Best mini PCs (2026)
Small, efficient PCs for Proxmox, Home Assistant, containers and everyday desktops. Ranked on CPU, upgradeability, networking and power draw. Compare all mini PCs side by side
Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
updated 24 Oct 2026 · ranked by score, value and age- #1
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC
7.0/10verdict: wait for dealThe NucBox M5 Ultra suits homelabbers who want an 8-core Ryzen 7 in a small box with two 2.5GbE ports. It also suits buyers who plan to add RAM and storage over time. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs quiet running, fast external ports or high-settings gaming.
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 8 cores / 16 threads, base 2.0GHz, boost up to 4.5GHz, 4MB L2 / 16MB L3 cache2 x SO-DIMM slots, DDR4 3200 MT/s, dual-channel, 16GB or 32GB pre-installed depending on configurationPCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 SSD, 512GB pre-installed in the 16GB configuration; 1TB in the 32GB configurationDual 2.5G Ethernet (2 x RJ45, Realtek RTL8125); Wi-Fi 6E (RZ616, up to 2.4Gbps); Bluetooth 5.2Read the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #2
Apple Mac mini (M6)
6.2/10verdict: wait for dealThe Mac mini (M6) is for buyers who want a fast desktop with strong networking options and are happy with fixed memory. It suits people who can pick the right memory size at purchase and want 2.5Gb or 10Gb Ethernet plus Thunderbolt 4. It is a poor match for anyone who expects to upgrade RAM later.
Apple M6, 12 cores (2 super, 4 performance, 6 efficiency), 12-core GPU, dual 16-core Neural Engine16GB unified memory256GB SSDApple N1 chip, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 6, Thread, 2.5Gb Ethernet configurable to 10Gb EthernetRead the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details
- #3
GEEKOM A5 2027 Edition
6.8/10verdict: wait for dealThe GEEKOM A5 2027 Edition suits homelabbers and office users who want a quiet, low-power small desktop with an eight-core CPU. It fits container hosting, light virtual machines and multi-monitor desk setups. It is a weaker choice for anyone who needs fast external devices or strong integrated graphics.
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 8 cores / 16 threads, 2–4.5 GHz, integrated Radeon Vega 816GB DDR4-3200, dual channel, two SO-DIMM slots512GB NVMe M.2 2280 (listing conflict: 256GB stated in one source)Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE; Realtek RTL8852BE Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4Read the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details
- #4
A6 AMD Ryzen 7 6800H (GEEKOM A6 Mini PC)
6.7/10verdict: wait for dealThe GEEKOM A6 is for people who want an 8-core Ryzen mini PC for desktop work, light server duties or a small development box. It suits buyers who value a RAM ceiling of 64GB and a second M.2 slot. It is less suited to anyone planning sustained heavy rendering or gaming.
AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 4.7 GHz, Radeon 680M integrated graphics, 45W TDP16GB DDR5 default; 32GB configuration also offered1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2Read the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #5
GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
6.4/10verdict: wait for dealThe M6 Ultra is for buyers who want a compact Ryzen 5 mini PC with room to grow on memory and storage. Dual 2.5GbE and two M.2 slots make it a fit for homelab duties and Linux or Windows desktop use. It suits people who value expandability over the lowest idle power draw.
AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS: 6 cores, 12 threads, up to 5.0GHz, Radeon 760M integrated graphics2x SO-DIMM DDR5 slots, DDR5-4800, 16GB or 32GB configurationsPCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 SSD, 512GB or 1TB optionsWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, dual 2.5GbE EthernetRead the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #6
BOSGAME E5 Mini PC
5.8/10verdict: skipThe E5 is for homelabbers who want a compact box with two Ethernet ports and room to add RAM and storage. It suits firewall, light server and everyday desktop work better than gaming. Buyers who need confirmed 2.5GbE or fast external expansion should check the details first.
AMD Ryzen 3 5300U, 4 cores / 8 threads, up to 3.8GHz, Radeon graphics16GB DDR4 (16GB x1) SO-DIMM, 3200MHz, on the 16GB configurations512GB M.2 2280 PCIe SSD on the 16GB/512GB Amazon UK configuration; manufacturer page lists 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe SSD, scalable to 4TBDual RJ45 LAN, manufacturer lists 1000Mbps x2 (third-party sources and Amazon UK title say 2.5G; unresolved); Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0Read the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #7
ACEMAGIC K1 AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 Mini PC
5.4/10verdict: skipThe ACEMAGIC K1 suits buyers who want an inexpensive mini PC with eight threads and room to upgrade memory and storage. It fits light server duties, a desk PC or a media box where multitasking matters more than power draw. It is a weaker choice for anyone who needs a silent, low-power or faster-networked machine.
AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544, 4 cores/8 threads, Zen+ architecture, 3.35 GHz base, up to 3.7 GHz turbo, Radeon Vega 8 graphics8GB DDR4-3200 in the base configuration, SO-DIMM slots256GB M.2 NVMe SSD in the base configurationWired GbE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2Read the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #8
BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 5 3501U up to 3.7GHz, 8GB RAM 256GB SSD
5.3/10verdict: skipThe BOSGAME E2Air suits people who want a small, low-cost desktop for everyday programs, browsing and media. It also suits anyone who wants a basic second machine with several video outputs. It is not aimed at heavy virtualisation, fast networking or large local storage.
AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, 4 cores/8 threads, up to 3.7GHz boost, Radeon Vega 8 graphics at up to 1200MHz8GB DDR4-2400, one SODIMM module preloaded256GB M.2 2280 SSD (SATA per manufacturer)Gigabit Ethernet (one RJ45 port), Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0Read the full review ›Price unavailable right nowCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details
Questions
Is an Intel N100 or N150 enough for a homelab?
For Home Assistant, Pi-hole, a handful of containers and Plex with hardware transcoding, yes. For several VMs, look for 6+ cores and 32GB of RAM.
Can I run Proxmox on a mini PC?
Yes. Check the network chip: Intel NICs work out of the box, and some Realtek chips need extra drivers.