What is the best mini PC?

If you mean the best mini PC overall in 2026, my pick is the Mac mini M4 for most people. It remains the top overall recommendation in current testing, thanks to its excellent performance, tiny 5×5-inch footprint, low noise, and efficiency.

Apple Mac mini M4

$1,049.99

My picks by use case

Beelink SER8

$799.00

Minisforum MS-S1 MAX

$2,599.00

GMKtec EVO-X2

$1,499.99

If you want Windows, I'd lean toward the Beelink SER8 for a normal desktop. It has the Ryzen 7 8845HS, Radeon 780M graphics, and upgradeable DDR5/SSD, making it a much more flexible choice than the Mac mini.

If you want the absolute most powerful mini PC, the newer Ryzen AI Max+ 395 machines are in another class. They can be configured with up to 128GB of unified memory and are particularly interesting for local AI, heavy development, and demanding workloads.

If you tell me your budget (e.g. $300, $500, $1,000) and whether you want Windows, gaming, office work, Plex, or AI, I can narrow it down to the single best model.

The right mini PC for you depends entirely on your workload, budget, and preference for macOS versus Windows. Tech reviewers and testing labs highlight a few standout compact desktops for different needs.

Top Mini PC Recommendations

• Best Windows Value : Widely considered one of the top overall values for a Windows machine, offering excellent speed and robust connectivity for under $400.

• Strong Internals : Driven by the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS processor with snappy Radeon 760M graphics.

• High Expandability : Features dual M.2 Gen 4 SSD slots and supports up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM, making it incredibly easy to upgrade over time.

• Rich Ports : Packed with dual 2.5Gb Ethernet LAN ports, a full-featured USB4 port, HDMI, and DisplayPort.

• Best macOS Option : Unmatched in thermal design and raw efficiency for Apple ecosystems.

• Silent & Compact : Expert reviews from platforms like TechRadar praise its incredibly small footprint and its ability to run virtually silent even under sustained heavy loads.

• Base Power : Comes configured with a minimum of 16GB of unified memory out of the box to power everyday multitasking and creative workflows.

• Non-Upgradable : Keep in mind that unlike its Windows competitors, the memory and storage are soldered directly to the board and cannot be modified after purchase.

• Best Premium All-Rounder : Built with a sleek, unvented metal chassis that dampens sound for near-silent 32dB operation.

• Elite Productivity : Powered by the heavy-hitting AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (or 8745HS variant) paired with a massive 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD.

• Excellent Cooling : Uses an advanced vapor chamber cooling system and high-density bottom dust filter to prevent thermal throttling.

• Best Intel Pick : Regarded by PCMag and Windows Central as a top-tier alternative to old Intel NUC designs, perfect for programming and complex multitasking.

• Workstation Power : Equipped with a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13600H processor.

• Massive Screen Real Estate : Supports up to triple 8K displays or quad 4K monitor setups via dual USB4 and dual HDMI ports.

To help point you toward the exact right fit, what will you primarily use this mini PC for? If you plan on gaming, video editing , or setting up a home server , let me know so I can narrow down the perfect hardware configuration for you!

The top mini PCs balance incredible space-saving footprints with desktop-class performance, led by top picks from Apple and Geekom . If you need an incredibly fast, silent, and highly polished machine, the Apple Mac mini M4 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. is the definitive best option for most users. For those who prefer a Windows environment, the Geekom A9 Max Go to product viewer dialog for this item. dominates the space as the premier high-performance choice.

The best mini PCs are categorized below by use case:

Best Overall Mini PCs

• Apple Mac mini M4 : The absolute best option for most people, featuring front-facing USB-C ports, an incredibly tiny chassis, and silent operation. It delivers phenomenal performance and exceptional value for office tasks, daily workflows, and creative endeavors like 4K video editing.
• Geekom A9 Max : The premier Windows choice if you require desktop-replacement speeds. It combines a premium, Mac-mini-sized physical footprint with a hyper-powerful CPU and robust connectivity options, though it does run louder under heavy loads.

