The best mini PCs and NUCs come in all shapes and sizes. Whatever your needs, there's a compact computer out there to suit you. Mini PCs are an excellent choice for a variety of uses thanks to their relatively inexpensive pricing and ability to pack into small spaces due to their compact sizes. Not to mention, they're great if you need to add a PC covertly to an area in your home like the kitchen or living room.
Our top pick out of all the mini PCs we've reviewed is Beelink's EQR6. The fact that you can get a model with an AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and 1TB SSD for just $499 is impressive, and it should suit most users for productivity or light gaming purposes.
I've included a bunch of other mini PCs and NUCs that will appeal to most users, and we've personally tested them or their predecessors here at Windows Central to ensure they're worth your time and money.
The quick list
Best overall
Beelink's EQR6 offers strong AMD Ryzen performance, upgradeable RAM and SSD, ample cooling, and support for multiple external monitors. Several configurations are available, with prices starting as low as about $499. It all comes together as our top mini PC recommendation.
Runner-up
Geekom's A8 upgrades to newer AMD Ryzen CPUs, adding extra power for heavy multitasking. It'll even handle some light gaming. Models usually come with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB or 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, so the starting price of about $699 is quite reasonable.
Best gaming
The ASUS ROG NUC 970 is essentially a gaming laptop without a display, keyboard, and touchpad. Its dedicated NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU is the centerpiece for strong performance in your favorite titles, and it's backed up by a Core Ultra 9 CPU with NPU for AI. Expect to pay about $1,850 for a top-tier model.
Best AI PC
Geekom's GT1 Mega is classified as an AI PC thanks to the Intel Core Ultra NPU inside, and it'll handle a heavy workload thanks to the 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It's a lot of PC in a small form factor, but you can usually find it for less than $1,000 thanks to frequent discounts.
Best Copilot+ PC
The inclusion of AMD's Ryzen AI mobile CPUs makes the Beelink SER9 a Copilot+ PC, capable of using Windows 11's built-in AI tools. It costs more than its competitors at about $1,249, but for now, it's the best way to land a mini Copilot+ PC.
Best business
The IdeaCentre Mini (Gen 8) is designed for professionals in an office setting, delivering tons of security and performance in a compact case. Lenovo offers many different configurations, with prices starting at about $650 for a model with 13th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU.
Rebecca reviews laptops, desktops, and gaming handhelds to see how well they function in a variety of different areas. Being a gaming enthusiast, she also always checks to see how well a mini PC can handle video games in addition to basic office tasks.
I love building and testing PCs, and I've tinkered with a fair share of mini PCs along the way. With key points like cooling, performance, upgradeability, and price in mind, I've narrowed things down to six top picks that will appeal to most users.
My favorite mini PCs in 2024
Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best mini PC
Beelink's EQR6 is so good for most people that I moved it to the top overall spot. Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden reviewed the Beelink EQR6, saying:
"Overall, the Beelink EQR6 is an excellent all-rounder mini PC that's very capable when it comes to productivity workflows and light video and photo editing. It features a clean design and is small and quiet enough to fit on pretty much any desk in any environment and not be an ear or eyesore."
The configuration I recommend for most people has an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, 24GB of DDR5 RAM, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and integrated Radeon 680M graphics. It costs about $499 at Amazon, making it one of the less expensive options in this guide. You can always upgrade the memory and storage after purchase if you feel the included amounts aren't enough.
Port selection is generous, with dual LAN ports, dual HDMI, four USB-A, USB-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It would be nice to have more USB-C, but the dual HDMI ports make it easy to build a multi-monitor setup.
The EQR6 keeps its cool under load, and the built-in PSU means you don't have to deal with extra bulk along the power cable. As long as you aren't looking for a mini PC to focus on gaming, this should be an easy recommendation.
