There's a perfect middle-ground between a tower-sized desktop and a slim laptop for Windows 11, and it's the relatively niche category of mini PCs. Some of the best examples I've seen, like the excellent Beelink EQR6 and its siblings, are heavily discounted thanks to some epic leftover Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Even if you didn't manage to nab the ASUS ROG NUC 970 gaming mini PC before it returned to full price, there are lots of other great mini PCs available starting at just $179.
Recent updates
December 3, 2024: Some of the best mini PC deals are still live after Cyber Monday. I've made it clear which ones are available in the options below. — Cale Hunt
🔥The hottest post-Cyber Monday deals🔥
- 💻HP EliteBook 14 (Ryzen 7 PRO) | $899 at HP (Save $2,023!)
- 🎮Xbox Series X Digital Edition (1TB) | $398 at Walmart (Save $52!)
- 🕹️Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-months) | $29.29 at CDKeys (Save $11!)
- 🎮Lenovo Legion Go (Z1 Extreme) | $534.44 at Amazon (Save $166!)
- 💻Surface Pro 11 w/ keyboard (X Plus) | $999.99 at Best Buy (Save $350!)
- 💽Seagate Xbox Series X|S Card (2TB) | $199.99 at Best Buy (Save $160!)
Which specs matter the most in a mini PC?
A mini PC is exactly what it sounds like. It's a fully functional computer in a compact form, often so surprisingly tiny that it might give unfamiliar users an impression of being underpowered or otherwise inferior to a full-size desktop tower. However, most components inside come from some of the best laptops, specifically the processor (CPU) and often the memory (RAM), because they're already designed to fit in a small chassis.
I've tested countless variants of desktop PC components and laptops, seeing their parts migrate to some of the most fascinating and surprisingly capable mini PCs and experiencing first-hand how performant these little machines can be.
Solid-state storage (SSD) commonly uses the M.2 standard, which looks like a USB memory stick without the plastic casing and comes in ultra-skinny shapes small enough to fit inside any PC or laptop. So, besides the purpose-built power supply (PSU) and motherboard that everything connects to, the only outlier is a graphics card.
Almost all mini PCs rely on the processor's integrated graphics (iGPU) and will handle productivity tasks without issue, while mini PCs for gaming require the extra power that a discrete GPU provides. Even budget desktop graphics cards are generally too big to fit inside a mini PC, with even a compact, single-fan variant proving too chunky. It's another area where laptop-centric parts make an appearance in mini PCs, like NVIDIA's RTX 4060 and 4070 L variants available in ASUS' ROG NUC 970.
💽More Cyber Monday deals that won't quit💾
- Dell: Lowest PC prices of the year for a little longer after Cyber Monday
- HP: Aggressive "Cyber Week" deals on laptops while supplies last
- Lenovo: Still save up to 68% on laptops, desktops, and select doorbusters
- Samsung: Week-long holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more
What can you use a mini PC for?
Productivity is a common buzzword, but it's relevant here, with mini PCs proving particularly useful to students. It boils down to web browsing, working in apps like Microsoft 365 or Office, and some light creation in image editing suites and simplistic video editors like Clipchamp. Essentially, you can expect to do everything on a mini PC that you would on a laptop or desktop computer besides modern gaming unless the model you pick is geared explicitly towards it with a dedicated graphics card, and don't forget a discounted gaming monitor if you do.
That's not to say you couldn't play any casual titles with lighter minimum specification requirements, especially with titles around ten years or older — just don't expect to fire up Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 if you opt for a $300-400 machine with integrated graphics. If your day-to-day is more 'traditional' in that you're spending most of your time on a web browser like performance-optimized Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, then a mini PC is more than capable of providing an optimal Windows 11 experience.
When did Black Friday end?
On paper, at least, Black Friday ended the moment Midnight chimed on Nov. 29, 2024, or the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA. However, that doesn't necessarily mean all the deals up and disappeared at that time. Cyber Monday is right around the corner, and that means fresh waves of sales to take advantage of. I should be clear, many deals did end alongside Black Friday, so those who hesitated are out of luck. If you missed out, though, you may have another opportunity this weekend and on Cyber Monday.
When does Cyber Monday start?
Cyber Monday began as the online retailer equivalent of Black Friday, but most shopping has gone online over the last few years. This has resulted in Black Friday and Cyber Monday being blended into one massive sales event spread across an entire weekend, with Cyber Monday marking the tumultuous finale. This year, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024, which (as you might expect) is the Monday after Black Friday.
It's best to take advantage of sales you're interested in the moment you spot them to avoid stock shortages and limited-time discounts, but Cyber Monday does frequently boast its own batch of last-minute deals separate from Black Friday.
When does Cyber Monday end?
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday tend to start earlier each year, the worldwide sales event often ends on a similar note. Cyber Monday, which this year is Dec. 2, 2024, is the final day for many of the most major and aggressive sales and discounts from the deals bonanza. This is important to repeat: while some deals may persist after Cyber Monday ends, today will be your final chance to take advantage of the majority of the worthwhile promotions.
Which has better deals, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
Because of how similar the two days (and the weekend between them have become), it's difficult to definitively say if Black Friday or Cyber Monday has the best deals. Many retailers and companies hit Black Friday running with their biggest promotions to get people in the door, but others may wait until Cyber Monday and strike with last-minute discounts that keep interest going until the end.
The rule of thumb to keep in mind here is that if you spot a tempting discount for a product you want, you shouldn't risk waiting for a better deal to come along. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy will often price match your purchases if prices fall further during your return period, so it's better to take advantage of the deal in front of you than wait for the better deal that may never come (especially since Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals tend to have limited stock).
