by Small spaces require small devices. This is where mini PCs come in handy, seeing you through your PC needs without taking up too much space. Setting up a desktop PC, after all, takes up some space: above the computer itself, you need to have a file monitor and all other necessary accessories. And sometimes, you have to minimize where you can. These machines are also much more portable than a traditional PC, so if you need to take it with you to work or on a business trip with a portable monitorit’s not so much of a hassle.
However, don’t take the word “mini” to mean “underpowered.” Instead, thanks to advances made by manufacturers, components are now smaller but more capable and energy efficient. So whether you’re installing a work PC in your small flat, a content creation machine in your newly minted custom van, or a gaming computers inside your 18-wheeler truck you’ll find the ideal mini PC to suit your needs. Check out our top picks.
TL; DR – These are the best Mini PCs of 2022:
MiniForum Elitemini X500
Best Mini PC ever
The MinisForum Elitemini X500 ticks the right boxes as it is affordable yet powerful, palm sized yet thermally efficient. Powering everything is a blazingly fast AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with AMD Radeon graphics, so this PC is ready to take on some demanding demands, including gaming. The 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage match that processor perfectly and should be enough for the average user, making him an expert at multitasking.
While you’re stuck with the CPU, the MinisForum Elitemini X500 is very upgradable, thanks to dual DDR4 slots for boosting memory up to 64GB, along with an M.2 2242 SATA SSD slot, a 2.5-inch HDD slot, and a SD card slot for additional storage. Beyond that, this machine packs tons of connectivity, including dual 4K 60Hz display output via HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort for connecting multiple monitors. However, we’re slightly disappointed with the lack of USB-C.
Corsair One i300
Best Mini PC for gaming
While the Corsair One i300 isn’t quite as compact as our top option, it tops the list in terms of performance. In fact, it might be overkill for some gamers with a beastly Intel Core i9-12900K processor and Nvidia RTX 3080Ti GPUs. And to ensure your games keep running smoothly and load quickly, there’s a whopping 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. There are no demanding graphics PC game that this mini rig cannot conquer at the highest settings, modern AAA games a 4K resolutions included.
Even with all that power behind you, you still get a PC that is shorter than most regular sizes gaming keyboards. The Corsair One i300 also remains relatively quiet, with liquid cooling, while a high-airflow fan exhaust pushes all heat through the top like a chimney. To top it off there’s a handful of peripheral ports and customizable RGB lighting, giving you that classic gamer aesthetic.
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q Tiny Gen 3
Best Mini PC for business
Lenovo is a master at building business machines, so it’s no surprise that the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q Tiny Gen 3 earns our vote for the best mini PC for work. It’s compact, lightweight, and durable, so you can throw it in your bag to go to and from work, or even travel. Naturally, you get security protocols, including a TPM 2.0 chip for password encryption, BIOS-based Smart USB protection to deter unauthorized users, and a Kensington lock slot for good measure.
In addition to ultra-portability and extensive security, the ThinkCentre M90q Tiny Gen 3 is a high-performance machine thanks to a 12th generation Intel Core i5 chip paired with 8GB of memory, ensuring it passes through all your work. But if you want to upgrade it RAM to something beefier or add more SSDs storage, both slots are easily accessible and ready for expansion. And this rig also comes with tons of ports for connecting up to four displays and additional peripherals.
Apple Mac Studio
Best Mini PC for Content Creators
The Mac Studio M1 Ultra is a content creator’s dream, and at its core are the two M1 Max chips that Apple has dubbed the M1 Ultra. With it, you get a 20-core CPU, 48-core GPU, and 32-core neural engine, along with 64GB of memory and 1TB of storage. Therefore, offering a machine powerful enough to stream up to 18 8K ProRes videos and support five displays, although if that’s too much for you, M1 Max configurations are also available.
As well as being one of the fastest and smoothest machines out there, it’s also small enough to fit in a carry-on – a detail that nomadic creative professionals can appreciate. And while it’s compact, you still have all the ports you could possibly need, including four Thunderbolt 4 in the back, two USB-A and an SDXC reader. However, with all these features comes a hefty price tag, and you won’t be able to upgrade its internals like many of the other machines on this list, not that you need to.
Asus Chrome Box 4
Best Mini PC for Students
If you are a student living in a dorm and are short on space, a mini PC can be useful, especially for those who prefer a desktop computer to a laptop computer. The light and compact Asus Chromebox 4 is a great solution, it fits easily on a desk or in a school backpack. Thrifty students will also love a price tag that hovers around $300, which also includes a mouse and keyboard.
More than convenient and portable, this ChromeOS-based PC is secure and doesn’t require excessive power, allowing users to research, write documents and stream movies when they take a break from studying. Support for up to three 4K displays via the dual HDMI and USB-C ports can also come in handy. But if you’re doing more graphics-heavy tasks like video editing or gaming, you might want to pick up something with a little more oomph and storage under the hood.
Acer Chromebox CXI4
Chrome’s best box
More powerful than most Chromebooks out there, the ChromeOS-based Acer Chromebox CXI4 is fantastic for home, work, and school use, as well as mobile gaming. Despite several generations behind it, the Intel Core i7-10610U processor is still a solid option. And when you combine that CPU with 16GB of RAM, it can outperform almost anything you throw at it.
Acer Chromebox CXI4 is great for casual users, but it’s even better for professionals who can maximize its features. You get support for up to three external displays, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1, along with a decent number of peripheral ports. While it’s already extremely compact and weighs less than two pounds, you can save even more space by using this rig’s multiple mounting options by attaching it to things like a monitor stand.
Intel NUC 12 extreme
The best Mini Barebone PC
PC builders and DIYers will instantly fall in love with the next level Intel NUC 12 Extreme. This barebones setup leaves plenty of room for customizations without forcing you to start over. It starts with a high-end 12th Generation Intel Core processor, a mini PC case, the latest ports, the latest connectivity standards, and three 92mm fans to keep everything cool.
However, this modular mini PC leaves the rest to your discretion, so a monstrous RAM of up to 64GB can be pre-installed, while three M.2 slots leave plenty of room for you to add SSD storage. It also contains a PCIe Gen5 slot for a discrete GPUs and customizable RGB lighting if you’re building a gaming PC. But remember that all those customizations don’t come cheap and things shrink quickly, so think about what components you absolutely need before you buy.
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Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance travel and technology writer, part-time production editor, and full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently divides her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
