12 Mac mini alternatives for Windows I'd actually buy

I've hand-picked my 12 favorite Mac mini alternatives for Windows, from budget picks to high-end content creation stations.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>I've hand-picked my 12 favorite Mac mini alternatives for Windows, from budget picks to high-end content creation stations. There's no denying Apple's newly unveiled <a href="https://www.techradar.com/computing/macs/apples-new-mac-mini-looks-the-same-but-the-m6-inside-brings-a-major-performance-boost" target="_blank">Mac mini with M6 chip</a> is a seriously cool piece of hardware, but fixed memory and limited port selection mean it's definitely not for everyone. </p><p>If you want upgradable RAM and additional connectivity like USB4 for hooking up an external GPU, these are the Windows Mac mini alternatives I really like. I've included top-tier compact machines from brands we've reviewed highly during our mini PC testing, including Beelink, Geekom, GMKtec, Minisforum, and Asus. Whether you need a cheap mini PC for the office or a high-performance powerhouse for heavier workloads, these are the machines I recommend. </p><h2 class="article-body__section" id="section-my-top-12-windows-mini-pcs"><span>My top 12 Windows mini PCs</span></h2> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e667530-a2c7-11f1-ab67-7fac9dbc6120"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/GEEKOM-A8-Max-Upgraded-Expandable/dp/B0G19ZF99R/?th=1" data-model-name="Geekom A8 Max" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XvNK9oKaHjVSy22XJjjA6R.jpg" alt="Geekom A8 Max"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Geekom</div> <div class="featured__title">A8 Max</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e667684-a2c7-11f1-879d-6b276504380a"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-EVO-X1-Ryzen-HX-370-5-1GHz/dp/B0FWJPWFSN/" data-model-name="GMKtec EVO-X1" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Aqu64Q8jgMNk6WbKJBUhPj.jpg" alt="GMKtec EVO-X1 AI Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>GMKtec</div> <div class="featured__title">EVO-X1</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e6678be-a2c7-11f1-b7a0-e5a2e777d2fd"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/GEEKOM-A8-Windows-Computer-Business/dp/B0F5VY7B9S/" data-model-name="Geekom A8" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tQ5mncrSRYwC2hzWZpuP9j.jpg" alt="Geekom A8 Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Geekom</div> <div class="featured__title">A8</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e66792c-a2c7-11f1-b9d0-59e61f373b39"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/MINISFORUM-PCIe4-0-4xUSB3-2-Graphics-Computer/dp/B0D9YJGDP7" data-model-name="Minisforum UM890 Pro" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ropbacQhjyAkSEnAMD434U.jpg" alt="Minisforum UM890 Pro Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Minisforum</div> <div class="featured__title">UM890 Pro</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e667a76-a2c7-11f1-bdb4-a7e76be1c9c3"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/KAMRUI-Gaming-7730U-512GB-Windows/dp/B0G3XDZ6F6/" data-model-name="Kamrui E3B" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9JmS2kWRKzcjkhANu3L7eB.jpg" alt="Kamrui Gaming Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Kamrui</div> <div class="featured__title">E3B</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e6676f2-a2c7-11f1-9b08-b592b5f0d383"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-Desktop-Computer-LPDDR5X-PCIe4-0/dp/B0FPCH2N51/" data-model-name="Beelink SER9 Pro" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uvwAu5ZwN7Ytua8fANaQQ6.jpg" alt="Beelink SER9 Pro Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Beelink</div> <div class="featured__title">SER9 Pro</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e66799a-a2c7-11f1-9753-07982298600c"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGIC-K1-Windows-Ryzen-7730U/dp/B0H7CKF6SK/" data-model-name="AceMagic K1" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Upa8DZNuKiFrvvKVArNx8U.jpg" alt="Acemagic K1 Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>AceMagic</div> <div class="featured__title">K1</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e667a08-a2c7-11f1-a532-e3eb018b8227"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/PELADN-Mini-PC-Ryzen-LPDDR5X/dp/B0GWZV9GXT/r" data-model-name="Peladn HO5" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HVuzpVsALcskaYDvVMhZUa.jpg" alt="Peladn Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Peladn</div> <div class="featured__title">HO5</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e667ae4-a2c7-11f1-9a87-2fdeb22a46ce"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BOSGAME-P3-Gigabit-Ethernet-Computer/dp/B0CS6F9HN4/r" data-model-name="Bosgame P3 Lite" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NbCk6vkd6oT38BXAJUtdX7.jpg" alt="Bosgame P3 Lite Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Bosgame</div> <div class="featured__title">P3 Lite</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="3fbdabdc-a2d5-11f1-bd7e-4f76977c7dae"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-G10-Ryzen-3500U-3-7GHz/dp/B0GR9DX4HP/" data-model-name="GMKtec NucBox G10" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cm4YjZ4T8y8LyMvhsfgMGB.jpg" alt="GMKtec G10 Mini PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>GMKtec</div> <div class="featured__title">NucBox G10</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="6e667760-a2c7-11f1-b99c-9b9a81b43977"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGIC-X3-Windows-PCIe4-0-Business/dp/B0GJ4SHYNT/" data-model-name="Acemagic X3" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VaFDdn9htgrPAssMQ3pm3o.jpg" alt="Acemagic X3 Mini Gaming PC"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Acemagic</div> <div class="featured__title">X3</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="3fbdac90-a2d5-11f1-a24a-edc16eda4b31"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Intel-4-9GHz-Computers-Thunderbolt/dp/B0FH5KPKQL/" data-model-name="Asus Nuc 15 Pro" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:139.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFtCTHDXtRWMAqAHUnm5Z8.jpg" alt="Asus NUC 15"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Asus</div> <div class="featured__title">Nuc 15 Pro</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div><h2 id="why-i-chose-these-mini-pcs">Why I chose these mini PCs</h2><p>I had three key areas of focus when selecting these mini PCs — performance, connectivity and value for money. </p><p>Performance was obviously high on my list, which is why I've included mini PCs powered by some seriously capable AMD Ryzen and Intel Core processors. The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-Desktop-Computer-LPDDR5X-PCIe4-0/dp/B0FPCH2N51/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Beelink SER9 Pro</a> ranked as our best mini PC for business.</p><p>I also wanted plenty of memory and storage, although upgradeability obviously varies considerably between these machines.</p><p>There are some particularly well-connected choices among my top 12, too. The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/MINISFORUM-PCIe4-0-4xUSB3-2-Graphics-Computer/dp/B0D9YJGDP7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Minisforum UM890 Pro</a> has two USB4 ports, OCuLink for connecting high-speed external hardware, dual 2.5GbE ports and enough display connections to drive four screens simultaneously. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-EVO-X1-Ryzen-HX-370-5-1GHz/dp/B0FWJPWFSN/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GMKtec EVO X1</a> also combines USB4 and OCuLink with dual 2.5GbE networking, alongside HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. </p><p>Price was important as well, so I tried to include options for different budgets rather than filling the list with flagship machines. We rate <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGIC-K1-Windows-Ryzen-7730U/dp/B0H7CKF6SK/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Acemagic's K1</a> as our best mid-range mini PC, and at under $290, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-G10-Ryzen-3500U-3-7GHz/dp/B0GR9DX4HP/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GMKtec's G10 Mini PC</a> is a very affordable choice.</p><p>For more options, check out the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/best/mini-pcs" target="_blank">best mini PCs</a> we've tested, and for more savings, see our round-up of this week's <a href="https://www.techradar.com/pro/best-mini-pc-deals" target="_blank">best mini PC deals</a>.</p> </article> ]]>