Laptops are great if you need portability, but they’re also expensive. You’re paying for a lot of hardware that may not matter if your computer never leaves your desk. Since laptops cram all of their components into a single device, they’re much more expensive to manufacture and ship, especially in today’s economy.
That’s where mini PCs shine. These tiny desktops pack surprisingly powerful hardware into a box that can fit in the palm of your hand, yet they often cost a fraction of the price of a similarly powerful laptop. That means more of your money goes toward the processor, memory, and storage instead of the built-in screen and battery.
The tradeoff, of course, is that you’ll need to supply your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. But if you already have those sitting on your desk—or you’re replacing an aging desktop—that’s hardly a drawback. With that in mind, here are five mini PCs that deliver outstanding value.
This bad boy goes for about half of the price of a laptop with the same components. The GMKtec M6 Ultra retails for $550, but is often on sale. It comes with a Ryzen 5 7640HS processor which is a highly-capable 6-core 12-thread CPU that punches well above its weight with multitasking and AI workloads. The Radeon 760M integrated graphics can even run older AAA games on medium or high settings as well.
Also, the 16GB of DDR5 RAM at this price point is hard to beat—I’ve seen laptops with older DDR4 RAM being sold for way more. And it comes with excellent connectivity including USB4, HDM 2.0, and a DisplayPort for connecting up to three 4K monitors if you want.
If you want a mini PC that can replace a full desktop without breaking the bank, the GEEKOM A6 is a good choice. It packs an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, an 8-core, 16-thread processor that’s powerful enough for demanding productivity work, photo editing, light video editing, and heavy multitasking. On top of that, it comes with 1TB of onboard SSD storage which is very generous considering you typically need to drop quite a bit more to get a laptop with that kind of storage.
The rest of the package is just as impressive. It comes with 16GB of fast DDR5 memory, a speedy PCIe 4.0 SSD, USB4 support, Wi-Fi 6E, and enough ports to drive multiple high-resolution displays. While similarly equipped laptops often cost hundreds more because you’re paying for the built-in display and battery, the A6 puts almost all of your money toward performance instead. It goes for $649 on Amazon, but it’s on sale right now for $100 off.
The KAMRUI Pinova P2 proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a capable everyday computer. Powered by AMD’s modern Ryzen 5 7330U it has plenty of performance for web browsing, office work, video calls, streaming, and light photo editing. It easily outpaces the aging processors still found in many budget laptops, making it an excellent value if your computing needs are more practical than demanding.
The specs are equally solid for the budget-level price. You get 16GB of LPDDR4X memory, a 256GB SSD for fast boot and load times, and support for up to three 4K displays through its good selection of video outputs. The compact design takes up almost no desk space, runs quietly, and uses very little power. It can be found for $340 on Amazon, but I’ve seen it drop below $300 on sale.
The GMKtec M8 hits a sweet spot between price and performance. Its AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H is a fast 6-core, 12-thread processor that has more than enough power for office work, creative projects, programming, and heavy multitasking. The integrated Radeon 660M graphics can even handle some light gaming and the included Oculink port means you can hook up an external GPU to make this into a serious gaming PC if you want.
Where the M8 really stands out is connectivity. It comes with dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, USB4, HDMI, and USB-C. Add in 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a fast 512GB PCIe SSD, and you have a mini PC that outclasses many mid-range laptops selling for much more. The M8 retails for $480 on Amazon, but it’s currently on sale for $390.
If you want the excellent power for your money, the BOSGAME P6 is tough to beat. It packs AMD’s Ryzen 9 6900HX, an 8-core, 16-thread processor that’s built for demanding workloads like video editing, software development, and running tons of applications concurrently. The integrated Radeon 680M graphics are also among the best you’ll find without buying a dedicated graphics card, making this an excellent choice for light gaming as well.
The generous specs continue with 24GB of DDR5 memory and a fast 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, giving you plenty of room for large projects and years of everyday use. It also includes Wi-Fi 6E, dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, and support for up to three 4K displays. Comparable laptops with this level of hardware typically cost way more as they add in premium displays and batteries that jack up the price. The P6 goes for $640 on Amazon, but it’s on sale now for $100 off.
Need an inexpensive monitor to go with your new mini PC? This Acer 23.8-inch display is an affordable option that won’t wipe out your savings from skipping a laptop. It uses an IPS panel for wide viewing angles and accurate colors, has a sharp Full HD resolution, and supports refresh rates up to 120Hz over HDMI for smoother scrolling and everyday use.
It also includes an anti-glare coating, built-in speakers, VESA mount support, and Acer’s suite of eye-care features to reduce eye strain during long work sessions. It’s often available on Amazon for around $100.
The Logitech G203 LightSync is our favorite ultra-budget wired gaming mouse thanks to its comfortable design, sturdy build quality, and 8,000 DPI sensor that’s highly accurate and does well in most gaming scenarios. The G203 goes for $35 on Amazon, but it’s often on sale.
If you’re looking for a wired option, then go for the Razer Viper V3. It’s one of the best wireless mice you can buy without spending a fortune. It weighs a featherlight 82 grams and comes with a 30,000 DPI optical sensor for ultra accuracy and tracking. It connects over a 2.4GHz wireless and runs on a single AA battery. While it typically retails for $70, it’s down to $50 right now.
A mechanical keyboard is one of the easiest ways to make your desk setup feel better every day, and the Keychron C3 Pro delivers far more than you’d expect for the price. This 80 percent keyboard saves desk space and the tactile Super Brown switches offer really satisfying feedback without being overly loud. The C3 Pro can be had for $55 on Amazon, but it can dip as low as $45.
If you want something more for gaming or space is at a premium, then the G.Skill KM250 is a great choice. Its 65 percent layout keeps the arrow keys while trimming the number pad and function row, making for an ultra compact footprint. It also comes with hot-swappable switches, customizable RGB lightning, and solid build quality. The KM250 goes for $45 on Amazon, but I usually see it go on sale for $35.
Author: Sam Singleton
Source: PCWorld
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
