Mini PC vs. Laptop: What’s the Price Difference?

Did you know that 95.2% of U.S. households own at least one computer? That’s not counting the number of computers used in the workplace. If you’re looking for a portable computer with higher computing power than the typical smartphones, you may be torn between a mini PC and a laptop.

Mini PCs are ideal for people that want more freedom to choose peripherals like a keyboard, display, mouse, or speakers. On the other hand, laptops are suitable for people that like to use their computers on the go and don’t want to carry the peripherals. While both essentially can do the same functions as each other, there are some drastic differences in features and size. However, the most noticeable difference between the two can be pricing. Here’s a breakdown of the price differences between a mini PC and laptop.

Mini PC Pricing

There are various high-ranked mini PCs on the market. Here are five models you should consider and their prices:

1. Intel NUC 11 Extreme Kit (Beast Canyon)

Price: $1,749 on Amazon

Specs:

• RAM: 16 GB
• Processor: Intel Core i9-11,900 KB
• Processor Speed: 3.3 GHz
• Storage: 500 Gigabyte GB
• Boost Drive Type: SSD
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
• Ports and Connectivity: Two thunderbolt ports, two front Type-A USB ports, six rear ports, Ethernet jack, HDMI, audio combo jack, and headphones.

This powerhouse mini PC packs incredible power thanks to its full-monty GPU support and innovative Compute Element module. It’s the go-to-go for mini-computer for users that want high computing power and storage, such as gamers and content creators.

One thing that sets apart this small form factor PC from most mini PCs is its large size. It’s one of the largest NUC-branded mini PCs in the market and may even be confused for a full desktop. Luckily, that size matches its potency, with this beast having enough power to compete with desktops twice its size.

2. HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini PC

Price: $729.95 at hp

Specs:

• RAM: 8GB
• Processor: 6-core Intel core 15-10500T
• Storage: 256 GB NVMe SSD
• Chipset: Intel Q470
• Ports and Connectivity: Two front USB 3.2Type-A ports and four rear ports, one USB 3.2 Type-C, display port, HDMI, gigabit Ethernet, headphones, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1

While this mini desktop computer isn’t as powerful as the Intel NUC 11 Extreme Kit, it has considerable power that allows it to offer good performance in workplace digital signage. It’s also tiny, making it suitable for people who constantly move with their computers or those that operate in small spaces.

3. Apple Mac Mini (M1, 2020)

Price: $682 on Amazon

Specs:

• RAM: 8GB
• Processor: Eight-core Apple M1 CPU
• Storage: 256 GB proprietary SSD
• Ports and connectivity: Two rear thunderbolts 4, two rear USB 3.2 Type-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, headphones, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0 configurations.

Apple had about 8.5% of the total PC market share by the end of 2021, a sign that the brand is as strong as ever. The Mac Mini comes with an M1 processor and is incredibly fast and energy-efficient. What’s more, it supports both Windows and Linux operating systems. If you’re looking for a mini PC to help you in video and photo editing, app development, or to connect with your 4K monitors, you cannot go wrong with the Mac Mini. 

4. Beelink GK Mini

Price: $219 on Amazon

Specs:

• RAM: 8GB
• Processor: Intel Celeron J4125
• Processor speed: 2GHZ
• Boost drive type: SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10
• Ports and connectivity: Dual HDMI, 1000M LAN, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Bluetooth 4.0

This is one of the cheapest mini desktop PCs on the market. It doesn’t have a high computing power; hence, it’s suited for light work like web browsing, social media activity, and streaming videos. Depending on the digital signs you want to display, you can also use the best mini for digital signage. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a high-productivity machine, it may not be a good option.

5. ECS Elitegroup Liva Z3

Price: $226 at Newegg

Specs:

• RAM: 8GB
• Processor: Intel Pentium Silver N6000
• Processor speed: 1.1 GHz
• Boost drive type: eMMC Flash memory
• Operating system: Windows 10 pro
• Ports and connectivity: HDMI 2.0, 4 USB 3.2 ports, Gen 2 Type C, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet port, Wi-Fi 802.11ac

The ECS Liva Z3 is another cheap mini PC suitable for people with a limited budget. However, you can only rely on its basic features for activities that don’t need high computing power.

Laptop Pricing

Here are some most expensive and cheapest laptop models in the market:

1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

Price: $2,039.99 on Amazon

Specs:

• RAM: 32GB
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
• Storage: 1 TB PCle NVMe m.2 SSD

This laptop model has an incredibly long battery life, making it the ultimate gaming laptop. Besides, its impressive CPU and GPU allow it to deliver during high-performance activities without slowing down. Not to forget, this gaming PC has a 15.6-inch, 1440p display to take your game visuals to the next level. Overall, it’s a good value for money!

2. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

Price: $1,999.99 on Amazon

Specs:

• RAM: 32 GB
• Storage: 1 TB SSD
• CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti
• Display: 14.4-inch, 1600p

This laptop model is highly versatile, making it an all-in-one package. Actually, you can use it for daily work-related activities and then play some games in the evening. When you’re done with the games, you can use it to play music or stream movies, thanks to its powerful speakers. And, if you’re someone that travels a lot, you’re covered as this model can last an entire day on a charge.

3. Dell XPS 13 OLED

Price: $1,772.98 on Amazon

Specs:

• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD
• CPU: Intel Core i7-1185G7
• GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Display: 13.4-inch, 2160

If you’re looking for a laptop with top-notch display capabilities and integrated graphics, Dell XPS 13 OLED is a smart option. It has a beautiful OLED panel that produces perfect picture quality when you are editing videos or streaming movies at home. It’s also incredibly fast, so it won’t let you down if you want to use it for work or business-related activities.

4. Lenovo IdealPad 1 14”

Price: $249 on Amazon

Specs:

• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64 GB
• Processor: AMD Athlon Silver 3050e
• Processor speed: 1.4 GHz
• Display size: 14 inches

If you don’t mind its basic processor, Lenovo IdealPad 1 14 can give you a superb Windows 10 experience. Unfortunately, its motherboard doesn’t support a USB-C port, so you’ll have to stick to activities that need less power, like web browsing.

5. Dell Chromebook 11 (3100)

Price: $319 at Dell Technologies

Specs:

• RAM: 4GB
• Hard drive: 32GB eMMC, on-board
• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020
• Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
• Display size: 11.6 Inches

Dell Chromebook 11 is designed to accomplish daily basic activities, whether that’s at home or in the classroom. It may not be able to handle more complicated stuff like gaming. But considering its low price, it’s a great option to have, especially for your kids.

The Bottom Line

There isn’t much difference in the prices of mini pcs and laptops. Each side has specific models with high costs and others with lower costs. Also, expensive models have more advanced features than the cheaper ones on both sides. Therefore, whether you’re buying a mini PC or a laptop, it’s important to set aside a budget that matches the specs you’re looking for in your computer.