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MagyarThe best mini PCs
Mini PCs range from inexpensive bargains to everyday workhorses or gaming PCs with extremely compact dimensions. The required qualities here are a small footprint, solid build and a quiet operating noise. The connectivity should allow an easy integration into the home or work environment, but it does not have to be particularly lavish.
We limit ourselves to mini PCs in this comparison, which are significantly smaller than conventional desktop PCs due to their compact design. In the PC itself, mainly laptop technology has to be used. Furthermore, devices with dedicated graphics cards can also be listed here.
The best mini PCs in review
position | test_result | Date | Image | Model | Weight | Height | Width | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90.6 % | 11/2023 |  | Minisforum Neptune Series HX77G AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS AMD Radeon RX 6600M 32 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.6 kg | 69.3 mm | 205 | 203 |
| 2 | 88.4 % | 03/2023 |  | Intel NUC 12, NUC12SNKi72_Serpent Canyon Intel Core i7-12700H Intel Arc A770M 32 GB Memory, 500 GB NVMe | 2 kg | 60 mm | 230 | 180 |
| 3 | 87.7 % | 12/2023 |  | Acemagic Tank03 Intel Core i9-12900H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 2.2 kg | 159 mm | 160 | 175 |
| 4 | 87.3 % | 11/2023 |  | Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS AMD Radeon 780M 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 750 g | 52.3 mm | 130 | 126 |
| 5 | 87.3 % | 09/2023 |  | Apple Mac Mini M2 Apple M2 Apple M2 10-Core GPU 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.2 kg | 36 mm | 197 | 197 |
| 6 | 87.1 % | 09/2023 |  | Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 Intel Core i7-12650H Intel Arc A730M 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.7 kg | 66 mm | 208 | 180 |
| 7 | 86.6 % | 09/2023 |  | Beelink SER7 AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS AMD Radeon 780M 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 640 g | 49 mm | 126 | 113 |
| 8 | 86.3 % | 07/2023 |  | Beelink GTR7 7840HS AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS AMD Radeon 780M 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 890 g | 48.8 mm | 168 | 120 |
| 9 | 85.1 % | 03/2024 New! |  | Minisforum Mercury Series EM780 AMD Ryzen 7 7840U AMD Radeon 780M 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 238 g | 43 mm | 80 | 80 |
| 10 | 86.1 % | 02/2023 |  | Minisforum Venus Series UM690 AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX AMD Radeon 680M 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 621 g | 48 mm | 129 | 126 |
The table above shows an overview of the best mini-PCs tested by Notebookcheck in the last 12 months or relevant devices that are still available. If the scores are the same, more recent tests are ranked first. The retail prices shown in the table and in the price comparison for the individual items are automatically updated daily and can therefore deviate!
Link: all tested devices in this class
Editor's comment
Performance is an important aspect when evaluating mini PCs. The compact PCs, which are more focused on efficiency, are usually good all-round devices for everyday use. Sometimes, the small computing machines even offer dedicated graphics cards and are thus suitable as compact gaming PCs.
1st - Minisforum Neptune Series HX77G
The Minisforum Neptune Series HX77G is a relatively compact mini PC with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, which together with the AMD Radeon RX 6600M offers solid gaming performance. The configuration we tested also includes fast DDR5 RAM and an NVMe SSD, but only 512 GB of storage space.
In the review, the Minisforum Neptune Series HX77G impressed us with its system performance and low background noise. The connectivity is also impressive: USB4 and the ability to operate up to four screens simultaneously are a small selection. Visually, the Minisforum Neptune Series HX77G also has nothing to hide and looks very appealing thanks to its design with the sturdy stand.
The Minisforum Neptune Series HX77G is a stylish compact gaming PC for uncompromising Full HD gaming.
You can get the Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G directly in the store at Minisforum. Amazon DE offers a Ryzen 7 7735HS-powered SKU for €879.