Best Performance & Workstation Picks

Add to list An elite premium tier machine utilizing a high-end AMD Ryzen HX370 CPU paired with blazing-fast 32GB LPDDR5X RAM . According to hardware reviewers at YouTube , it boasts class-leading low fan noise, advanced cooling, and stellar performance in heavy coding or design workloads.

Add to list Highly regarded by tech experts as a reliable business powerhouse, built for demanding commercial environments and multitasking professionals.

Best Gaming & Creative Mini PCs

Add to list A true dedicated gaming rig packed into an ultra-compact footprint. It marries top-tier mobile processors with fierce standalone laptop graphics cards (like the RTX 5070 Ti) to deliver genuine desktop-rivaling frame rates and an excellent selection of peripheral ports.

Add to list A massive favorite across TechRadar's review indexes, blending a minimalistic, compact design with a highly capable midrange Ryzen processor that handles everyday productivity and casual esports gaming easily.

Best Budget Options

Add to list Handpicked by PCMag as the top entry-level Windows value choice . It crams competitive multi-core productivity speeds and generous I/O configurations into a budget-friendly layout.

Add to list A highly functional everyday performer that features dual Ethernet ports and multi-monitor 4K support. It serves beautifully as a casual media machine or a low-cost home networking server.

To recommend the single best model for your desk, tell me a bit more about what you need:

• What is your target budget?
• What primary tasks will you run (e.g., standard office typing, gaming, or editing)?
• Do you prefer a Windows or macOS operating system?

If you mean the best mini PC overall right now, my pick depends on whether you want Windows or macOS:

🏆 Best overall: Apple Mac mini M4

Apple Mac mini M4

$999.00

The M4 Mac mini is still the safest all-around recommendation. It's extremely fast for its size, quiet, power-efficient, and excellent for everyday work, programming, photo/video work, and general productivity. Current expert roundups continue to rank it at or near the top of the mini-PC category.

Get the M4 if: you don't need Windows and want the least-fussy, best-value premium mini desktop.

🪟 Best Windows mini PC: Minisforum AI X1 Pro

Minisforum AI X1 Pro-370

$764.00

For Windows, I'd look closely at the Minisforum AI X1 Pro with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. It has a powerful 12-core/24-thread CPU, Radeon 890M graphics, 80-TOPS NPU, and unusually good connectivity/upgrade potential. The barebones version is currently around $764 in the product results I found.

🚀 Best high-end: Ryzen AI Max+ 395

GMKtec EVO-X2 AI Mini PC

$3,649.99

If money isn't a major concern and you want serious integrated graphics or local AI, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 class is in another league. The EVO-X2 uses the 395 with Radeon 8060S graphics; it's essentially a tiny workstation rather than a basic mini PC.

Quick ranking

If you tell me your budget (e.g. $300, $500, $1,000) and what you'll use it for—gaming, Plex, office, AI, video editing, etc.—I can narrow it down to the single best one.

The “best” mini PC depends on what you want it for. There isn’t one winner, but these are the strongest choices right now:

My quick recommendations:

• $300–$600: Get a Ryzen-based Beelink, Minisforum, or GMKtec model. These give the best value for browsing, office work, media servers, coding, and light gaming.
• $600–$1,000: Look at Ryzen 7/9 HS-series systems or Apple Mac mini M4. This is the sweet spot.
• $1,000+: Only spend this much if you need gaming, AI, video editing, or workstation performance.

If I had to pick one for most people, I’d choose:

• Mac mini M4 if you’re fine with macOS.
• Beelink SER8/SER9-class Ryzen mini PC if you want Windows and upgrade flexibility.

If you tell me your budget and use case (office, gaming, Plex/server, coding, AI, photo/video editing, living-room PC), I can narrow it to a specific model.

The "best" mini PC depends entirely on what you plan to use it for—whether that is general office work, heavy media editing, gaming, or a tiny home server.

