8 high-end mini PCs that pack power into a tiny footprint

If you’re wedded to a desk and have no need for mobile computing, your best option is to go for one of the latest mini PCs. In the past decade, these ultra-compact desktop boxes have largely replaced the tradition tower PC configuration, being sold as standalone devices to plug into your existing keyboard and screen set-up. 

Unless your computing requirements are especially heavyweight, the new generation of mini PCs will do all you need without dominating desk or floor. It’s also a world where new brands come at you thick and fast, often supplanting the biggest names in computing, and specifications and upgrades occur weekly. 

Which mini PC is best for you?

Apple Mac Mini

For many of us, the answer to this question is simple: the Mac Mini. The latest generation of this iconic compact computer incorporates Apple’s M2 and M2 Pro chips for the first time. It’s nearly two decades since the first Mini appeared, helping set the stage for a host of imitators who followed the pared-back package and shipped without a keyboard, display or mouse. The square form factor – initially interrupted only by a front-loading slot for the CD-Rom – was another Apple innovation. Round the back you’ll find plenty of ports, and the build quality is second to none.