If you need a compact laptop, then the Mac mini is without doubt one of the greatest choices that you will discover. For a Mac, it’s extremely, very well-priced, and comes with some tremendous highly effective chip choices, together with a really small desk footprint. However what in case you don’t need the wonderful aluminum slab, what if you wish to store round and see if you will discover something higher?
We’ve had a play with just a few different choices to see what sort of competitors the Mac mini is up towards. We’ve received a compact, Intel gaming monster that munches something that will get shut, an AMD-powered mini PC that is received a knob on the entrance, and just a little field working an unconventional working system.
How do these machines stack up towards the Mac mini, and do you have to go for one thing just a little completely different which may not be powered by macOS? Or do you have to keep on with considered one of Apple’s greatest Macs, and neglect that there have been ever another micro PCs in any respect?
Mini PCs are among the coolest units on the market and I’ve examined among the greatest to seek out out which ones are value your time. These Mac mini opponents have all been on my check bench, and I’ve labored with Gerald, Editor-in-Chief and Mac mini professional to guarantee that they seem to be a good guess.
Mac mini
Earlier than we take a look at the contenders, we must always in all probability remind ourselves of what the Mac mini has to supply apart from, . Being a Mac. There’s the apparent newest model of macOS on board, with all of the bells and whistles that include it, powered by your alternative of M2 or M2 Professional chip. That latter one is fairly highly effective, however you’ll must pay a hefty chunk to get it.
In truth, whereas the bottom mannequin begins at an amazing worth of $599, when you begin popping upgrades on, you’ll quickly see that worth burgeon past cheap affordability. It’s by no means an costly machine, but it surely does transfer past low cost fairly rapidly. RAM upgrades are round $200 for each further step you’re taking, and bigger SSDs are much more. If you need the M2 Professional choice that we talked about earlier than then you definately’ll be paying north of a grand – which is some huge cash.
The bottom mannequin, nonetheless, if taken as a standalone choice, stays a superb funding in case you’re searching for a strong desktop companion. Its numbers are even tremendous spectacular:
| Cinebench | GeekBench |
| Multi-core: 8761 | CPU multi-core: 9970 |
| Single-core: 1621 | CPU Single-core: 2621 |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | GPU: 26986 |
These stack up properly towards much more costly {hardware} – particularly when you think about that we benchmarked the bottom mannequin with M2 and 8GB RAM. So we have jogged our reminiscences now – let’s examine the competitors.
AceMagician AMR5
This weird-looking little obelisk is the AceMagician AMR5, and it is a very fascinating little laptop. It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5600U, a reasonably snazzy little processor. It’s what’s known as an APU, or an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit – this has a CPU and graphics processor multi function little chip, that means {that a} highly effective laptop might be made in a a lot smaller package deal. In truth, that makes it extra comparable than anything on this listing to Apple Silicon, which even have each CPU cores and GPU cores in a single chip.
Clearly, the AMR5 is smaller than a Mac mini, with its upright stance and tiny footprint. It’s additionally a reasonably potent laptop, packing in that AMD APU, in addition to a 512GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. Even higher is that it’s tremendous simple to improve, with a magnetically hooked up aspect panel that permits you to entry an additional PCIE drive slot in addition to the reminiscence modules. For one thing so small, it’s very spectacular.
One in all my favourite options of the AMR5 is the facility button – a knob that turns round, clicking into place in three intervals.
One in all my favourite options of the AMR5 is the facility button – a knob that turns round, clicking into place in three intervals. These intervals allow you to select an influence mode, from Eco, Auto, and Efficiency. Eco makes certain that the AMR5 is working as effectively as attainable in order that it isn’t utilizing as a lot energy. Wish to play some video games? Flip the knob to the efficiency setting and luxuriate in all of the juice you’ll have to play some video games.
