The Best Windows Mini PCs We’ve Tested for 2026

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Get Our Best Stories!

All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts

Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.

Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

Buying Guide: The Best Windows Mini PCs for 2026

We’re seeing clear stratification in the market for tiny Windows desktop PCs. The very smallest PCs might be termed the “stick class,” pioneered by the Intel Atom-CPU-powered Intel Compute Stick we first reviewed more than a decade ago, followed by similar sticks from Asus, Azulle, Lenovo, and others.

You can still find stick PCs on the market, but they are suitable only for display/signage use or extremely basic applications, not actual work. After a promising debut years back, they have not seen much evolution or momentum. The form factor is just too small to grow beyond those use cases.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The models next upward in size were much more dynamic, a bunch we traditionally termed the “NUC class.” NUC stands for “Next Unit of Computing,” a longtime Intel initiative launched in 2013 to spur the development of very small Windows-based desktop PCs powered by its mobile-centric processors. Over a decade, the chip giant released a series of NUC-branded mini PC kits, and several traditional PC component makers have followed suit with similar models.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Most of the “classic” NUC mini PCs were around 5 or 6 inches square, though later NUCs expanded the footprint to wider, taller designs, with commensurate increases in performance. Intel shuttered its NUC program in 2023, but Asus picked up the NUC-brand torch (and the support responsibilities for Intel’s NUCs), keeping the NUC name alive. Asus and a few other PC makers (notably MSI, Acer, and ASRock) continue to deliver NUC-branded mini PCs, with Intel having bowed out. These and other companies also sell NUC-lookalikes (without using the “NUC” name) with decent power, as well as some that push the platform’s boundaries.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Separate from those are a host of undeniably small PCs that follow their own shape and size rules. We see lots of quality systems from makers like Geekom, one of the category’s recent unsung innovators. Shuttle and Zotac are two other small-PC pioneers, offering machines in various shapes, mostly nowadays for business and industrial audiences.

Should You Buy a Bare-Bones or Fully Configured Mini PC?

Not all mini PCs ship as complete systems. You get a PC kit with some models: a tiny chassis with a motherboard preinstalled. (Usually, a soldered-on processor is in place, instead of a socketed one.) Plus, in most cases, wireless connectivity is built in. To complete the kit, you must shop for and install your operating system, a storage drive (usually an M.2-format SSD, but perhaps a 2.5-inch drive, too, depending on the model), and RAM modules.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

This arrangement is what resellers call a “bare-bones PC.” You’ll want to make sure you know what you are getting. Sometimes, a given mini system comes in bare-bones form or pre-configured with storage, RAM, and Windows.

You must factor those parts and a Windows license (unless you plan to use Linux, if supported) into the total cost. Mind you, the parts you will need will be small: the kind you’d typically find in a laptop, not a desktop. Many small PCs like these use DDR4 or DDR5 SO-DIMMs—laptop-style RAM modules—for their main memory instead of full-size desktop DIMMs.

The storage form factor varies more. Depending on the mini PC you are looking at, as mentioned, you may be able to install an old-school 2.5-inch drive (a solid-state or hard drive), but almost all new models support a slimmer SSD format, known as an M.2 SSD. M.2 drives are the size and shape of a stick of chewing gum. (Check out our guide to these somewhat complicated drives at the link.) If you need to install an M.2 SSD on a bare-bones desktop, you must know about some interface/bus and sizing subtleties before you shop, as it’s all too easy to buy an incompatible drive. M.2 SSDs are a perfect fit for tiny PCs like these, and most recent models support them. Some mini PCs support them exclusively; others may support one or more M.2 drives and perhaps a 2.5-incher.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

If a given system is a bare-bones kit, you’ll need to get more than a little hands-on with it to get it up and running. But a kit gives you maximum flexibility in terms of component selection. Regardless, apart from the more straightforward setup, one advantage of a pre-configured mini PC is that an OS (usually Windows 11) is installed; you won’t need to install or update the OS or its drivers.

Finally, because of ongoing price increases in memory and storage, you might be better off in the short term buying a complete mini PC rather than a barebones system. Memory-module prices are higher than ever and may well climb throughout the year. (Read our guides on how much RAM you really need and how to build or buy a PC amid the memory shortage.)

Should You Get Dedicated or Integrated Graphics in Your Mini PC?

Most mini PCs are as “mini” as they are because they rely on the basic-grade graphics acceleration built into most CPUs to power video output—no separate graphics card is involved. This integrated graphics silicon will suffice for productivity work and video playback. A few outlier models, though, incorporate the same discrete mobile graphics chips found in gaming laptops. A few compact workstation desktops even use Nvidia’s professional-grade graphics and up to Intel Xeon processors for high-power, ISV-certified tasks.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mobile processor can also bridge the gap between integrated and discrete graphics, allowing system memory to be allocated as VRAM for graphics and AI tasks. On the desktop front, we first tested this inside the Framework Desktop. Similarly, Intel’s new Core Ultra 3 “Panther Lake” processors prioritize graphics; chips in this line with the “X7” or “X9” designation carry potent integrated graphics. These processors are primarily intended for use in laptops, but they will also be deployed in select mini PCs and all-in-one desktops.

Some larger NUC models during the Intel NUC years included discrete mobile and desktop GPUs, some as actual separate cards. That means well-above-average graphics performance in a system this size. These “Extreme” Intel NUCs made room for a dual-slot graphics card up to 12 inches long. That opens up serious productivity and gaming power, but the NUC Extremes are a bit above the “mini” size. And again, Intel’s out of the NUC business; these Extremes are available only as end-of-life models now. It’s all relative. From the Asus NUC 15 Pro+ to the Geekom Megamini G1, other brands are happy to carry this torch, but these models rely on laptop-grade discrete graphics, not actual desktop cards.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

If you’re sticking with a tiny PC, a dedicated graphics chip is seldom an option due to space and thermal constraints. We’ll see what this year brings in this department, but a traditional gaming PC will always be your best bet to maximize power for serious gaming.