Top-performing mini PCs are categorized below by use case:

• Best Overall (Windows): GEEKOM A9 Max Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / Geekom Mini IT13 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  Powered by high-end AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processors, these models offer an incredible balance of raw processing power, robust port selections (including USB4 and multiple HDMI outputs), quiet thermal performance, and upgradable RAM/storage. They easily handle intensive daily multitasking and light creative workloads.
• Best Overall (macOS): Apple Mac mini (M4)Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  If you are in the Apple ecosystem, the M4-powered Apple Mac mini is an absolute powerhouse in an amazingly tiny footprint. It starts at an affordable entry price, runs completely silent, handles everyday tasks effortlessly, and punches way above its weight class for casual video editing and general computing.
• Best Value / Mid-Range: GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or GEEKOM A6 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  Equipped with capable AMD Ryzen chips (like the Ryzen 5 7640HS or Ryzen 7 6800H) and integrated Radeon graphics, these units deliver fantastic performance for everyday office work, media streaming, and light esports or retro emulation gaming at a much friendlier price point.
• Best for Gaming & Power Users: Minisforum AtomMan G1 Pro Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Asus ROG NUC Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  If you need real graphical horsepower, standard integrated graphics won't cut it. High-end gaming mini PCs pack dedicated laptop-class or low-profile discrete graphics cards (such as Nvidia RTX series chips), letting you comfortably play modern games at 1080p or 1440p without a massive desktop tower.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, tell me:

• What is your budget range?
• What specific tasks will you use it for (e.g., web browsing, 4K video editing, gaming, running a Plex server)?
• Do you prefer Windows or macOS?

The best mini PC depends completely on your specific computing needs and preferred operating system. The Apple Mac mini (M4)Go to product viewer dialog for this item. stands out as the ultimate choice for most general users due to its near-silent operation and excellent price-to-performance ratio, while the Geekom A9 Max Go to product viewer dialog for this item. is widely recognized as the premier premium choice for Windows users.

The top mini PCs available are organized below by category:

Best Overall Options

• Features the highly efficient Apple M4 or M4 Pro chip.

• Operates almost completely silent even during demanding tasks.

• Includes convenient front-facing USB-C ports.

• Note that RAM and storage are completely soldered and non-upgradeable.

• Voted the top premium Windows mini PC by expert testers at PCMag.

• Features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and robust Radeon 890M integrated graphics.

• Housed in a clean, all-metal chassis with excellent physical port selections.

• Delivers highly responsive 1080p video editing and multi-tasking capabilities.

Best Performance & Workstation Options

• Serves as a great desktop replacement for business environments.

• Offers excellent multitasking capabilities and premium components.

• Fully accessible interior makes it easy to manually upgrade storage and memory.

• Specifically optimized as a compact workstation for local AI development.

• Powered by the robust AMD Ryzen AI Max+ processor.

• Configurable with up to an immense 128GB of unified memory.

Best Gaming & Budget Options

• Built explicitly for serious gaming with a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU.

• Delivers actual desktop-rivaling frame rates in an ultra-compact footprint.

• Features high-end connectivity and customizable RGB accent lighting.

• Identified by tech reviewers as a highly cost-effective budget option.

• Utilizes a highly capable AMD Ryzen 7 processor with Radeon 680M graphics.

• Easily drives multiple high-resolution displays via integrated USB4 and HDMI outputs.

To narrow down the best machine for your desk, tell me:

• What is your primary use case ? (Office work, AAA gaming, video editing, or building a home lab?)
• Do you have a strict operating system preference between Windows and macOS?
• What is your target budget range?

The "best" mini PC depends on what you want to do with it, but these are the strongest choices right now:

Best overall for most people

Minisforum AI X1 Pro

$1,362.49

Why it's a great pick:

• Excellent AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor
• Fast Radeon 890M integrated graphics (good for light gaming)
• Quiet operation
• USB4 and OCuLink support for adding an external GPU later
• Great for productivity, programming, photo editing, and everyday use

It's consistently rated among the top premium Windows mini PCs by reviewers.

Best value

Beelink SER8

$889.00

This offers outstanding performance for the money:

• Ryzen 7 8745HS
• 32GB RAM
• Fast SSD
• Excellent thermals
• Usually hundreds less than flagship models

Ideal for office work, coding, media consumption, and light creative work.