Don’t anticipate these video games to run such as you’re utilizing a custom-built gaming PC, or like a PS5 or Xbox Collection X, and also you’ll discover the expertise fully acceptable. Framerates are good in case you crank down the small print, and for such a tiny little field, it is spectacular the graphics it may possibly pump out.
| Cinebench | GeekBench | 3DMark (Time Spy) |
| Multi-core: 6875 | CPU multi-core: 6127 | Complete: 1270 |
| Single-core: 1257 | CPU Single-core: 1787 | Graphics: 1122 |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | GPU: 13947 | CPU: 5049 |
We should always point out that for the Home windows machines, we’ve used 3dMark as properly to get an thought of the graphics efficiency of the machines. It additionally permits you to examine them with one another. The AMR5 right here places up some robust numbers, and whereas they may not be fairly pretty much as good as these on the Mac Mini, they’re loads to get some mild gaming executed.
It runs on Home windows 11, which does have some enhancements over earlier variations of the OS. In the event you’re searching for MacOS, nonetheless, it’s not going to scratch that Apple-shaped itch, however for these keen to tinker just a little it is tremendous simple to get Linux put in if you wish to attempt one thing just a little completely different.
How a lot does this potent little package deal price? $499. That’s a good sum lower than the Mac mini, and it comes with (on paper) better specs than the bottom mannequin Mac – double the RAM, and double the SSD storage.
All in all, the AMR5 is a beautiful little gaming mini PC that boasts numerous energy, a funky-looking design (replete with RGB lighting for avid gamers), and an amazing worth.
Intel NUC 12 Fanatic
This monster is for these trying on the extra readily outfitted Mac mini. An Intel NUC, or ‘Subsequent Unit of Computing’, is what Intel makes use of to indicate off all of its best {hardware}. That could possibly be becoming an excellent environment friendly PC in a tiny kind issue, or an absolute monster of a gaming PC in a smaller, desk-friendly footprint. This one is especially potent and comes loaded with some critical {hardware}.
The core of the NUC 12 Fanatic that we’ve right here accommodates an Intel i7-12700H, with 14 cores, 20 threads, and a brand new Intel Arc A770M Graphics card inside it. It additionally has every thing else you may want from a mini PC, together with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. It’s constructed from the bottom up for one factor, and the glowing cranium on the aspect provides you a good suggestion of what that’s – gaming.
It’s constructed from the bottom up for one factor, and the glowing cranium on the aspect provides you a good suggestion of what that’s – gaming.
It’s additionally fairly upgradeable – you possibly can pop new RAM modules in there so that you could do extra multitasking and you may add extra M.2 storage drives to essentially up the capability of your NUC. This, as with among the different choices on the listing, is one thing that the Mac mini completely can’t do. Upgradeability merely isn’t one thing that trendy Macs are able to.
Once you purchase your NUC, it curiously doesn’t include an OS, and it’s important to select one for your self. Alas, one of many choices isn’t MacOS, however you possibly can go for any of the Home windows choices or a Linux system. For avid gamers, nonetheless, Home windows would be the method to go.
It’s not low cost. This one prices $1899 as a substitute of the $1400 of the M2 Professional Mac mini, however for that cash, you get one thing that is the identical dimension however that may smash by means of among the newest video games with ease. No, it’s not going to match a equally priced {custom} gaming PC, however it’s going to get remarkably shut. We performed some video games, and received these numbers:
We additionally ran some benchmarks to get an thought of the efficiency of the machine, in comparison with the Mac mini:
| Cinebench | GeekBench | 3DMark (Time Spy) |
| Multi-core: 16376 | CPU multi-core: 11299 | Complete: 11227 |
| Single-core: 1758 | CPU Single-core: 2318 | Graphics: 10985 |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | GPU: 88823 | CPU: 12830 |
These are the very best numbers you’ll discover on the listing, and it implies that the Intel will buzz by means of something you throw at it with ease.
