Best Mini PCs of 2019,Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the fine products; you can learn more approximately our evaluation process here. We may receive commissions on purchases crafted from our chosen links.
Mini PCs of 2019,The Rundown
- Best Overall: HP Pavilion Wave at Amazon,
- “It promises super overall performance for the scale, with masses of strength to spare.”
- Runner-Up, Best Overall: Apple Mac mini at Apple, “A sophisticated and compact desktop-class computer.”
- Best Budget: Lenovo IdeaCentre 310S at Walmart,
- “The 500GB of tough pressure storage has greater than enough space for pics, movies, and programs.”
- Best Alternative to Windows: Acer CXI3 Chromebox at Amazon,
- “Browsing the web with 20 tabs open and streaming 4K video gained’t sluggish you down.”
- Best Gaming: Lenovo Legion C530 Cube at Lenovo, “Built with one-touch,
- tool-unfastened get admission to to all of the internal workings you would possibly want to upgrade afterward.”
- Runner-Up, Best for Gaming: MSI Trident three Arctic at MSI.Com, “One of the smallest VR-prepared PCs ever made.”
- Best Value: ASUS VivoMini PC at Amazon, “The VESA support for wall mounting makes it the perfect media device.”
- Best for Business: HP ProDesk 400 at Amazon,
- “Designed to hold up for greater than one hundred twenty,000 hours of use.”
- Best Kit: Intel NUC8 Mini PC Kit at Amazon,
- “The smallest NUC Intel has ever created, and additionally the maximum powerful.”
Mini PCs of 2019,Our Top Picks
Best Overall: HP Pavilion Wave
Mini PCs of 2019,At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the HP Pavilion Wave for a elegant Bluetooth speaker or virtual assistant.
It’s actually both of this stuff, but it’s additionally a mini PC filled with masses of features.
And that unique layout serves a motive — the top of the Pavilion Wave is a parabolic speaker that directs exquisite audio (from B&O Play) 360 degrees across the room.
The Pavilion is powered by using a 7th-technology quad-core i5 processor,
8GB of RAM, and both a difficult pressure and solid-kingdom power which might be 1TB and 256GB respectively.
It promises excellent performance for the dimensions, with plenty of strength to spare for stressful tasks like video or picture enhancing.
This PC can easily take care of 4K video playback, and multi-screen help guarantees that you could watch video on one reveal and multitask on any other.
Built-in Amazon Alexa provides voice manage so you can take a look at a calendar, create buying lists, or ask questions with out pulling up a browser.
The compact layout weighs a nominal six kilos and measures best nine.25 inches in top.
Mini PCs of 2019,Runner-Up, Best Overall: Apple Mac mini
Mini PCs of 2019,While Apple’s laptops and all-in-one desktops get all of the glory, the Mac mini is an advanced and compact laptop-magnificence computer.
As with most Apple products, the mini’s layout is the primary component you be aware — to be had in Apple’s muted Space Gray shade, the hardware measures a trifling 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches and weighs under 3 pounds.
At that length, it looks as if the mini may have overall performance barriers. But that’s not the case.
Apple’s flow to a solid-country force guarantees the mini will run faster, cooler and quieter.
Buyers can pick out between 8th-generation Intel processors (i3 or i5) as well as as much as 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. Note that the RAM is consumer-upgradeable after buy, but the SSD isn’t.
An Intel UHD Graphics 630 chip gained’t fulfill most gamers, however it’ll work best for fundamental gameplay and 4K video playback. Capable of powering up to a few shows right now, the mini comes geared up with 4 USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports alongside HDMI and dual USB 3 ports.
Mini PCs of 2019,Best Budget: Lenovo IdeaCentre 310S
Mini PCs of 2019,With a hanging design and inexpensive fee tag, the Lenovo IdeaCentre 310S is a compact PC the whole circle of relatives can revel in.
Packed with 500GB of difficult pressure garage, there’s more than enough space for images, videos, and applications.
The IdeaCentre 310S additionally includes 4GB of RAM, an AMD A9-series processor, and AMD’s Radeon images card that could manage 1080p video playback with aplomb however possibly received’t be capable of handle 4K streaming.
If the dearth of 4K streaming isn’t a dealbreaker, then the Lenovo has lots of other convenient features. For one, it’s tiny — nearly 50% smaller than the average computer-magnificence PC. Measuring less than 3.Five inches extensive, the hardware is straightforward to in shape on or beneath a table. However, the small size didn’t restrict Lenovo from cramming in a bevy of ports.
The the front of the pc is embellished with four USB 2.Zero ports in addition to a integrated media reader for an expansion of reminiscence cards.
Lenovo has even blanketed a DVD/CD burner, that is frequently only found on substantial computer hardware. The addition of 802.11ac Wi-Fi requirements guarantees the Lenovo can browse and download at speedy speeds.
Mini PCs of 2019,Best Alternative to Windows: Acer CXI3 Chromebox
Mini PCs of 2019,If you’re seeking out strong overall performance but don’t always need Windows, the Acer CXI3 Chromebook is a super mini PC.
It comes geared up with an Intel i7 processor (8th technology), 16GB of RAM and 64GB of garage. Even surfing the net with 20 tabs open and streaming 4K video gained’t slow you down. Chrome OS isn’t a gaming device, but it can cope with a few browser-based totally games.
The hardware itself falls firmly in the mini PC class.
Measuring 5.9 x five.9 x 1.6 inches in size and weighing only 1.2 pounds, it’s lighter than the sizeable majority of laptops, let alongside desktop gadgets.
The black plastic shell is low-profile and designed to cover the hardware components inside.
