How Much Does a Mini PC Cost? A Comprehensive Guide

Gone are the days when great computing performance was only associated with gargantuan desktop PC cases. Today’s models feature small, yet very capable computers named mini PCs. These small computers can do everything from Internet browsing and office work to casual gaming, home entertainment, and digital signage.

There are many advantages to opting for a mini PC. Unlike laptops, mini PCs have all the ports needed to connect multiple monitors. Additionally, they feature other peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, and webcam. A majority of them also have VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) mounting options, so you can hide them behind the monitor or under the desk. You don’t need a specific office desk for the mini PC. Did we forget to mention the convenience of the small size?

With the small size, one may assume it comes with a big price tag. While some models are costly, there are affordable options with great features. Here’s a comprehensive guide discussing the cost of mini PC costs and the best brands in the market.

1. Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Price: $153 at Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: 1.5GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A72
• RAM: Choice of 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB.
• Ports and connectivity: dual micro HDMI ports, dual-monitor support (up to 4K), Bluetooth, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet

While many mini PCs have DIY capabilities that give users options to add their preferred RAM, hard drive (HDD), and operating system (OS), the Raspberry Pi is fully DIY. In fact, this latest barebone model is small but incredibly versatile. You can use it as a basic desktop, retro gaming emulation console, and media server, among other things! It’s also unique in that it can run both Linux and non-Linux operating systems (OSes) alike. The best feature about this mini PC: the cost!

2. Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny Desktop

Price: $818 at Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: Six-core Intel Core 15-10400T
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256 GB M.2 PCIe SSD
• Front ports: USB-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, Headphones, Line-in
• Rear ports: USB 3.2 Type-A, Display port, one HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, Headphone jack, Microphone jack.
• Expansion: One NVME M.2 slot, Two DDR4 RAM slots, M.2 Wi-Fi card, Optional 2.5-inch SATA drive bay
• Wireless: Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi6

While Lenovo has produced several ThinkCentre mini PCs, including the M90q Tiny and M80q Tiny, the M720q Tiny offers the best value of money when you consider its features. This unit is best known for exemplary performance, a reasonably quiet fan, lots of ports, and easy upgradability, making it the ultimate mini PC for office work and business.

3. Apple Mac Mini (M1, 2020)

Price: $685 at Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: Apple M1 (8 cores)
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256 GB SSD
• Ports and connectivity: Two USB 3.2 Type-A (rear), Two Thunderbolt4 (rear), one HDMI, Headphones, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6.

If you’re a fan of macOS, the Mac Mini is a solid option. Actually, it’s one of Apple’s first PCs to step away from using Intel chips, and it comes with a surprising amount of power. It can take on more expensive Intel core i5 and core i3 systems and come out the victor.

Indeed, for your everyday web browsing and general use, a Mac Mini with 8 GB RAM is good enough for the job, but if you want to use yours for more complex tasks like app development or video editing, consider one with 16GB RAM.

But, one of the downsides to the Mac Mini is that it’s not very upgradable. For example, its memory cannot go above 16 GB, and you can’t upgrade the 8 GB model to 16. Other than that, it’s a good value for money when you consider all its other impressive features.

4. Azulle Access3

Price: $194.99 at Walmart

Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Celeron N4100
• Memory: 4GB RAM
• Storage: 64 GB (eMMc storage)
• Geekbench 4 score: 4,541
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet

The Azulle Access 3 is the ultimate stick PC. It’s small enough to fit in your pockets but powerful enough to drive 4k video output. However, when compared to most other stick PCs, it has speedier USB 3.0 ports, a faster processor, and it also adds Gigabit Ethernet for better connectivity and performance. Whether you’re looking to watch your favorite Netflix shows, play your home theater, or power your commercial digital signage solutions, you cannot go wrong with this tiny fanless PC.

5. CHUWI Herobox

Price: $229 at Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: Intel n4500 (Dual-Core)
• RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Graphics coprocessor: Intel UHD Graphics 600
• Ports and connectivity: USB 2.0 (x2),USB 3.0 (x2), USB Type-C, VGA, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Dual-Band Wi-Fi (802.11 ac).

