineup is faster and far more capable than its predecessor.
I spent several weeks testing the Mac mini M2 before the Mac mini M4 was released and the performance and usability difference between the two is night and day. While my workload struggled to keep up with the former’s memory constraints, that’s no longer a problem thanks to the fact that the base model Mac mini M4 now comes with 16GB of RAM as the standard. The jump from Apple’s M2 to M4 chip also makes a noticeable difference whether you’re browsing the web with loads of tabs open simultaneously or doing some light photo or video editing.
In terms of usability, Apple has made the Mac mini M4 more accessible by putting two USB-C ports up front along with a headphone jack. These new front ports are great for charging your accessories and being able to quickly plug in a pair of wired headphones is a nice touch too. Around back, you get three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port and a Gigabit Ethernet port.
At 5 x 5 x 2-inches, the Mac mini M4 now feels more in line with Windows-based mini PCs in terms of size and it’s very easy to find a spot on your desk for this computer. However, Apple did do something a bit strange with its design by putting its power button on the bottom left side of the device. Fortunately, there are plenty of accessories like the Satechi Mac Mini M4 Hub & Stand which not only give you extra ports and the option to add more storage but also come with a workaround for this hard to press power button.
If you want even more power, you can always upgrade to the Mac mini M4 Pro which has a faster CPU with more GPU cores, comes with 24GB of RAM, uses Thunderbolt 5 and has a larger 512GB SSD. Still, for most people, the standard base version of the Mac mini M4 will be more than enough, especially if you’re upgrading from an older version.
Read our full Mac mini M4 review.
The best mini PC on a budget
The Geekom A5 2025 Edition is my new pick for the best budget mini PC thanks to its surprisingly affordable price and just how much performance you get for $300. While I was very impressed with my previous pick, the Kamrui E3B, this mini PC is $100 cheaper and just as capable for browsing the web, office work and even some light gaming. Just like with the E3B, I used this refreshed version of the Geekom A5 as my daily driver for a month with a dual-monitor setup and despite my more demanding workload, it held its own even with a less powerful AMD Ryzen 5 chip, Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics and 16GB of DDR4 memory.
In addition to its excellent price to performance, I really like how Geekom decided to do something different with the A5 by giving it a rose gold colorway instead of the typical silver and black you see on most other mini PCs. It also has a pattern of lined cutouts on either side for extra ventilation along with a reflective chrome edge up top which gives it a more premium look overall. While Geekom does include a VESA mounting bracket so that you can tuck the A5 behind a monitor, its sleek and colorful design make it much better suited for a well-earned place on your desk.
At 4.61 × 4.41 × 1.94 inches, the Geekom A5 is slightly larger than the A6 but still smaller than Apple’s Mac mini M4. Despite its small footprint, this mini PC comes packed with ports at the front and back but there’s also an SD card reader on the right side and a Kensington lock on the left side. Up front, you get two USB-A ports and a headphone jack but it’s around back where things really get impressive, especially for a budget mini PC. The A5 has two more USB-A ports there along with dual HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ones and something you rarely see at this price, a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. Add it all up and this little mini PC can power a quad-monitor setup. While it comes with a 512GB SSD and 16GB of memory, it’s really easy to open up the case and upgrade its existing components but you can also add another M.2 SSD as well as a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD.
If you’re looking to downsize from a bulky desktop or ditch an older laptop, the Geekom A5 is an excellent choice, especially at this price granted your workflow isn’t too demanding. However, if it is, I’d suggest saving up a bit more for the A6 which is significantly faster but also a bit smaller too. For those that want to dive into the world of mini PCs without overpaying or just want a capable device with a pop of color, the A5 is easy to recommend.
Read our full Geekom A5 2025 Edition review.
The best mini PC for gaming
The AtomMan G7 Ti is far from your standard mini PC both in terms of design and when it comes to performance. Instead of a small, rectangular box, it's incredibly thin at just 1.28 inches and is meant to stand up vertically on your desk. In fact, the G7 Ti almost looks like one of the best gaming laptops on its side without a screen or keyboard. I know this design won’t be for everyone but it’s great for tight workspaces (or battlestations) and allows this mini PC to easily be slipped into a backpack.
