Large high-performance desktops are nonetheless widespread — particularly for gaming — however as part sizes shrink, so do the computer systems that include them. Mini desktop PCs like those on this checklist supply 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 anyplace.
That makes the very best mini PCs compelling choices for these of us dwelling in smaller flats or working from house with out a devoted workplace area, or for college students sharing rooms the place area is at a premium. As a substitute of you having to seek 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 whilst you’re net searching (Apple’s Mac Mini attracts solely about 8 watts). That is loads lower than the 250-watt drain you may discover with a typical desktop PC.
The smaller measurement does imply most fashions haven’t got 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, net searching, 4K video playback and photograph modifying in skilled apps like Adobe Lightroom. The extra high-spec fashions are even in a position to easily edit 4K video in Adobe Premiere or deal with demanding video games like Elden Ring.
What’s the greatest 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. Nevertheless it’s additionally the costliest, at greater than double the value of others on this checklist. So although it is the very best from a efficiency perspective, it won’t be the very best on your price range.
The Geekom AS6 gives a greater stability of efficiency and worth, with sufficient efficiency to deal with photograph modifying, gentle gaming and informal video modifying however at a way more accessible value than the Mac Mini.
In case you’re merely after a machine to deal with your each day house workplace duties, net searching or to behave as a media heart to hook as much as your TV, the AceMagician delivered first rate ends in our exams, and it is the most cost effective mannequin on this checklist.
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 Word: Shorter bars equal higher efficiency
Common energy utilization throughout net searching Apple Mac Mini 8 Geekom AS6 50 AceMagician AMR5 40 AceMagician AM08 Professional 35 GMKTec Nucbox K1 50 Word: Shorter bars equal higher efficiency
How we take a look at mini PCs
All gadgets on this checklist have been examined by us, with our personal honest fingers. All producer’s claims have been put to the take a look at to see in the event that they lived as much as their promise.
Every mannequin has undergone a set 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 (by way of Steam) at varied high quality settings in addition to much less demanding video games like Dredge. We examined the PCs whereas net searching, taking part in YouTube movies and dealing in Google Docs.
We edited high-resolution uncooked photographs 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 take a look at video mission in 4K.
We additionally plugged every mannequin in to the ability outlet by way of an influence meter, noting how a lot energy every mannequin used throughout totally different duties, permitting us to touch upon the effectivity of every machine.