Dell OptiPlex Micro Plus 7010 review: Desktop Core i7-13700 in a mini PC package

The OptiPlex Micro is twice the size and weight of the Intel NUC 13 Pro but still smaller than the Mac Mini and especially the OptiPlex SFF. The all-metal chassis and distinctive front grille design are otherwise unmistakably OptiPlex.

Port options are varied with the most notable being the four individual video-out ports. The single USB-C port, however, does not support USB4, Thunderbolt, Power Delivery, or even DisplayPort unlike the USB-C ports on most Intel NUCs or Beelink mini PCs.

There are no extras in the box other than the external power brick and paperwork. It's too bad that the vertical stand is sold separately since the system can tip over rather easily.

A three-year limited manufacturer warranty applies much like on most other high-end business-centric PCs from Dell.

We set Windows to Performance mode prior to running the benchmarks below. Dell Optimizer comes pre-installed, but it offers no specialized power profiles unlike on most Dell laptops.

CPU performance is incredible for the form factor. When compared to the H-series Core i7-13700H as found on laptops like the Inspiron 16 Plus 7630, our desktop-series Core i7-13700 offers 15 to 30 percent faster multi-thread performance due mostly to its higher power envelope and faster clock rates. Its advantages over the Apple M2 are noticeable when it comes to CPU-heavy loads.

Unfortunately, the Core i7-13700 in the OptiPlex Micro is more susceptible to throttling when compared to a larger desktop with the same processor. Our reference Core i7-13700 running on a full-size tower, for example, would return multi-thread benchmark scores that are 40 to 60 percent faster than our mini PC. This isn't to say that the Dell unit is slow, but there's no denying that its small cooling solution is a limiting factor. When running CineBench R15 xT in a loop, for example, performance would dip by about 20 percent after the first few loops to suggest throttling behavior.