5 Powerful Mini PCs That Can Eat Desktop Towers For Breakfast

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Mini PCs have come a long way from their roots as slow, finicky office machines. Computer technology has advanced significantly over the last decade, and stronger hardware keeps getting crammed into smaller spaces. You'd be shocked at the performance you can squeeze out of a device that fits in the palm of your hand.

We went through the field of mini PCs and ruled out anything that didn't have the specs or reviews to prove it could rival a modern desktop tower PC in terms of performance. That still left quite a few mini PCs to choose from at several price points, so we selected the finalists you'll see below based on their strengths and the use cases they fill. Ultimately, you may not need to blow thousands of dollars if you just need a small PC with a lot of oomph. For instance, the reliable Mac mini is still a great value (compared to other expensive mini computers), and there are Windows alternatives now like Lenovo's Yoga Mini.

For gamers, there are more expensive options like the Asus ROG NUC 16, easily one of the most powerful mini PCs on the market. If you're scared off by its $2,500 price tag, there are cheaper alternatives like the Minisforum AtomMan. The mini PC space isn't just limited to the devices you can find on store shelves, either — there are high-end custom options from companies like Framework.

No matter what you need a mini PC for, the Asus ROG NUC 16 can handle it. Starting at a staggering $2,499, the ROG NUC 16 crams a ridiculous amount of power into a relatively tiny form factor. Even with upgrades, the ROG NUC 16 measures roughly 11 inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 2 inches thick.

The basic model includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus processor and an Nvidia RTX 5060 laptop graphics card. The more expensive models all feature an upgraded Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and either an RTX 5070Ti or RTX 5080 laptop GPU. It can easily handle AAA games like "Cyberpunk 2077," matching even the most expensive desktops like the HP Omen 45L and MSI Aegis RS2.

All of this power is packed into a chassis that weighs just under 7 pounds. The form factor doesn't sacrifice connectivity, either, as the ROG NUC 16 includes multiple USB 3.0 ports, two DisplayPort 2.1 ports, two full-sized HDMI ports, a 2.5 Gbps LAN port, and more. The device can even be positioned both horizontally and vertically, with a special "G-sensor" detecting its orientation and adjusting cooling accordingly.

The Mac mini is one of the most-recommended mini PCs out there, and for good reason. Apple has spent two decades perfecting the cooling, performance, and form factor of the Mac mini. Windows versus macOS is still a hot debate, but the Mac mini can handle nearly everything a small Windows PC can. Plus, the 5-by-5-inch form factor is incredibly enticing.

There are multiple Mac mini models to choose from, but the best options are the two newest. The newly released Mac mini M6 comes in at $899, but the slightly older Mac mini M5 Pro gets you even more power with a heftier $1,699 price tag to match. The M6 model is perfect for web-based work and light video editing, but dedicated creators with heavier workloads should spring for the M5 Pro.

Going with a Mac mini does come with some drawbacks, however. You won't get the same range of connections as on some other mini PCs since the Mac mini lacks USB-A and full-size DisplayPort ports, leaving you dependent on adapters, a hub, or replacement cables for peripherals that use them. Hardcore gaming is largely out of the question as well, as most games lack native macOS support — although there are technically ways to play popular PC games on Mac.

If you're dead set on a Windows machine but love the elegance of the Mac mini, the Lenovo Yoga Mini is the device for you. It's clear that Lenovo was essentially trying to make a Windows version of a Mac mini, and the Yoga Mini is a very close match.

The Yoga Mini is ultra-compact with a nearly identical form factor to the Mac mini. It's actually a tad flatter than the Mac mini at 1.91 inches thick, but it's a little bit wider at 5.12 inches. It comes with a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB-C ports (one with DisplayPort, another with power delivery), an HDMI 2.1 port, and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port on the back — plus customizable RGB under-glow on the bottom.

The cheapest configuration is priced at $999, while the most expensive model has a beefy Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor for $1,869. Both configurations have impressive gaming and productivity performance, and the higher-end version can even match the performance of much larger desktops like the HP Omen 16L, running games like "Arc Raiders" flawlessly.

The Minisforum AtomMan is like a slightly larger version of the Asus ROG NUC 16, but without all the gamer flair. Measuring 8-by-12-by-2 inches, the AtomMan takes advantage of the roomier chassis to pack in fully featured desktop hardware. It's the same stuff you'd see inside the best desktop PCs, just packed into a tiny case.

The cheaper AtomMan G7 Pro model is priced at $1,699 and comes equipped with an Intel i9 14900HX and Nvidia RTX 5070 laptop GPU. The more expensive G1 Pro improves its specs at $2,149 with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX processor and Nvidia RTX 5060 desktop graphics card. The 5060 might seem like a downgrade at first glance, but it's a full dedicated desktop graphics card, not a laptop version.

The G1 Pro can handle AAA games at 1440p resolution without breaking a sweat, and you can achieve some impressive frame rates if you're only gaming at 1080p. That desktop RTX 5060 is the exact same one you can find in other prebuilt PCs at this price point like the Corsair Vengeance A7500, and the included Ryzen 9 processor can easily handle the latest games.

If none of the prebuilt options catch your eye, then you can spring for a custom configuration from a company like Framework. The price range on Framework PCs varies significantly since you can choose the parts yourself, and the top-end configurations can outperform some of the strongest desktop towers.

The Framework Desktop is similar in size to a Steam Machine, measuring roughly 4-by-8-by-9 inches. Prices start at $1,269 and reach as high as $3,449. The basic $1,269 configuration gets you an AMD AI Max 385 processor, but you'll have to spend at least $1,959 to get the more powerful AMD AI Max 395. 

AMD's AI Max processors are still relatively new, but they boast impressive gaming performance. At 1440p with ultra graphics settings, the AI Max 385 and 395 run "Monster Hunter Wilds" at averages of 67 FPS and 85 FPS, respectively. With "Cyberpunk 2077" at high settings, both processors average roughly 70 FPS. Both processors are also great for productivity, with Framework even letting you add a ton of memory to your configuration to run large language models.

Our main consideration when making this list was to find mini PCs that feature enough raw power to serve as legit alternatives to desktop towers, rather than machines that were only suitable for basic browsing and office work. We focused on models with capable processors and graphics hardware, looking through their spec sheets and considering expert reviews to assess how they handle demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and other productivity work. Size also mattered, since the appeal of these machines is getting that level of performance without giving up a large portion of your desk.

For the final five mini PCs you see above, we wanted to offer a selection that spanned different use cases and budgets. That's why you'll see gaming-focused Windows machines alongside a Mac and a fully customizable option. The prices range from $899 for the cheapest option (the base Mac mini M6) to $3,499 (the highest configuration Framework model), but most of the models mentioned fall in a price range of roughly $1,000 to $2,500 — in other words, there should be something on this list for just about anyone.