If you’re looking for an affordable tiny mini PC that can keep up with your daily computer use, the CHUWI Herobox is a smart option. Indeed, this fanless mini-computer has an N4500 chip with very low power consumption and minimal heat output.

You can plug it into your living room TV to play downloaded video files or stream music for hours without worrying about energy bills. Also, since this small PC runs Windows 10, there is no limit to what you can watch: YouTube, Hulu, or Netflix. Plus, it has a VGA output for older monitors and TVs.

6. Beelink GTR7

Price: $685 AT Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3750H (Quad-Core)
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD (two M.2 slots)
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.0 (x6), HDMI (x2), USB Type-C, Display Port, Mic Jack & Combo Headphone, Dual Gigabit Ethernet LAN, and Wi-Fi6 

The Beelink GTR7 is an AMD-powered budget mini PC with Radeon Vega 8 graphics, making it a solid choice for moderate gamers. It has a cooling fan that offers efficient heat dispersal, ensuring it doesn’t suffer from thermal throttling like most small-form-factor gaming PCs.

Moreover, its case is embedded with a fingerprint reader, an attractive feature for security-conscious persons. On the other hand, its dual Gigabit Ethernet ports make it a great firewall for running Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) such as Suricata. Overall, this is the go-to-go mini-computer for settings where heightened security is needed.

7. Acer Chromebox CX13

Price: $240 at Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: Dual-Core Intel Celeron 3867U
• RAM: 4GB DDR4
• Storage: 128GB M.2 SSD
• Ports and connectivity: HDMI, USB 2.0 (X2), USB Type C, USB 3.1 Gen 1(x3), DisplayPort over USB-C, USB Charging, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11ac Wi-Fi5, and Bluetooth 4.2 LE
• GPU: Intel HD Graphics 610

The Acer Chromebox CX13 is undoubtedly one of Chrome OS’s best desktop brands. Thanks to its impressive features and performance, it delivers everything great about Chrome—simple security, ease of use, and vast online capabilities.

Also, it boasts multiple port options, so you can mount it almost anywhere and use it across different settings. Finally, it’s cheaper than all other similarly equipped Windows PCs, so you can rest assured you’re getting good value for your money.

8. Intel NUC NUC11PHKi7CAA1

Price: $1689.99 at Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Quad Core, 2.8- 4.7 GHz)
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD
• Ports and connectivity: USB Type C (front & back), USB 3.2 Type A (back X4), USB 3.2 Type (front x2), Mini DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0B, Thunderbolt 4 support, Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX411, Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet Port, Card Reader, and Bluetooth 5.2.
• Graphics Coprocessor: NVIDIA RTX2060 Discrete GPU, Intel Iris Xe GPU.

Out of all the mini PCs mentioned in this post, this Intel NUC model is the best gaming desktop PC. It comes with a discrete Nvidia GPU, a fast Intel i7 CPU, and top-notch connectivity to offer you a thrilling gaming experience.

Furthermore, there is a NUC 11 Extreme Kit you can choose if you want to install your preferred graphics card. Plus, with its mini-DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB ports, you can hook up two monitors to make the games more fun or support whatever it is that you’re doing.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that this mini PC is an original product of Intel. The OS, RAM, and SSD are installed by Intel and come with three-year warranty protection. 

9. Dell OptiPlex 7070 Ultra

Price: $755 at Amazon

Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8665U
• Memory: 8GB RAM
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Geekbench 4 Score: 16,684

The Dell OptiPlex is an all-in-one mini desktop PC that’s suited for the office. While it’s so slim that you might mistake it for a desktop dock or laptop battery, its features are super impressive, with a memory that can be upgraded up to 64 GB and storage that can go up to 1TB SSD. Moreover, its easy upgradability means it’s a cool option for offices looking to upgrade often. This, coupled with multiple ports and incredible performance, places it among the best work-focused mini PCs in the market.

Mini PC Cost: A Price Point for Everyone

These are some best mini PCs in the market and how much they cost. Irrespective of how much budget you have, there is something out there for you. Typically, the mini-computers with advanced specs cost more than those with limited specs, so how much to set aside for a mini PC should depend on what you’re looking for.

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