Best Mini PCs in the UK

Picking a powerful mini PC that can deal with demanding tasks can be a bit of a hassle. Unlike most of them, this fanless NC860 PC model from Kingdel is a good example of a small computer done right.

First things first, the Kingdel NC860 features an excellent mobile CPU that can handle pretty much any task you throw at it. To be more specific, this miniature computer comes with Intel’s 8th generation i7-8550 CPU with 4 double-threaded cores. The 8MB cache, combined with a base clock frequency of 1.8 GHz that can be further boosted all the way up to 4.0 GHz makes this particular model an excellent piece of 4K equipment, especially if you are looking for a tiny PC that can be utilised with both monitors and TV sets.

Despite the fact that this mobile CPU can get quite hot, it doesn’t overheat and won’t need to turn itself off in order to cool down. Although it doesn’t feature any cooling fans the design of the metal case, combined with conveniently positioned cooling vent help to effectively cool the processor, as well as the integrated graphics card.

Moving on, let’s talk storage. Even though the box is not that bulky, we were surprised to find out that this tiny computer features not only an SSD but also an HDD inside. What is more, the small form factor, combined with the powerful CPU as well as 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, make this particular Kingdel model a valid option in case free space is limited but some extra power is needed.

Instead of the standard USB 2.0 connections, NC860 implements four 3.0 USB ports for better accessibility and faster data transfer between connected accessories, flash drives, external drives, and the internal HDD and SSD.

The NC960 is yet another miniature computer from Kingdel that implements a mobile CPU in combination with an integrated GPU instead of bulky dedicated models. While surely being more powerful, they often require quite a bit of cooling, which takes a huge chunk of space within the PC case itself. As a result, a fanless model is a better alternative for users that need a compact computer that is both plenty powerful and easy to use at the same time.

As you would expect, this PC is fairly quiet in operation, owing to the fanless design that features a metal-based housing with vents all over the case, which is advertised as “Smart”. And even though there’s not a lot of things that are exceptionally smart about it, the case does the cooling side of things quite well, and if you need a mini PC that runs silently without the risk of overheating, this product will be a good pick.

Moving on, let’s talk interfaces. This Kingdel PC features 4 USB 3.0, 4 USB 2.0, as well as a single SD card slot. On top of that, the appliance features two HDMI connections, microphone, and headphone jacks so you won’t have any trouble with connecting this mini desktop computer to a modern monitor or hooking up additional adapters.

Sitting somewhere in the middle between the high-end mini workstations and computers for simpler tasks, the Beelink U57 mini PC is a good alternative to expensive models that still holds a punch when it comes to processing power and speed.

Starting off, the U57 features an integrated Intel Iris Graphics 6100 GPU that supports DirectX 12 graphics, which is not a small feat for a mobile graphics chip. Moreover, this graphics card has 48 processing blocks and can be boosted up to 1100 MHz clock speed. Last but not least, the main characteristic of this GPU is better optimization compared to older, Haswell-based graphics adapters.

Moving on, it is important to talk about the speed of this mini-computer. Having 8 GB of DDR3L RAM, the total task management speed of the PC is quite decent, compared to laptops and computers of similar configuration. Even though 8 GB of DDR3L might seem like not a lot to go with these days, it can manage regular tasks like surfing the internet and working with text, databases, and similar quite well. For multitasking purposes, the computer has 128 GB of SSD memory, which is more than plenty for work-related objectives and quick access to stored files.

In contrast with the newer models from ACEPC, the AK1 features only the bare hardware minimum needed for simple day-to-day tasks.

Even with its tiny size, even by miniature PC standards, the appliance is capable of 4K media playback, which is simply stunning, to say the least. Coupled with a decent mobile Intel Celeron J3455 Quad-core CPU that can be boosted all the way up to 2.3 GHz, the computer is fairly powerful, which allows for dealing with a variety of tasks.

The only drawback of this miniature computer, though, is its total storage amount. Even though 64 GB of data should cover very basic data storage, it is simply not enough for anything more than that. With that in mind, if you need additional drives we recommend getting an external flash drive or two for that purpose.

Fortunately, the device is equipped with 4 USB ports, so you will be able to connect all required input appliances and have a few spare ports that can be used for linking up additional drives, audio appliances, as well as for other purposes. What is more, the PC box features both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules, which together allow for using the computer with wireless devices, which will definitely save you from dealing with cable management.

Mini PCs can only get smaller to a certain extent. However, what if even a standard-size miniature computer is too big for you? Then your options are rather limited. Fortunately, ACEPC has got you covered with their micro PC stick. Filled to the brim with hardware, the T6 mini PC stick is, perhaps, one of the smallest mini PC models available on the market today.

The compact dimensions of this PC stick model make it a perfect pick for commercial applications. Powered by a lightning-speed USB 3.0 connector, the PC can be linked to projectors, monitors, TV sets, printers, servers, as well as to various monitoring equipment. Slimmer than other products in the same category, the ACEPC T6 mini stick can fit everywhere a normal PC can’t, which makes it a valid pick if you need every centimetre of free space.

When it comes to counting how much storage this tiny PC has, you would be surprised to know that ACEPC managed to stick a 64 GB eMMC drive inside of it, alongside a 4 GB DDR3 memory stick. At the same time, if you think that 64 GB option is not impressive enough for you, a bigger 120 GB version is optionally available from ACEPC.