Available in a barebones configuration, the AtomMan G7 Ti comes equipped with an Intel Core i9 14900HX processor, a Nvidia RTX 4070 laptop GPU with 8GB of VRAM, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD. There’s also an AtomMan G7 Ti SE model with nearly identical specs except that it has an Intel Core i7 14650HX CPU.
During the month or so I spent using the G7 Ti as my main PC, I couldn’t get over just how thin it is and the small sliver of space it took up on my desk. Due to its unique design, you don’t get nearly as many ports as you do with other gaming-focused mini PCs like the AtomMan G7 PT. However, you still get two USB-A ports, a headphone jack and an SD card reader up front as well as another USB-A port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI 2.1 port and a USB-C port (with video out) on the back.
In terms of gaming performance, the G7 Ti managed to hit well above 60 fps in newer, more demanding games at 1080p, though you can also push it up to 1440p natively without too much of a drop off in performance. With Nvidia’s DLSS enabled though, I saw well over 60 fps at 4K. The G7 Ti didn’t get overly noisy or hot while gaming either and I like how there’s a button on the front to switch between work mode or game mode.
The AtomMan G7 Ti is quite a bit different from the other mini PCs in this guide. However, if you want excellent performance for work or gaming in a slim form factor, you won’t find anything better. Plus, this mini PC is an absolute conversation starter both in pictures and in person. Keep in mind though that it can only be used in a vertical orientation due to all of the ventilation holes on the back side.
Read our full AtomMan G7 Ti review.
The best mini PC for portability
The Khadas Mind impressed me the most out of all the mini PCs I tested and reviewed last year for several reasons. Not only is it small enough to slip into a pocket at 5.75 x 4.13 x 0.79 inches but it also uses USB-C for power which is huge as instead of the included power adapter, you can use any GaN charger you want. Likewise, if you have one of the best monitors with USB-C connectivity that can deliver up to 65W, you can just plug the Khadas Mind in and get to work.
On its own, the Mind comes with all the ports you need despite its small size. You get two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports (one for power) and an HDMI 2.0 port. It comes equipped with either a 512GB or 1TB SSD but if you flip it over, there’s a free M.2 NVMe 2230 SSD slot to add more storage. The Mind is powered by an Intel Core i-1340p processor with built-in Intel Iris Xe Graphics and either 16 or 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM. There’s also a built-in battery that gives you 20 minutes of power during normal use. However, it’s actually intended for putting your Mind into sleep mode which can be very handy if you want to move this mini PC between workstations or between different docks.
The Mind is a great mini PC on its own but Khadas as a whole ecosystem of accessories that add even more functionality. The standard Mind Dock adds another USB-A port, an SD card reader and a headphone jack along with a fingerprint reader and there’s even a volume knob on the right. You can take things a step further with the Mind Graphics Dock though which has a built-in Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti desktop GPU (with either 8 or 16GB of VRAM). On the front, you get a USB4 port, a headphone jack and an SD card reader while around back you get three USB-A ports, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection and it has an internal power supply.
The Mind isn’t your typical mini PC, especially if you invest in the rest of Khadas’ ecosystem. I reviewed the Mind 1 last year but now you can pick up the Mind 2 or even the Mind 2S if you want more powerful internals thanks to the upgrade to Intel Core Ultra 5 and 7 processors. While I am planning to review the Mind 2S this year, the Mind 1 is still an awesome mini PC, especially now that you can find it at a cheaper price. If you value portability and expandability, the Mind and the rest of Khadas’ accessories are certainly worth a look.
Read our full Khadas Mind review.
The best mini PC for business
The MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is a sleek, all black mini PC that thoroughly impressed me due to the fact that it’s nearly silent while in use despite its small size. It is slightly larger than the Mac mini M4 and the Geekom A5. However, the Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is by no means large and takes up very little space on your desk.
I really enjoyed my time with the original MSI Cubi NUC 1M but this upgraded model certainly takes things up a notch. For starters, it’s a Copilot+ mini PC which means in addition to the dedicated Copilot button on the front, you get access to all of Microsoft’s AI tools. At the same time, its power button now has a built-in fingerprint scanner which makes logging into your account faster and more secure. Given its new focus on AI, MSI has also added a microphone and a speaker to the Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG for hands-free conversations with Copilot, or any other AI assistant for that matter
.Like its predecessor, the Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is on the expensive side compared to other mini PCs from brands like Geekom or Minisforum. However, you get a generous three-year warranty with it and sending this mini PC in for repairs is easy too. The Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG also comes with Windows 11 Pro. As a Copilot+ PC, you can use features like Windows Studio Effects to look your best in video calls and Recall to find important files even if you can’t remember their names.