2nd - Intel NUC 12 Serpent Canyon
The Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast Kit - Serpent Canyon is a small PC based on an Intel Core i7-12700H. Intel does here without dedicated graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia and equips the mini-PC with the Intel Arc A770M, one of their own models. With its large VRAM, the dedicated graphics adapter sometimes outshines the competition from Nvidia and AMD. Nevertheless, the Intel model has a hard time keeping up with the contenders. However, the overall performance, which is consistently good in everyday use, is basically good.
Intel also installs the hardware in a stylish and at the same time very compact case. Fast Wi-Fi and the good connectivity including Thunderbolt are good and provide important points that justify the excellent result in our Top10 list.
The Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast Kit is a stylish mini-PC with a fast Intel Core i7-12700H. The Intel Arc A770M provides solid base performance and plenty of VRAM.
Among other retailers, the Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast Kit is available at Amazon US.
3rd - Acemagic Tank03
The Acemagic Tank03 is equipped with an Intel Core i9-12900H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 laptop GPU. This gives the compact gaming PC relatively up-to-date components that can also handle the latest games. The dedicated graphics card is even the model with 16 GB VRAM. We tested the Tank03 with a 1 TB SSD and 32 GB DDR5 RAM, which is currently appropriate. Less mass storage should not be installed in a gaming device. You can also get by with 16 GB of RAM, although 32 GB on the credit side is reassuring. Upgrading both components is not a problem. RAM and SSD are easily accessible via two maintenance flaps. On the connection side, the Acemagic Tank03 scores with a good selection. As the device is slightly larger than other mini PCs, this is not a problem. As a highlight, the gaming PC allows the performance of the processor to be changed via a rotary control on the front. In the test, we were able to record measurable changes in the performance and also the volume of the device.
The Acemagic Tank03 is a compact gaming PC with good gaming performance. Due to the pricing, the Acemagic Tank03 will have a hard time landing in the shopping cart.
The Acemagic Tank03 can be purchased directly from the manufacturer. The top model is currently out of stock. The Tank03 is available from 1,399 US dollars (Intel Core i7-12700H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 laptop, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD).
4th - Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX
The Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX is a very powerful mini PC for demanding office work. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS has 8 cores with 16 threads and comes with the AMD Radeon 780M, a very powerful iGPU. With 32 GB of RAM and a 1024 GB SSD, you are also well equipped. The system is consistently fast and the mini PC masters even performance-hungry tasks with ease. Above all, the Minisforum UM780 XTX impresses with its modern connectivity. Minisforum is one of the few manufacturers to even install an OCuLink interface, which is primarily intended for use with external graphics cards. Compared to USB4, OCuLink offers a higher data transfer rate. However, USB4 is not dispensed with, as Minisforum installs two of them in the EliteMini UM780 XTX. The manufacturer does a lot of things right when it comes to cooling and even uses liquid metal to ensure excellent heat dissipation. This results in a relatively quiet operating noise that is never annoying.
The Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX is a very powerful mini PC. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS has no performance limitations and with the Radeon 780M it has a fast iGPU which can also handle many games.
The Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX can be purchased directly from the manufacturer's store. Otherwise, Amazon US lists the device for around $640.
5th - Apple Mac Mini M2
With the Mac Mini M2, Apple has no problem securing a place in our top 10 list. The Apple M2 processor is not only powerful, but also very economical. Together with its own operating system, which is tailored to the hardware, the system runs very smoothly. The minimalist design underlines the Apple philosophy and fits seamlessly into the product range. The casing has a very high-quality finish and the modern connectivity including Thunderbolt 4 allows the mini PC to be expanded in a meaningful way. With 16 GB RAM and the 512 GB SSD, you are currently well equipped. But if you want more scope here, you'll have to dig deep into your pockets.
The Mac Mini M2 is a successful mini PC. With the powerful M2 processor and modern connectivity, the current device is a successful upgrade over the M1 model.