What Connections Do You Need in a Mini PC?

Some mini PCs include mounting kits that let you attach them to the back of an LCD. If space savings are significant to you, check for that feature. Also, check the back of your monitor for mounting holes; if present, they usually comply with the VESA mounting standard.

Also, check for 802.11 Wi-Fi (wireless networking) of some flavor. Just about all micro PCs include at least that as a standard feature (and most also incorporate Bluetooth), but double-check that the system or kit doesn’t require purchasing a separate Wi-Fi card in the Mini-PCI Express or M.2 form factor. Some do.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

USB and video outputs may seem like obvious things to look for, but on smaller PCs like these, the number of ports may be fewer than you’re used to. Check that there are enough of each for the peripherals you need to connect. Some models may surprise you. We’ve seen compact systems with as many as nine USB ports. USB Type-C makes that possible.

Also, check for multi-monitor support if that is a factor for you. Some small PCs are designed explicitly for digital signage and may support more concurrent displays than you might expect from a little system. Note, though, that these models may emphasize video outputs over other connections and CPU power.

Which CPU Should You Look for in a Mini PC?

You’ll see a variety of mobile-grade CPUs in the small PCs out there, ranging from Intel Celeron and Pentium chips in older models (very basic and OK at best for simple productivity work, e-mailing, and web browsing) up to Core i5 and i7 (and in a few cases, i9) processors that can do some modest media-crunching and rendering work. Today, these Core chips are gravitating to Intel’s newer Core Ultra lines, which you’ll see as the Intel Core Ultra 5, Ultra 7, and Ultra 9 (no “i”). As mentioned above, Intel’s latest mobile CPUs, the Core Ultra 3 series, also introduces Core Ultra X7 and Core Ultra X9 designations to denote more powerful on-chip graphics.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Intel’s first, second, and third generations of these Core Ultra processors are known as “Meteor Lake,” “Lunar Lake,” and “Panther Lake,” respectively. They include Intel’s first stabs at built-in AI-ready NPUs, while Panther Lake doubles down on graphics performance rather than AI improvement. Again, while these are primarily going to show up in laptops, all-in-one desktops and mini PCs will also use these chips, rather than hotter-running, power-hungry desktop processors.

These Core Ultra processors include varying grades of built-in AI processing silicon, dubbed a neural processing unit (NPU). Apart from the Core Ultras, Intel’s low-end N100 series is taking over in new models, pushing aside the Intel Celerons and Pentiums, two more Intel brands that are fading away. We’ve also seen a few Qualcomm Snapdragon X-based mini PCs (Geekom and Lenovo offer examples) that feature NPUs, like this Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo model.

Whether you’re looking at an Intel Core i, Intel Core Ultra, or even an AMD Ryzen chip, check whether it’s a mobile-grade CPU (the kind used in laptops) or a desktop-strength chip. The size of the PC isn’t always a perfect predictor of that. (That said, the very smallest mini PCs will always use mobile chips.)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

How to tell? Most mini PCs on the market use Intel silicon, and the dead giveaway (whether you’re looking at a mobile CPU or a desktop one) is usually the letter at the end of the processor’s model number. Look for a “T,” a “K,” or no letter at all as a dead giveaway for a desktop chip (for example, Core i5-13400T), or a “U,” an “H,” or an “HX” for a mobile one. A select few mobile Core Ultra 3 chips lack a suffix, indicating slower performance than the “H” models, so this advice may vary for these very latest Intel processors.

With the chip family and generation being equal, you can expect more muscle (usually a consequence of more cores and higher base clocks) from the desktop version of, say, a Core Ultra 5 than from a mobile Core Ultra 5. In addition, Intel chips ending in “H” and “HX” are higher-powered mobile processors than the “U” models, occupying the middle ground between the mainstream mobile chips and all-out socketed desktop chips. These are growing increasingly common in mini PC builds, taking full advantage of fan cooling.

You’ll also find occasional AMD flavors, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H chip we tested in the small but mighty Geekom A6 Mini. Look out for some mobile Ryzen AI 300 series chips, which excel in laptops, to show up in some mini PC models too, and we already mentioned the Ryzen AI Max+ line. Those chips are well-suited for mini PCs.

What to glean from that mobile-versus-desktop insight? Our benchmark testing will quantify the trends, but none of the mobile-grade chips in these small PCs is a proper substitute for a desktop chip if you’re a heavy multitasker or a media pro who needs real processing muscle (say, to convert lots of video or photo files from one format to another). In most cases, the CPU is the single most significant factor in the cost of a mini PC, so keep an eye on the performance numbers in our reviews for a relative idea of what you are getting.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Rule of thumb? You can get by with a mobile or desktop Core i3, Core 3, or Core Ultra 5/Core i5 mini PC for light office work. (AMD’s Ryzen performance tiers are numbered similarly for ease of comparison.) However, you’ll want to err on the side of a higher-end Core Ultra chip if you need extra pep for serious multitasking, file conversions, heavy calculations, or multimedia content manipulation.

Ready to Buy the Right Mini PC for You?

Between our buying advice and handy spec chart, you should have enough information to choose among our recommended models. If you’re shopping for a small desktop to save money, you’ll also want to check out our picks for the top cheap desktops.

If you’d like to go a bit bigger, check out our top choices for standard-size desktops, including some small-form-factor PCs, or see our guide to the top all-in-one desktops, which save space in their own way by featuring built-in displays.