Despite its small size, the Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG gives you plenty of full-sized front and rear ports. I particularly like having a MicroSD card reader, a headphone jack up and two USB-A ports up front along with the new fingerprint scanner and Copilot button. Around back, you get two more USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, dual 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports and an AC port for its 120W external power supply. Likewise, you can use one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 100W charger with a USB-C cable to power the device too.
Another nice thing about the 2MG is that you can easily mount it behind your monitor and turn it on/off thanks to the included external wired power button. If you have a compatible MSI monitor though, you won’t need it since this mini PC uses the company’s Power Link tech to turn on your computer when you power on your monitor.
I spent a month or so using the Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG as my daily driver and I was really surprised by the upgrades MSI has given it over the NUC 1M. The integrated fingerprint scanner let me log into Windows and get to work quickly while the Copilot button was great for getting quick answers. Likewise, its new Lunar Lake chips (Ultra 7 or Ultra 9) made using the 2MG for multitasking even faster too. If you’re looking for a mini PC for business that works just as well behind your monitor as it does on your desk, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is a great option thanks to its lengthy warranty, easy after-service and all of its AI-powered Copilot+ features.
Read our full MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG review.
The best mini PC for productivity
The Geekom A6 is a tiny yet powerful mini PC that looks quite sleek thanks to its all-aluminum design. If you like the look of the Mac mini M4 but aren’t quite ready to make the switch from Windows to macOS, this could be the perfect compromise. Not only that, the A6 is actually even smaller than the redesigned Mac mini at 4.4 x 4.4 x 1.34 inches and just under one pound.
Unlike Apple’s mini PC, the A6 isn’t short on ports and Geekom has fully equipped it for both creative work and even multi-monitor setups. Around the front, you get two USB-A ports and a headphone jack while there’s an SD card reader on the left side. Then on the back, the A6 has a very similar rear port array to the Asus NUC 14 Pro with two HDMI ports, two USB 4 ports, two USB-A ports and a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port for multi-gig internet plans. It also comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6E which means you get access to the much faster 6 GHz band.
Powered by an AMD Ryzen 6800H processor with onboard Radeon 680M graphics, one of my favorite things about the A6 is that it comes with 32GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD. There aren’t any other configurations to pick from which really helps narrow down your choices. The A6 is also very affordable for what you get at just $449 and if the Kamrui E3B didn’t go on sale as often as it does, this mini PC would have been my budget pick.
I used the A6 as my main PC over the course of several weeks and I was very impressed by how well it was able to keep up with my workload. During that time, I even built a dual-monitor setup around it to make use of its two HDMI ports, though I did plug in a portable monitor into one of its USB4 ports to take things up a notch to a triple monitor display.
My only gripes with the A6 is that it uses an external power supply instead of an internal one like the Mac mini M4 does and that under heavy workloads, you can hear its fan spin up. It’s not nearly as loud as the internal fan on the Acemagic F2A but it is audible. If you want a small mini PC with a premium look and feel to it that’s $150 less than the Mac mini M4 and comes with plenty of ports, the Geekom A6 is a fantastic choice.
Read our full Geekom A6 review.
The best mini PC for customization
The Framework Desktop gives you almost the same experience as building your own PC but without the hassle and to top it all off, it's an incredibly fast and powerful mini PC for work, gaming or even running AI models locally. Building on its expertise at creating upgradeable and repairable laptops, Framework decided to create a desktop computer that follows the same formula. After testing it out for the past two weeks, I’m very impressed with not just its excellent performance but by how much fun I had building and customizing it too.
Unlike some other mini PCs like the MSI Cubi NUC or the Asus Nuc 14 Pro where you have a ton of different CPU options to choose from, the Framework Desktop only gives you one: the Ryzen AI Max. Sure, you can go with the entry level Max 385 chip or the more powerful Max+ 395 one but the biggest choice you’ll have to make is how much memory to equip your machine with. The Framework Desktop starts with 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM but you can also get this mini PC with 64GB or even a whopping 128GB of memory. Besides running demanding AI models locally, you can allocate some of this extra RAM to the Ryzen AI Max’s integrated GPU for better graphics or gaming performance.