This PC proves that small kind issue doesn’t imply low cost, or pokey – as a substitute displaying that in case you spend the cash on one thing just a little extra spectacular, you get one thing that may blow you away. For avid gamers, that is going to be your greatest guess.
Equally, this machine isn’t only for avid gamers. All that processing and graphics grunt makes it excellent for these searching for a wickedly highly effective small kind issue desktop for workloads like video modifying, picture modifying, or programming – that places it just a little additional into the ballpark of the Mac mini. It’s an fascinating different for certain, and one that ought to have your consideration. It does stretch the definition of mini PC, nonetheless – this factor is large. Greater than a Mac Mini, that’s for certain.
Acer ChromeBox
This Mini PC is a ChromeBox, so known as as a result of it doesn’t run Home windows or MacOS – it runs Chrome OS. ChromeOS is Google’s light-weight working system that started off as successfully a devoted net browser that you may use on low-power machines that remained tremendous speedy and responsive. Since then issues have moved right into a Chromium-based, Linux-esque desktop setting that customers of each Home windows and MacOS can rapidly turn into accustomed to.
The ChromeBox in query is the Acer CX14, and it’s truly one of many extra highly effective choices that comes with ChomeOS on board. Historically, you’d discover it on laptops or ‘Chromebooks’, however ChromeBoxes permit for extra highly effective {hardware} with out the necessity to add a display and keyboard.
The Acer has an Intel Core i5 10210U processor, much more highly effective than the conventional Celeron choices, and paired with 8GB of RAM it’s going to smash its means by means of ChromeOS. Throughout my time with the ChromeBox, I seen no slowdown in any respect even when working a number of Chrome tabs. Is the facility overkill for a low-power working system like ChromeOS?
The little field is able to taking part in Android video games with out problem, and opening loads of Chrome tabs.
Maybe barely, but it surely implies that the little field is able to taking part in Android video games with out problem, opening loads of Chrome tabs, and even doing another barely heavier workloads.
In the event you’re searching for one thing that is just a little cheaper than this one for a youthful child, then one thing just like the ChromeBox with a Celeron processor can be excellent. For an adolescent that wants one thing to do greater than just a bit work on, nonetheless, or for a household laptop, that is excellent.
In truth, the concept this laptop needs to be for teenagers appears baked in from the beginning. Setting the pc up you’ll spot a youngsters’ setup mode so that you could determine on safety and security settings to guarantee that it is secure for teenagers to make use of. It should even play the Android model of PubG, or Minecraft – and do it fairly properly too. Getting homework executed on the machine shall be no drawback in any respect both except they have to be doing complicated video rendering duties. Which is unlikely.
It comes within the field with a full-size keyboard and mouse in order that it’s able to go, and all you’ll have to hook up is a monitor – one thing not one of the different entries on this listing function. Sadly, there’s no method to run benchmarks right here, so we are able to’t get an thought of the numbers, however the ChromeBox greater than makes up for it with the efficiency. It’s not the most cost effective on the listing, but it surely’s an excellent choice for teenagers and even the aged.
Geekom IT11
The Geekom IT11 is tiny – however very well-built, and really highly effective. It’s smaller than just about each different PC on this listing, and but nonetheless has a superb choice of outputs and inputs on the again. It’s additionally, for the worth, very properly appointed.
The IT11 is provided with an i7-11390H processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It’s round $899 with out one of many reductions you’ll typically discover for it, making it just a little costlier than the Mac mini. For the worth, it’s a lot smaller, nonetheless, and there’s loads of energy on board. You possibly can even improve the M.2 SSD and the RAM, and add in a 2.5 onerous drive so as to add extra storage, which is all the time a bonus.
| Cinebench | GeekBench | 3DMark (Time Spy) |
| Multi-core: 5097 | CPU multi-core: 5537 | Complete: 1450 |
| Single-core: 1401 | CPU Single-core: 1937 | Graphics: 1296 |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | GPU: 10783 | CPU: 4497 |
Single-core efficiency is a specific energy right here, the place it retains up with many of the competitors. For on a regular basis computing and lightweight workloads, this little machine goes to be exemplary.
