Best Mini PC Reviews 2021

The compact size of a mini PC may lead you to believe that they are an inexpensive range of machines, but the fact is that some of the best ones available can cost a fair bit more than a high-end desktop. Of course, the market is flooded with cheap mini PCs, but if its performance and longevity that you’re looking for, these will probably disappoint you at some point. That said, the price of a mini PC depends on several factors, most notably its configuration and features. For example, a mini PC with 500GB of storage and 16GB of RAM is going to cost a few dollars more than one equipped with a 32GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM.

But if you plan to just view pictures and listen to media files, the latter configuration should be a good fit. The brand of a mini PC could also spike its price, where leading names such as Apple and Asus ring in with higher price tags than brands that are unheard of, but you get what you pay for. Furthermore, some mini PCs come with a hard drive and RAM, aka fully loaded, while others include just the case, motherboard and processor, hence, are typically far cheaper. To give you a rough idea, prices of mini PCs range between $150 and $450+ for a machine with almost all the bells and whistles.

Mini PCs can be ordered in several different configurations and with several different features, some that are essential to your computing needs and others you will never use.

Listed below are some of the common aspects to consider when choosing a mini PC from the several options available.

• Barebones vs. Ready-to-go – Barebones mini PCs come with just the basics, such as case, motherboard and processor, whereas ready-to-go are fully loaded with hard drive, RAM, etc.
• Hard Drive – The capacity of a hard drive in GB (gigabytes) will determine the storage space you can enjoy.
• RAM – Acronym for random access memory, RAM is calculated in GB (gigabytes) and is a mini PC’s working memory. The higher the number, the more heavy-duty tasks you can run without any hiccups.
• Graphics – Also referred to as video cards, integrated graphics cards are responsible for rendering images on your display, and the higher the number, the better the image quality.
• Processor – Dubbed the brain of the computer, the processor performs the necessary calculations to make the mini PC work.
• Peripherals – These include keyboard, mouse, etc., and buying a mini PC that comes with these works out to be more cost efficient than buying them separately.
• Operating System – This is the software that runs the mini PC, and common options include MAC OS, Windows and Chrome.
• Warranty – Most manufacturers offer a minimum of one year warranty on important components such as motherboard and processor.

Mini PCs are basically similar in shape to small lunch boxes and can be ordered in barebones
(mini PC kits) and preconfigured models that are ready to go right out of the box. Barebones models come with a tiny chassis that is fitted with a motherboard, and in most cases, wireless connectivity is built in. To complete them, you will have to shop around for RAM modules and storage drive and install a copy of the compatible OS, such as Windows. One thing to note is that the parts for a mini PC are ones that you would typically find in a laptop, not desktop, hence, will cost a bit more if you were to go with the barebones model of mini PC. The storage of a mini PC varies across the spectrum, where the most common are solid state hard drives, aka SSD.

Buying a barebones kit mini PC is ideal for those looking to reuse old computer parts or buy specific parts, or even those who’d like to start from scratch. Preconfigured mini PC systems are easy to set up, and most come with the OS preinstalled, so all you need to do is plug and play. On the downside, they offer limited configuration options, since you have to live with the components that come with the package. Most mini PCs depend on basic grade integrated graphics, but others come with a video card. In terms of mountability, several high-end mini PC models come with mounting kits that allow you to seamlessly connect them to the back of a monitor. If you’re looking for added space efficiency, check the back of your monitor for mounting holes to host the mini PC.

For connectivity, some mini PCs offer wireless networking of some type, such as 802.11 Wi-Fi, and others step it up a few notches by also adding Bluetooth connectivity to the mix. With regards to CPU power, Atom chips are the very basic in this segment and are ideal for simple productivity work, such as emailing or web browsing. But if you need a surge in horsepower to run intensive tasks, your best bet is to buy a mini PC with a Core I5 processor at the very least. Mini PCs, owing to their space crunching design, are fitted with a mini HDMI to connect to your monitor, so your display does support this type of connectivity. Unlike tower PCs, mini PCs offer a limited number of upgrade options, most notably due to the limited number of slots on the motherboard and physical room in the chassis to fit them.