The best mini PCs of 2024: Expert recommended

Just when you thought this list would only include Windows systems, we’ve got the Mac Mini. This was one of the original mini PCs, and with the switch to Apple Silicon processors, it has seen a new lease of life.

Considered at one point the gateway Mac that got people over to MacOS from Windows (because they could replace their Windows PC with the Mac Mini and keep using their existing keyboard, mouse, and monitor with their new Mac), it’s now a staple of the Mac lineup, and the perfect choice for those who want a compact system.

I’ve owned a few different Mac Mini systems over the years, and I’ve been more than satisfied by them. They’re reliable, well-built, and run cool and quiet.

The biggest downside to this system is upgrading — bottom line, this Mac will live and die with the same processor, RAM, and storage that it left the factory with. If you want to give it a storage boost, Satechi makes a hub/stand for it that adds a bunch of ports and a port for an M.2 SSD.

As I’d expect from an Apple product, the reviews are strongly positive, with users reporting that they are happy with the performance and overall reliability of the system.

Apple 2023 Mac mini tech specs: Apple Silicon M2 processor with 8 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores | 8GB RAM | 256GB storage | 2x USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet, audio jck | MacOS 14 Sonoma