Large high-performance desktops are nonetheless widespread — particularly for gaming — however as element sizes shrink, so do the computer systems that comprise them. Mini desktop PCs like those on this record provide efficiency sufficient for many house workplace duties, and a few permit for extra demanding gaming and video manufacturing, but most are sufficiently small to truly match nearly wherever.
That makes the most effective mini PCs compelling choices for these of us residing in smaller flats or working from house with no devoted workplace house, or for college kids sharing rooms the place house is at a premium. As an alternative of you having to search out room for an enormous tower, these tiny issues can sit unnoticed in your desk, hidden on a close-by bookshelf and even mounted behind your monitor solely out of view.
In addition they use considerably much less energy, with most drawing round 30 to 40 watts when you’re internet searching (Apple’s Mac Mini attracts solely about 8 watts). That is lots lower than the 250-watt drain you may discover with a typical desktop PC.
The smaller dimension does imply most fashions do not have the uncooked energy anticipated from full-sized desktops, however all fashions examined listed below are greater than able to dealing with on a regular basis workplace duties, internet searching, 4K video playback and picture modifying in skilled apps like Adobe Lightroom. The extra high-spec fashions are even capable of easily edit 4K video in Adobe Premiere or deal with demanding video games like Elden Ring.
What’s the finest mini PC general?
Apple’s Mac Mini with M2 Professional chip topped our exams, managing to be probably the most highly effective possibility, but it additionally used the least quantity of vitality in on a regular basis use. It is one thing of a tiny powerhouse, casually munching by way of our 4K video modifying mission and exporting the ultimate file in lower than half the time of any others we examined. However it’s additionally the most costly, at greater than double the value of others on this record. So although it is the most effective from a efficiency perspective, it won’t be the most effective on your price range.
The Geekom AS6 provides a greater stability of efficiency and worth, with sufficient efficiency to deal with picture modifying, mild gaming and informal video modifying however at a way more accessible value than the Mac Mini.
If you happen to’re merely after a machine to deal with your each day house workplace duties, internet searching or to behave as a media middle to hook as much as your TV, the AceMagician delivered first rate leads to our exams, and it is the most cost effective mannequin on this record.
Finest mini PCs 2023
Time taken to export 4K video from Premiere Apple Mac Mini 7:03 Geekom AS6 16:17 AceMagician AMR5 26:09 AceMagician AM08 Professional 25:20 GMKTec Nucbox K1 35:45 Be aware: Shorter bars equal higher efficiency
Common energy utilization throughout internet searching Apple Mac Mini 8 Geekom AS6 50 AceMagician AMR5 40 AceMagician AM08 Professional 35 GMKTec Nucbox K1 50 Be aware: Shorter bars equal higher efficiency
How we check mini PCs
All objects on this record have been examined by us, with our personal honest fingers. All producer’s claims have been put to the check to see in the event that they lived as much as their promise.
Every mannequin has undergone a collection of benchmark exams together with a number of runs of Geekbench 6 and 3DMark Wild Life Excessive. We examined gaming utilizing demanding titles like Elden Ring (through Steam) at varied high quality settings in addition to much less demanding video games like Dredge. We examined the PCs whereas internet searching, enjoying YouTube movies and dealing in Google Docs.
We edited high-resolution uncooked photos in Adobe Lightroom CC and edited 4K movies in Premiere Professional. We famous the final responsiveness of every interface, and we timed how lengthy it took to export our check video mission in 4K.
We additionally plugged every mannequin in to the ability outlet through an influence meter, noting how a lot energy every mannequin used throughout completely different duties, permitting us to touch upon the effectivity of every machine.