The actually enormous factor right here is the scale – it is vitally small, even when in comparison with the opposite mini PCs on the listing. In the event you’ve received a tiny desk, then this may simply be the PC for you.
AceMagician CK10
One other from AceMagician, this time the CK10. The CK10 is a extra professional-looking machine, with a extra workload-oriented setup. Whereas its chassis isn’t fairly as thrilling because the AMR5, it is nonetheless a properly formed little field, with a cool sample on the highest that the fan blows chilly air on the Intel i7-10810U inside. That’s a top-shelf laptop computer processor, with its personal Intel graphics on board.
Contained in the comparatively non-descript enclosure, you’ll discover extra of the identical type of internals because the AMR5. There’s 16GB RAM inside, together with a 512GB SSD. As with the AMR5, you possibly can add one other SSD, or plug in a SATA drive as much as 2TB to present it loads of cupboard space. Sadly, the RAM is soldered onto the board so no upgrading there – very like the Mac mini in query.
Contained in the comparatively non-descript enclosure, you’ll discover extra of the identical type of internals because the AMR5.
As a extra conventionally formed mini PC, CK10 might be hooked up to the again of a monitor with a Vesa mount, so that you could hold it hidden away from view, and make your desk look just a little tidier. It even comes with a bracket within the field, so that you don’t have to purchase one individually. Very good.
Once more, just like the AMR5, the CK10 runs Home windows 11, so that you’re not going to get macOS. You possibly can after all substitute it with Linux in case you’re searching for one thing to tinker with just a little extra, in order that could possibly be fairly enjoyable. If you need it to be dependable, nonetheless, just be sure you keep on with Home windows 11 Professional.
This machine is usually going for use for mild workloads, so we’ve regarded just a little at the way it compares to the Mac mini in that regard.
| Cinebench | GeekBench | 3DMark (Time Spy) |
| Multi-core: 3673 | CPU multi-core: 3673 | Complete: 421 |
| Single-core: 1048 | CPU Single-core: 1048 | Graphics: 366 |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | GPU: 4698 | CPU: 3085 |
As we are able to see, the little machine isn’t fairly as highly effective because the Mac mini, but it surely nonetheless holds up for the worth.
It additionally prices lower than the Mac mini, at $499 from the AceMagician web site. For that, you get extra RAM, an Intel chip, and a Vesa mount, and whereas numbers don’t imply every thing, it’s nonetheless a compelling choice to have to select from. This could possibly be the proper little film or music server to tuck away behind a shelf for instance.
Closing Ideas
You possibly can all the time belief iMore.
Our group of Apple specialists have years of expertise testing all types of tech and devices, so that you might be certain our suggestions and criticisms are correct and useful. Discover out extra about how we check.
There are some nice choices on the market that take the struggle to the Mac mini, however the littlest Mac places up an unimaginable protection. That M2 chip is potent, and for the worth is an excellently highly effective choice.
After all, if you’d like one thing with Home windows on, then there are some nice choices. Our favourite is the AMR5 from AceMagic by way of worth to efficiency, and its enjoyable kind issue helps as properly.
On the lookout for one thing tremendous highly effective to go up towards the Mac Mini with M2 Professional? Then the Intel NUC Fanatic goes to be an epic choice. It’s tremendous highly effective and smashes its means by means of a great deal of completely different workloads and duties. It does price tons although. As in tons.
Lastly, the ChromeBox proves that there are alternatives past the Home windows and macOS ecosystems. It’s not fairly as highly effective because the Mac mini, however the ChromeOS on board implies that shall be slick and useable for a very long time and for a great deal of completely different generations of customers.
In the long run, in case you’re searching for a small kind issue machine with macOS on it, then you definately’re principally caught with the Mac mini. In the event you’re seeking to department out, nonetheless, there are another implausible choices.