Having a Mini PC in your living room is the best way to enjoy a great multimedia experience. These devices concentrate all the functionality of a traditional computer in a very compact size, and with a very low power consumption. We present the 8 most interesting Mini PCs that you can find for your living room .
How to choose a Mini PC and recommended models
Choosing a Mini PC for your living room is quite simple, but it is worth taking into account some details. First of all, make sure that the model you are going to buy includes WiFi and Bluetooth , it is something that usually comes in all Mini PCs, but it is always good to check it, especially Bluetooth.
It is also worth checking that the processor is compatible with H.265, HEVC and VP9 codecs by hardware . This will make higher quality videos playable smoothly. Intel processors have included support for this technology for years, but if you see an older model it may not include it.
All the models that we recommend below meet these basic requirements, in this way you will not make a mistake with your purchase.
Beelink J45
The Beelink J45 is a Mini PC with excellent features and a great price of 245 euros. This manufacturer is well known within the TV Box sector, and their products usually offer a very high quality. In this case, an Intel Apollo Lake Pentium J4205 processor with four 2.6 GHz processing cores has been mounted , which means that its performance will be very good.
The processor is accompanied by 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and 128 GB internal storage . The team is ample on both counts, so you won't have to worry about it falling short in the near future. In addition, it allows you to change your 128 GB storage unit for a larger one, and you can also add a 2.5-inch hard drive.
Asus PN40-CB123ZC
Asus is considered by many to be the best manufacturer of computer components. In this case they offer us a Mini PC that has been designed to be very easy to update . The computer comes with a 64 GB SSD storage unit and a 4 GB DDR4 RAM memory module. Both components can be updated in a very simple way, since they are of standard format.
The processor is a 2.7 GHz dual core Intel Celeron J4005 . It is not as powerful as the Beelink, but it is still a chip that offers very good performance for this type of device. It also allows you to add a 2.5-inch hard drive to have more storage capacity.
A team with an exceptional manufacturing quality, its price is 269 euros.
Asus Vivo Stick
We continue with Asus, this time with a TV Stick that will be perfect for users with less available space. This device connects directly to an HDMI port on your television , so you will not have any device next to the television.
Its size is very small, but Asus has managed to integrate a fairly solvent hardware. Its Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor is quad-core , but in power it is a step behind those seen in previous models.
RAM and storage are also reduced to 2GB and 32GB respectively , and cannot be expanded. It is the price to pay for having such a compact product. Its 159 euros make it the best option if you are looking for something very compact and visible.
Chuwi GBox
With this model Chuwi solves one of the drawbacks of using a Min PC in the living room, the lack of a control knob in the style of Android TV Boxes. The manufacturer attaches us a fairly complete command , which can be used as a Flymouse to navigate with greater comfort.
Its specs are at a high level too, with a 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Pentium N4100 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage . The downside is that in this case we will not be able to add an additional hard drive, although a microSD memory card of up to 256 GB.
At the software level, it is the most complete, since it comes with Windows 10 and Linux operating systems , so you can choose which one you want to use the computer with. One of the best options for 169 euros.
ACEPC AK1
This model has been one of the most popular on the market thanks to its good features. Its Intel Celeron J3455 processor is quad-core at 2.3 GHz , it is not the newest from Intel, but the performance is almost identical. The processor is accompanied by 4 GB of RAM and a 64 GB SSD storage, which can be replaced by a higher capacity one.
An advantage of this equipment is that it also includes a tray to put a 2.5-inch hard drive . The difference is that in this case it is modular, so that you can remove this tray if you are not going to use it, and with this the equipment will be more compact, it is something that very few models allow to do. It has a price of 169 euros.
//images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1H-aWHubES.mp4Intel NUC 8 Home i3-8109U
We have saved this model for last because it is the most powerful of all. This is a computer based on an Intel Core i3-8109U processor, with two cores, but superior performance than all the previous ones . It is a Mini PC focused on users who seek to have the closest thing to their desktop computer in a very small size.
With this processor you can even run some undemanding games , do not expect to play Fortnite fluently, but surely you will find a little gem to play in your living room with this computer.
Its disadvantage is that it comes without RAM or storage , you will have to buy them separately. This can also be seen as an advantage, since you can customize it to the maximum according to your needs and possibilities. It has a price of 299 euros.
ACEPC T8
One of the cheapest models on the market. It has an Intel Atom x5-Z8350 quad-core processor clocked at 1.9 GHz . This chip is accompanied by 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of non-expandable internal storage. It also has a slot for SD memory cards up to 128 GB. A humble model priced at just 96 euros.
Z83-F
Another option with the Intel Atom x5-Z8350 quad-core processor , in this case accompanied by 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage to avoid being in a hurry. Allows you to use an SD memory card of up to 128 GB to store all your favorite movies.
One point in favor of this model is that it has a VGA port , ideal for connecting to a somewhat old monitor. Its price is 135 euros.