Ranking: The best office mini-PCs reviewed by Notebookcheck

The Mac mini brings modern Apple Silicon technology, excellent energy efficiency, and minimalist design together in a remarkably compact desktop PC. With the latest M6 chip, Apple delivers a powerful platform for demanding applications, creative workflows, and AI tasks. This little Mac also has plenty of headroom for video editing, software development, and heavy multitasking. Its ARM-based architecture keeps things efficient, while the compact cooling system keeps heat in check even under load.

With up to 24 GB of unified memory and fast SSD storage options, the Mac mini can be configured to handle demanding workloads. As is customary with Apple, neither the memory nor the storage is designed for users to upgrade later, so it pays to choose the right configuration at the time of purchase.

The compact aluminum enclosure blends neatly into a wide range of workspaces. Depending on the configuration, connectivity includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, and Ethernet, plus additional USB-C ports on the front. Optional 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet is also available. This makes the Mac mini equally at home with everyday office work and more demanding professional applications. Its standout appeal lies in the combination of strong performance, a small footprint, versatile connectivity, and comparatively low power consumption.

The M2 Pro is one of the most powerful mini-PCs in our top 10, pairing the new Intel Core Ultra X7 358H from the Panther Lake generation with a generous feature set. In our testing, this compact machine impressed with strong system and application performance, good efficiency, and comparatively little noise. Even under load, the M2 Pro stays pleasantly quiet at an average of around 33 dB(A).

The standard configuration includes 32 GB of soldered LPDDR5X RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Connectivity is a particular strength: three USB4 ports, 10-Gigabit LAN, and a total of three M.2 slots leave plenty of room for expansion. The built-in power supply saves desk space, while speakers and a fingerprint reader round out the package. The only major drawback is the non-upgradable memory.

The Khadas Mind packs impressive performance into an exceptionally small mini-PC. Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, fast storage, and modern Intel Arc graphics, it has plenty of muscle for demanding everyday tasks, productivity workloads, and even light gaming. Strong performance is only part of the appeal: this mini-PC also delivers excellent energy efficiency.

Its modular design is a particular highlight. Optional accessories such as the Mind Dock, Graphics Dock, and planned Mind xPlay can significantly expand its capabilities. That makes the Mind Pro a compelling option both as a conventional desktop replacement and as a flexible workstation.

Despite its tiny footprint, the device offers premium build quality, quiet operation, and practical touches such as a built-in battery for standby and brief use away from a power outlet. The trade-offs are limited upgrade options, since many components are fixed in place, and a comparatively high price. All told, though, the Khadas Mind Pro is one of the most intriguing mini-PC options for users looking for performance, flexibility, and a thoughtfully designed ecosystem.

The Khadas Mind Pro is available to pre-order directly from the manufacturer for US$1,799. 

The A9 Max raises the performance bar while keeping things compact, thanks to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 based on the efficient Zen 5 architecture. With 12 cores, a speedy AMD Radeon 890M iGPU, up to 128 GB of DDR5 RAM, and a fast 2 TB SSD, it delivers excellent performance in both everyday use and demanding applications. Connectivity is equally impressive: six USB-A ports, two USB4 ports, two HDMI outputs, and an SD card reader make even a multi-monitor setup easy to put together. In short, the Geekom A9 Max is an excellent choice for anyone who wants maximum performance in minimal space, whether for a home office, multimedia, or a little light gaming.
The Geekom A9 Max is available from Amazon or directly from Geekom's online store. Price: around €1,000.

The NucBox K17 is one of the most interesting mini-PCs built around Intel's current Lunar Lake platform. With an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, a modern NPU, and USB4, this compact system delivers snappy everyday performance while keeping power consumption impressively low. Its exceptionally quiet operation deserves special mention: even under load, the mini-PC is barely audible, making it one of the quietest machines in its class. The integrated Intel Arc Graphics 130V is up to the job for multimedia, streaming, and occasional gaming. Easy maintenance and SSD expansion options make the K17 an excellent choice for an energy-efficient office, multimedia, or home-office PC with Intel's latest technology.

The Acer Revo Box RB102 pairs a compact footprint with Intel's efficient Core Ultra 7 256V. This Lunar Lake processor offers eight CPU cores and integrated Arc 140V graphics with eight Xe2 cores. That gives the mini-PC enough versatility to tackle not just everyday office and multimedia tasks, but also more demanding applications and occasional gaming at reduced settings. An integrated NPU adds acceleration for AI applications.

In our testing, the Revo Box RB102 stood out above all for its compact design and low power consumption. Its feature set is solid for a mini-PC this size, although the memory is soldered in place and cannot be upgraded. On the plus side, storage can be expanded. Overall, Acer delivers an efficient, space-saving mini-PC that is particularly well suited to users who want to keep both their electricity use and their computer's footprint to a minimum.

With the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 on board, the X1 Pro shapes up as a powerful mini-PC with a thoroughly modern feature set. Alongside the latest APU, it features a Radeon 890M iGPU and an integrated NPU that provides extra processing power for AI workloads. Paired with DDR5 memory and a fast PCIe SSD, this adds up to strong overall system performance.

A standout feature remains the OCuLink interface, which lets you connect an external graphics card for a substantial boost in graphics performance. A cooling system with two fans and heat pipes efficiently carries heat away, keeping performance steady while remaining comparatively quiet.

The AI X1 Pro is well connected, too: multiple USB4 ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, and 2.5-Gigabit LAN offer plenty of options for peripherals and displays. Its compact enclosure combines modern looks with a practical design. The built-in power supply is another welcome touch, eliminating the need for an external adapter. Integrated speakers round out the package with solid sound quality for a mini-PC. Despite its strong performance, power consumption remains moderate compared with conventional desktop systems.

The X1 proves that a small footprint need not mean sluggish everyday performance. With an AMD Ryzen 7 255, fast DDR5 memory, and a PCIe 4.0 SSD, this compact mini-PC is equally comfortable handling productivity tasks, multimedia, and light gaming. Its integrated Radeon graphics have enough headroom for typical applications, without pretending to replace a dedicated graphics card. The well-tuned cooling system is a particular strength, keeping temperatures stable and noise pleasantly low even under sustained load. Modern connectivity, including USB4, dual LAN, and support for multiple simultaneous displays, adds to the AI X1's versatility. Minor drawbacks, such as merely average SSD performance and limited expandability when using OCuLink, do little to spoil the overall impression. All told, the Minisforum AI X1 is a well-balanced package that stands out for its efficiency, versatility, and appealing value for money.

The Sapphire Edge AI marks the manufacturer's return to the mini-PC market, making a strong impression with modern Ryzen AI technology, a compact design, and capable everyday performance. Despite the small enclosure, its Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 delivers plenty of processing power, backed by a capable iGPU and a fast NPU for AI tasks. USB4 opens up more possibilities, including external GPUs, while power consumption stays low. The case materials and audible cooling under load are its weaker points. Even so, the Edge AI offers a compelling overall package for anyone looking for a small, efficient mini-PC with AI capabilities.

The A9 Max is one of the manufacturer's most powerful mini-PCs, built around the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 and its Radeon 890M iGPU. Together with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2 TB SSD, this compact system delivers plenty of power for productivity applications, multimedia, and AI-assisted tasks. Build quality and connectivity are both strong, although newer features such as OCuLink and USB4 v2 are absent. The main criticism concerns our review unit's RAM configuration: its single-channel memory noticeably holds back both the CPU and the iGPU. As a result, 3D performance in particular falls short of the hardware's potential. Adding a second RAM module, however, can give performance a substantial lift. Moderate power consumption and comparatively quiet operation under load are further points in its favor.