Best if you're in the Apple ecosystem

If you use an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook, the Apple Mac mini (M4) remains the easiest recommendation. It offers:

• Outstanding CPU performance
• Extremely low power consumption
• Silent operation
• Excellent video editing performance
• Long software support

It remains one of the highest-rated mini PCs overall.

Best gaming mini PC

For serious gaming, reviewers consistently recommend the ASUS ROG NUC, thanks to its dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics rather than relying on integrated graphics. It can play modern AAA games at high settings, something most mini PCs cannot.

My recommendations by budget

If you tell me:

• your budget,
• whether you use Windows or macOS,
• and what you'll primarily do (gaming, programming, office work, video editing, AI, etc.),

I can narrow it down to the single best mini PC for your specific needs.

The "best" mini PC depends on what you want to do with it. Here are the top choices by category based on recent expert reviews and current models.

Best overall (Windows)

GEEKOM A9 Max AI Mini PC

$1,719.00

This is one of the strongest all-around mini PCs available, with:

• AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor
• Radeon 890M integrated graphics (excellent for an iGPU)
• 32 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD
• Quiet operation and plenty of ports

It's ideal for programming, productivity, photo editing, light 4K video editing, and moderate gaming.

Best value

Beelink SER8

$779.00

If you want excellent performance without spending over $1,000, the SER8 is consistently recommended. It handles:

• Office work
• Software development
• Media server duties
• Light gaming
• Multiple 4K displays

It offers one of the best price-to-performance ratios.

Best Mac mini

Apple Mac mini (M4)

$999.99

Choose this if you're in the Apple ecosystem. It offers:

• Outstanding CPU performance
• Extremely low power consumption
• Nearly silent operation
• Excellent support for creative software

It's hard to beat for developers, photographers, video editors, and general productivity.

Best gaming mini PC

If gaming is your priority, reviewers overwhelmingly recommend the ASUS ROG NUC because it includes a dedicated NVIDIA RTX GPU rather than relying on integrated graphics. That makes it much faster for modern AAA games.

My recommendations

• Best overall for most people: GEEKOM A9 Max
• Best budget: Beelink SER8
• Best macOS: Apple Mac mini (M4)
• Best gaming: ASUS ROG NUC
• Best for home server/Proxmox: Minisforum or Beelink AMD Ryzen models with expandable RAM and dual Ethernet

If you tell me:

• your budget,
• whether you use Windows, macOS, or Linux,
• and what you'll primarily use it for (gaming, programming, Plex, office work, AI, video editing, etc.),

I can narrow it down to the single best mini PC for your needs.

The absolute best mini PC depends entirely on your specific workload and budget, but the GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC Go to product viewer dialog for this item. stands out as the finest overall value and all-rounder for most users.

The top mini PCs are categorized below by their primary strengths:

🏆 Best All-Rounder & Best Value

Highly praised by reviewers as a sneaky powerhouse. It pairs an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS with Radeon 760M graphics to smoothly handle office multitasking, media creation, and casual gaming. It also features exceptional tool-free expandability for memory and storage.

A fantastic mid-range alternative featuring a robust aluminum chassis and excellent quad-4K display connectivity, making it a reliable daily driver for home offices.

⚡ Best Premium Windows Performance

An absolute beast for raw computing, utilizing an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor with a built-in AI engine. It is ideal for heavy workflows like data science or 8K video editing, supporting up to a massive 128GB of RAM.

A high-end AMD machine featuring innovative liquid metal cooling and a speedy Ryzen 9 processor that handles sustained, demanding creative workloads without thermal throttling.

🍏 Best macOS Option

Celebrated as one of the best compact computers ever built, it delivers unparalleled power efficiency, near-silent operation, and a tiny footprint. Note that its RAM and storage are completely soldered down and cannot be upgraded later.

🎮 Best Extreme Gaming & AI

Built like an ultra-small form factor supercomputer, this premium tier device packs an NVIDIA Blackwell Tensor Core GPU and 128GB of LPDDR5X memory, tailored specifically for extreme local AI development and heavy graphical workloads.

To narrow this down, what will you primarily use the mini PC for? Sharing your budget or if you prefer Windows over macOS would also be incredibly helpful.