Once you decide on your processor and RAM, it’s time for customization options. You can choose a more discrete black side panel or a clear one to show off its internals which might make more sense if you opt for an RGB-equipped case fan at checkout.
The Framework Desktop’s magnetic front panel is another area where you can truly make this mini PC your own since it has slots for 21 tiles. These tiles come in a variety of colors but there are also custom ones and I’m almost certain you’ll be able to design your own down the line. Then underneath the front panel, there are two Expansion Card slots which let you customize the Framework Desktop’s front ports to your liking. For instance, I went with a USB-A port and a SD card reader but there’s also USB-C, microSD card readers and more.
The Framework Desktop is the only mini PC that I know of that you not only build but get to customize yourself. It is on the expensive side with a starting price of $1,099 which doesn’t include essential components like a case fan and storage or a Windows license, but this mini PC has plenty of power under the hood. Likewise, if you decide its current design isn’t working for you anymore, it’s incredibly simple to mix things up as well as to add extra storage or swap out its case fan.
The Framework Desktop is certainly on the large size for a mini PC but compared to a traditional desktop or even most small form factor PCs, it’s quite compact and portable too.
Read our full Framework Desktop review.
How we test the best mini PCs
We put every mini PC we review through a number of benchmark tests and weeks to months of real-world use to get the clearest picture we can of how well it performs, what use cases it's best suited to and what sort of capabilities you get for the price.
For performance, we use Geekbench processor test to measure a system's overall capabilities. We then test a device's file transfer speeds, copying large files to see how long it takes to copy multimedia files, documents and other content.
To test graphics capabilities, we run a number of benchmark tests from 3DMark. If a system is properly equipped, we'll also run individual game tests to see how capable a particular mini PC is at handling the demands of modern gaming at a variety of resolutions and graphics settings.
Most importantly, we spend a ton of time simply using each mini PC for everyday activities. We do work, browse the web, transfer files, play games, and more, all to get a better sense of which ones are really worth your money.
For more information on our testing process, check out our how we test page for Tom’s Guide.
Other mini PCs we've tested
How to choose the best mini PC for you
Mini PCs range from small project PCs for under $50 (£50/AU$75) to compact desktops that can cost anywhere between $500 to $1,000 or even more.
Stick PCs are the most versatile, and generally cost between $100 (£100/AU$150) and $200 (£200/$AU300), and will work with most TVs or monitors, though we don't normally recommend them.
Mini PC prices vary considerably based on their hardware and come in all sorts of different form factors but for the most part, the small, rectangular shaped ones are the most popular and you won't have a hard time finding one to feet your own particular needs.
Know what you want
Finding the right mini PC for you starts with knowing what you're looking for. Do you want something small enough to tuck behind a TV as a dedicated streaming box, or are you looking for something with gaming capabilities? Do you want a basic internet-browsing machine, or do you need serious processing and graphics capabilities?
Our best picks above do a good job of highlighting the use cases different systems are best suited to and that should help you narrow down your choices.
Find the right size
Then there's the question of form factor. Mini PCs are all small, but there is a range of options within the category, from PCs small enough to slip into your pocket to desktop towers that are still compact enough to stow out of sight.
You'll sacrifice power for a smaller system, but you can still get a capable desktop that's small enough to carry in a backpack, even if you're after one well-suited for gaming or workstation performance.
Make sure you like your configuration and upgrade options
Finally, you want to look at configuration options and upgradability.
Many mini PCs have two or three configuration options, which can change everything from the amount of included storage to the presence of high-end processors and discrete graphics cards.
There's also the question of upgrades. Many of the smallest mini PCs leave no room for future hardware changes, but others are designed to let you add memory or storage, or even come outfitted with ports that allow you to attach an external GPU for better graphics and gaming performance.
When in doubt, check our reviews, which include configuration details and will discuss the potential for future upgrades.
Check out everything else you'll need for your new mini PC setup:
Best monitors | Best keyboards | Best mouse | Best webcams | Best standing desk | Best office chairs | Best Wi-Fi 7 routers
