The Best Mini PCs for under $500: Powerful yet Budget-friendly

Mini PCs have been taking the tech world by storm; able to go where no desktop or laptop have gone before. They are small, powerful, yet budget friendly. They solve problems that used to require single board computers with obscure operating systems and interfaces. So let’s explore the top five rated beyond the entry level units; the best Mini PCs under $500!

Mini PC	Description
Intel NUC 11	Powerful and configurable up to 4 displays and 64GB of RAM, our top pick
Mac Mini	It’s a Mac, a little bigger than the rest of the minis, but it isless expensive than a MacBook
GEEKOM Mini IT11	A lower price alternative, not a gaming rig, but a good home entertainment or server alternative
MELE Overclock 4c	This is a small fanless wonder. Handles up to three 4k Displays
GMKTek Mini	Less expensive, more memory for the price

Why Buy A Mini PC?

A Mini PC is a small form factor computer that packs a punch. It’s usually less than 6″x6″x2″ and some are so small that they easily fit into your pocket.

So one reason is, they are so portable compared to a desktop.

Well so is a laptop? The difference is that it becomes a component rather than a whole system. Laptops include a keyboard, trackpad, and monitor all welded together. Yes, you can buy a docking station for a few hundred dollars and then hook everything up to an external keyboard, trackpad and monitor.

But if you’re going to do that anyway?? You can save money and buy a more powerful machine and pick the components you want.

For example, take the Mac Mini. It can be had for less than half of the price of a new MacBook air. Then you can buy a nice Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, hook it up to a monitor or TV of your choice, and you’re on your way!

Another reason is that it is “headless”. You can buy mini PCs that are always on, so that they come back on after a power interruption. Or you can put them into tight places like under a desk or in the corner of a laboratory, then connect remotely to them and you don’t need to dedicate a monitor, keyboard or any accessories to them.

Finally, they can be made to take up almost no space. Zero footprint. You can mount them behind a monitor, under a table, whatever. As long as they have adequate ventilation.

Why Spend More Than $200 on a Mini PC?

Investing a little more in a mini PC offers significant advantages, particularly in performance and longevity.

Firstly, higher-priced mini PCs typically boast more powerful processors and increased RAM, translating to faster, smoother operation. This is crucial for multitasking, running complex software, or managing business tasks efficiently. In contrast, entry-level mini PCs, while budget-friendly, often struggle with intensive applications, leading to slower performance and potential frustrations.

Furthermore, durability and future-proofing are key. Mini PCs in the higher price range are generally built with better quality components. This ensures a longer lifespan and greater reliability. They also tend to be more up-to-date with current technology standards. Thus, offering features like advanced connectivity options and higher storage capacities. This means they remain relevant and functional for a longer period, reducing the need for frequent upgrades.

There are even less expensive mini PCs for someone who just wants to get their feet wet or for a younger student.

But the extra power you will get by buying a mini PC with at least an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and a Radeon GPU graphics card will allow you to use this for video editing or as a mini gaming PC. Not a gaming rig for experienced gamers for this price point, but good for beginners.

In essence, spending more initially can be a cost-effective choice in the long run. This is especially true for small business managers and IT personnel who value efficiency and reliability in their technology investments.

Our Choices for the Best Mini PCs Under $500

Product Dimensions: 4.6″x4.6″x2″ 3.1 Pounds

This model comes with an 11th Generation Intel Core i5, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. It Supports four 4K displays or 8K on a single display and Wi-Fi 6. It also supports Bluetooth 5 and Thunderbolt 3. For about $100 less, they will sell you a bare-naked machine with no operating system, So you can configure it with Linux and as much or little RAM/Storage as you want. The storage can expand to 64 GB, which is amazing for something that is 4.6″ x 4.4″ x 2″!

Some people had issues with it but not very many of the 180+ reviewers since they gave it a high rating overall!

Product Dimensions: 7.76″x7.76″x1.41″ 2.6 Pounds

It’s a Mac. And to a lot of people, that’s all that matters. I have owned 2 Mac Minis and help manage a third for a relative. When paired with the wireless keyboard and mouse pad, you can connect it to your entertainment system or development environment, and it just works. And it’s hidden. So, if you love Apple, you’ll love it. And yes, compared to Windows Mini PCs, it’s expensive (did I mention it is a Mac?)

This is a lower price model with 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. For a few hundred more you can get an upgrade to 512 GB, and for a few hundred more, a faster chip.

Product Dimensions: 4.6″ x 4.4″ x 1.77″ 3.3 Pounds

This is an intermediate model with 16GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD. It is a little lower priced than the rest, but for a few hundred more you can get the same processor with 32GB and 1TB SSD. With an i7-11390H processor clocking up to 5.0Gh., it can support up to two 4K and two 8K screens at the same time. For a few hundred less you can get one with the same memory and disk but a slower processor. It has over 250 ratings and most people seem satisfied with it.

Product Dimensions: 7″ x 3.7″ x 0.8″ 1.5 Pounds

Fanless PCs are not in as high demand as other Mini PCs so this one has less ratings at the time of this post. However, the ratings are mostly good and this is a good intermediate fanless PC for general use. People have used this with telescopes and have been generally satisfied with it. There are other mini PCs that are over the $500 price point that are made specifically for firewalls, VPN servers, etc.

Product Dimensions: ‎4.84″ x 4.4″ x 1.7″ 3.19 Pounds

With over 150 ratings, people seemed mostly happy with this device. With 32 GB and 2 TB and it’s less expensive than most of the others. With an i7 Processor and speeds up to 5 GHz, it is rated to handle up to three 4K displays.

Summary

So a mini PC isn’t for everyone, but there are a lot of uses for them, and depending on your budget and or use case, one of these might be perfect for you! Check them out!