The front of the pc is properly-ready with USB 3.0 ports, a microSD card slot, strength button, and a headphone jack.
The rear of the hardware adds in more connectivity with four additional USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, USB Type-C and Ethernet.
Mini PCs of 2019,Best for Gaming: Lenovo Legion C530 Cube
Mini PCs of 2019,Small but succesful, the Lenovo C530 is a serious piece of hardware in a transportable bundle.
It has the modern-day eighth Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, 32GB of RAM and as much as 256GB SSD, making this pc a real powerhouse.
Fully able to handling the latest in VR-gaming, you have got your preference of NVIDIA’s GTX 1060, 1050 Ti, or 1050 photos card.
It can even remaining you into future, which takes some the edge out of the premium charge tag: the C530 is built with one-contact,
tool-loose get right of entry to to all the inner workings you may need to upgrade afterward.
The outside of the computer is just as smart because the inside, with an included sporting take care of that makes it highly portable.
A slew of HDMI and USB ports at the again can fast end up a cable nightmare, but Lenovo has avoided this hassle by using adding a cable organizer inside the again (a unprecedented locate on mini PCs).
Mini PCs of 2019,Runner-Up, Best for Gaming: MSI Trident 3 Arctic
MSI’s Trident three Arctic is a small but effective VR-geared up PC — it is in reality one of the smallest VR-equipped PCs ever made.
Weighing most effective seven kilos and measuring thirteen.Sixty three x 2.Eighty three x nine.15 inches, it’s approximately as big as an Xbox One. For a laptop-grade gaming machine, it’s lighter and slimmer than most gaming PCs available on the market. It can also sit down horizontally or vertically, depending on preference.
The Trident three runs on an eighth Gen Intel i7-8700 processor and an Nvidia GTX 1070 graphics card,
that’s sufficient electricity for gambling 1080p games with ease.
For a decrease fee tag, you could additionally get configurations with an Nvidia GTX 1060 or 1050 snap shots card.
The PC comes with 16GB of reminiscence,
a 256GB Solid State Drive and a 1TB tough power, that is sufficient garage and reminiscence for gameplay and multitasking with Windows 10.
MSI’s proprietary cooling device means that when the PC is going for walks, its fans are practically silent.
But what’s most handy approximately the MSI Trident three Arctic is its the front-going through VR port, which makes plugging in VR headsets clean.
The most effective disadvantage is that the PC desires a quite clunky external power adapter to paintings. But that aside, the MSI Trident 3 Arctic is a vastly powerful VR gaming PC in a tiny, silent package.
Best Value: ASUS VivoMini PC
The ASUS VivoMini has lengthy been a staple of the mini PC marketplace and for very good purpose. For home computing, the ASUS strikes an attractive stability between overall performance and price.
Powered by using a 7th-technology Intel i5 processor,
the computer can also add up to 16GB of one by one-purchased RAM and any 2.5 inch sizeable SSD.
Installing greater additives isn’t for all people, however the end result is really worth the time involved. That’s even truer while you bear in mind the ASUS’ integrated 4K UHD graphics, built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.Zero.
Two the front-established USB ports include speedy charging for quickly powering up portable gadgets,
and the four-in-one card reader presents yet every other option for media downloads.
The five.1 x 5.1 x 2-inch footprint is exceptionally compact,
and the VESA assist for wall mounting makes it an appropriate media system.
ASUS even saw in shape to consist of their media streaming applications and Remote Go! Apps for reinforcing its leisure skills. It’s smooth to attach the VivoMini to your HDTV the usage of HDMI input or DisplayPort++ connectivity.
Best for Business: HP ProDesk 400
If you’re on the hunt for a succesful mini PC for business, the HP ProDesk 400 is an tremendous option. Packed with an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, the HP won’t buckle under stress. If you require even extra electricity, the ProDesk adds bays and 1/2-top slots for expandable garage or more RAM.
At 6.Sixty nine x 13.3 x 10.Seventy nine inches in size, the laptop without difficulty fits beneath or on the aspect of a desk. A overall of 8 USB ports between the back and front means there’s masses of inputs for a couple of video display units.
As an investment for a small commercial enterprise, the HP is designed to keep up for extra than a hundred and twenty,000 hours of use.
“Sure Click “ era protects in opposition to malware and viruses keeping both records and purchaser statistics comfortable,
and HP’s purchaser supervisor is likewise included to defend towards any statistics robbery.
Finally, HP Biosphere ensures which you’re constantly up to date with automated updates and safety assessments.
Best Kit: Intel NUC8 Mini PC Kit
If you aren’t cast off by the glowing skull, Intel’s NUC8 mini PC kit is a excellent do-it-your self alternative. The smallest NUC (Next Unit of Computing) Intel has ever created, it’s additionally the most powerful.
Inside the compact hardware rests an 8th-technology Intel i7 processor with Radeon RX Vega M images with 4GB of dedicated reminiscence.
This package is powerful enough for even hardcore PC game enthusiasts,
so it’s greater than capable of managing everyday tactics like multitasking, streaming 4K video, or video enhancing.
There’s even assist for up to 6 4K or 5K monitors with a variety of HDMI, Thunderbolt, USB and DisplayPort inputs.
As a do-it-yourself kit, getting the maximum out of this machine requires a touch greater legwork. There’s assist for up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, but it have to be purchased separately. The equal goes for stable-country storage, that’s effortlessly installed after eliminating a few screws.
If you aren’t fearful of a little assembly, the NUC8 has a prevailing aggregate of strength and rate that makes it a first-rate alternative for do-it-yourself sorts.