Besides Apple's official webstore, the Mac Mini M2 is also available on Amazon, prices starting at $500.
6th - Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673
The Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 is a very powerful mini PC for demanding office work. With the Intel Core i7-12650H, a processor with 10 native computing units is at work in the stylish metal housing. With the Intel Arc A730M, the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 is also equipped with a powerful graphics card. There is also 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. The system scores with consistently good system performance and good 3D performance, which is significantly better than all iGPU solutions.
The Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 is a powerful mini PC that can be used for occasional gaming thanks to its dedicated graphics card.
The Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 is available directly from the Minisforum store. Amazon is also currently offering the Mini-PC with Intel Arc A730M, prices starting at $630.
7th - Beelink SER7
The Beelink SER7 is the latest model from the manufacturer and with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS you get a very powerful SoC here. The latest 8-core from AMD also comes with a very powerful AMD Radeon 780M. The scope of delivery includes 16 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. The many connection options, including USB4, are a positive highlight. The powerful cooling system ensures acceptable temperatures, allowing the AMD Radeon Ryzen 7 7840HS to deliver adequate performance even under load.
The Beelink SER7 is a top modern mini PC and is suitable for a wide range of applications. However, the manufacturer charges a high price.
The Minisforum Mercury Series EM680is available directly in the store at Minisforum. The device is currently available for 509 Euros (~$560) in our test configuration. With 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB SSD, 549 Euros (~$604) are due. You can also get the Minisforum EM680 via Amazon. At the time of publication of this article, the Beelink SER7 can be purchased from Amazon for just under $730. Otherwise, Beelink offers the mini PC in its own store.
8th - Beelink GTR7
The Beelink GTR7 is a good upgrade to the Beelink GTR6 and offers with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS a brand new SoC from AMD. However, the new SoC also gets a new iGPU, which is now named AMD Radeon 780M. It also offers a bit more performance and is based on AMD's current RDNA-3 architecture.
We were impressed by the Beelink GTR7's impeccable build quality and low emissions. Furthermore, the SSD and RAM can be replaced easily and two network ports with 2.5 GBit/s each are not standard for compact PCs in this size.
The GTR7 is not simply a competitor to those models from Intel, but also does a few things much better.
The GTR7 is currently not yet available at most retailers in Europe. However, it is still recommended to check Amazon or the manufacturer's website every now and then to see if there are new offers.
9th - Minisforum Mercury Series EM780
The Minisforum Mercury Series EM780 is an extremely compact Mini-PC and takes up significantly less space than most other Mini-PCs. Based on the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, there is a relatively up-to-date SoC from AMD, which has 8 cores and 16 threads. With the AMD Radeon 780M, there is also a powerful iGPU, which is clearly superior to most Intel counterparts. There is also 32 GB DDR5 RAM and two USB4 interfaces, which means that external graphics cards can also be connected.
The Minisforum Mercury Series EM780 impresses with excellent performance in the smallest of spaces, without sacrificing state-of-the-art connections such as USB4.
The Mercury Series EM780 is currently available directly from the manufacturer. Alternatively, users can order the mini PC via Amazon.
10th - Minisforum Venus Series UM690
The Minisforum Venus Series UM690 is another mini PC from the hand of Minisforum and also this model could secure a place in the top 10 due to the good rating in our test. Based on the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX there is a relatively up-to-date SoC from AMD. With the AMD Radeon 680M there is also a good iGPU, which is clearly superior to the Intel counterparts. With DDR5 and USB4, it is also well prepared for the future. But Minisforum could also shine in terms of emissions with the Venus Series UM690 and win important rating points for itself.
Based on the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, the Minisforum Venus Series UM690 offers excellent performance without consuming too much energy.
The Minisforum Venus Series UM690 is currently available for 659 Euro (~$725) in the Minisforum store. Amazon US also offers the device with AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX starting at $536.