👀 Read our full Beelink EQR6 review
Runner-up
Those in search of a more powerful PC should consider Geekom's A8. While it lacks a discrete GPU — which drives the price up significantly — it makes the jump to a more recent AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS with AMD Radeon 780M integrated GPU alongside 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
This premium model costs about $849 at Amazon, but you can get a model with a Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU and half as much storage for about $699. The integrated graphics are enough to handle light gaming, and while you'll hear the fans under load, there wasn't any throttling while testing the PC.
Windows Central Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda reviewed the Geekom A8 alongside its A7 sibling, stating:
"Having used the A7 and A8 extensively, the only limitation I can think of is that they have a solitary M.2 slot. There isn't much else that is missing on either model, and they both deliver standout performance in day-to-day productivity tasks as well as demanding image and video editing workflows."
There's only one M.2 slot, but at least models come with 2TB of storage for a very strong start. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 come standard, but there's also a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for a wired connection. Other I/O includes multiple USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI 2.0 with total support for up to four external displays.
👀 See our full Geekom A8 review
Best gaming mini PC
The ASUS ROG NUC 970 is my favorite compact gaming PCreleased this year. It's slightly larger than the other options in this guide, yet it's still smaller than most Wi-Fi routers. Why the extra space? It fits in up to a discrete NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU to deliver excellent performance in all games.
The mobile GPU is joined by Intel's mobile Core Ultra Series 1 chips, up to a Core Ultra 9 185. You can also get up to 32GB of upgradeable DDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage space, also upgradeable after purchase.
Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear reviewed the ROG NUC 970, handing it a Recommended Award while remarking:
"The ASUS ROG NUC 970 is a very impressive mini PC with powerful performance and a very convenient range of ports. However, the high cost makes it a bit of a niche device. I like it a lot, but it's hard to recommend unless you are really limited on space and need a very small gaming computer. As it is, there are laptop and desktop alternatives on the market that don't cost this much."
With prices hovering around $1,850 for a top-tier model, I don't blame you if you take a look at some of our favorite gaming laptops instead. Nevertheless, those who don't need a built-in display and keyboard can save space with the ROG NUC 970.
👀 See our full ASUS ROG NUC 970 review
Best AI PC
AI PCs are all the rage right now, and the Geekom GT1 Mega has the right hardware inside to be included in the classification. That's thanks to Intel's Core Ultra CPUs with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside. The first-gen Core Ultra chips don't make the cut for Copilot+, but they nevertheless deliver 11 TOPS of power.
Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear reviewed the Geekom GT1 Mega, remarking:
"Some mini PCs feel limited and slow, but the Geekom GT1 Mega is a powerful little device that can handle just about any everyday work task. The processors offer solid performance that can handle everything from having multiple tabs open for web browsing to photo editing in Adobe Photoshop."
This PC has what it takes to handle serious multitasking, and the integrated GPU will handle light gaming. You can't upgrade the CPU, but you can upgrade RAM and storage to keep it relevant.
The PC offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless connectivity, with a host of physical ports — including dual USB4, dual HDMI 2.0, five USB-A 3.2, an SD card reader, and Ethernet — for your accessories.
👀 See our full Geekom GT1 Mega review
Best Copilot Plus PC
Copilot+ PCs expand on the AI PC base, relying on a particularly powerful NPU (with at least 40 TOPS of power) to run local AI tools built into Windows 11. These include Windows Recall, Click To Do, local Cocreator, and more. While Qualcomm Snapdragon X laptops were first to receive Copilot+ classification, PCs with AMD's Ryzen AI 300 chips are now getting in on the action.
The Beelink SER9 has an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU inside, with Radeon 890M integrated graphics. It's coupled with 32GB of DDR5 LPDDR5x RAM (not upgradeable) and a 1TB M.2 PCIE 4.0 NVMe SSD (upgradeable).
Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden reviewed the Beelink SER9, saying:
"Overall, the Beelink SER9 might be one of the best mini PCs I've tested yet. It's the first AI mini PC I've had come through the lab, and I think it's a great choice for people looking for a desktop PC that's Copilot+ capable, even though none of those features are actually available yet. It features a gorgeous design and incredible power for the size of the box, but you do pay a premium for it."
Of course, those Copilot+ features are slowly coming online for AMD systems, and you can expect full access in the near future.
The PC boasts HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs, it has plenty of USB-A ports, there's a high-speed 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, plus a couple of USB-C ports handle your modern accessories. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 handle wireless connectivity.
👀 See our full Beelink SER9 review
Best office mini PC
For those specifically on the market for a simple computer that's ideal for student work or office tasks, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini (Gen 8) is a fantastic option. This mini PC comes from a trusted computer brand and either has an Intel Core i7-13700H or an Intel Core i5-13500H that works with the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. On top of that, the IdeaCentre Mini provides all of the ports you need to connect your various accessories and devices.
During our own Ben Wilson's Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini (Gen 8) review, he found that this mini PC did have some bloatware and pop-ups that you'll want to get rid of to keep it running smoothly. However, it also comes with the Lenovo Vantage app. which makes it easy to keep tabs on the system and ensure it is on the latest updates. Once updated, the IdeaCentre Mini can boot up programs quickly, but don't expect it to handle graphically intensive tasks like intense gaming or creative software.
It's worth noting that this is the slimmest mini PCs on this list, but it's also wider than some of the other options. To make things easier, it comes with a stand, so you can position it vertically to save room on your desk if needed.
Prices start at a modest $650 for a model with a 13th Gen Core i5-13500H CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. There are plenty of other configurations available at Lenovo.
👀 See our full Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini (Gen 8) review
How to choose the best mini PC for you
Despite their size, all these mini PCs are capable Windows computers that are attractive alternatives to the best Windows laptops. With options for general use, professional environments, and gaming, all types of users should find something suitable.
My top choice right now is Beelink's EQR6 thanks to its attractive starting price of around $499. It has an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, 24GB of DDR5 RAM, AMD Radeon 680M integrated graphics, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. That's a ton of power for the asking price, and it should suit anyone from productivity masters to those who enjoy light gaming.
The Geekom A8 is my runner-up choice thanks to a more powerful AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It costs more than my top pick at about $849, but you can lower the specs to a Ryzen 7 CPU and the price to about $699.
It's no surprise that specialized AI hardware is making its way into mini PCs, and I recommend you check out the Beelink SER9 with AMD Ryzen AI 300 CPUs that grant access to Copilot+ tools. It's the most expensive option on the list at about $1,249, but it'll deliver the most power possible before getting into mini PCs with a discrete GPU.
If you'd rather land a mini PC that's made specifically for gaming, the ASUS ROG NUC 970 is a top choice that starts at about $1,850. It's expensive, but the Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD will handle any title you want. It can also be considered an AI PC thanks to the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) contained in the Core Ultra chip.
Mini PC FAQ
What is a NUC when talking computers and mini PCs?
Next Unit of Computing (NUC) is something that the tech company Intel specifically named its mini PCs. It's also important to know that Intel NUCs can also refer to the company's small motherboards customizable chassis, and certain laptop kits. Still, in most situations, NUC means mini PC. It's also worth noting that although Intel was the original creator and manufacturer of the Intel NUC, that Asus is now the company that sells them.
What is the point of a mini PC?
Mini PCs are extremely small and compact computers compared to laptops and desktops, so they are easier to fit into limited spaces. What's more, they also tend to cost a whole lot less than laptops and desktops, making them far more affordable while still being able to handle office tasks and even some gaming depending on the configuration of the mini PC.
Is a mini PC better than a laptop?
That really depends on what you intend to use the mini PC or laptop for. Depending on the configurations, both types of devices can be used to handle office work, a variety of programs, and even some gaming. Laptops are easier to take on the go since a monitor is included, but mini PCs don't take up much room and they tend to be more affordable.
