Mini PCs have been around for many years, and many people have likely used Intel’s NUC before, which continues to be updated. With Xiaomi releasing a similar mini PC, more ordinary users have become interested in this field. At least I used to use a laptop, but now I have two mini PCs. One is the Mingfan XH50G, used for Hackintosh; the other is the Xiaomi mini PC, which, although a rebranded NUC, I like for its all-in-one connectivity.

So, can mini PCs replace your desktop or laptop? Let’s take a look at what mini PCs can do!

Core of this article: Providing some new ideas for friends interested in mini PCs

1. Advantages of Mini PCs

1. They can replace desktop computers

Since mini PCs use laptop configurations, many people’s first reaction is to use them to replace laptops. However, I believe they are more suitable as replacements for desktops, becoming common in offices. From reviews, we can see that many people choose them for office use. Compared to laptops, they offer many more functionalities, such as soft routing, NAS, TV boxes, and more.

2. Better cooling than laptops

You could say they combine the shortcomings of desktops and laptops, or you could say they combine their advantages. Cooling tends to be better than many similarly configured laptops, as, to some extent, they have more space than laptops.

3. More flexible than laptops

Many guys like mini PCs because they offer more fun and satisfy the desire to tinker, such as replacing memory, SSDs, wireless cards, cooling systems, external cables, displays, etc.

Moreover, mini PCs are also more flexible. I didn’t notice this before, but when looking at second-hand laptops, I found that prices drop significantly. In just a few years, a laptop that used to cost over ten thousand can drop to two or three thousand.

However, with mini PCs, it’s much easier. When you want to upgrade, you can just replace the main unit, and other components can still be used.

It’s also easy to sell mini PCs or use them as TV boxes.

4. More flexible than desktops

I see many people using mini PCs for office work. Especially in small companies, there’s a tendency where sometimes work isn’t finished, and you need to bring it home. This is a scenario that many people encounter. This is friendlier than laptops and desktops. After all, both home and office have large displays and setups. You only need to bring the mini PC.

5. Other features of mini PCs

Some can serve as soft routers or light NAS. Many people have also developed them for live streaming, especially when needing a large screen and live broadcasting outdoors. Having a mini PC saves the weight of a laptop, making it easier to connect to larger screens for a better live streaming experience.

Of course, they are not replacements for laptops, so if you travel frequently, laptops are still better. Personally, I also find laptops more convenient.

2. One-cable connectivity + Touchscreen

Since many people think about carrying them out, I believe that if you travel frequently, laptops are definitely more convenient. But if you only go out once or twice a year, mini PCs are also a good choice. A simple setup is: mini PC + one-cable connectivity + portable touchscreen.

This logic is quite clear; the mini PC powers the portable screen through one-cable connectivity. You can enable a virtual keyboard and mouse and type like on a tablet.

Of course, this can reduce many accessories, such as a power adapter. If it’s a DC port, you can buy a DC to Type-C adapter online for just twenty or thirty.

Moreover, many that support C-port power also support one-cable connectivity, making them even more convenient.

3. Screen expansion functionalities

Some say laptops are more convenient, and that’s certainly true. For those who enjoy tinkering with mini PCs and want to reduce accessories, there are still plenty of fun things to do. The screen is one of the most important aspects. Besides connecting to a home display, there are portable screens with built-in batteries, such as the United Innovations 13Q1F, which is a portable screen that can be used directly for projection. It can project wirelessly from a phone and a computer.

For example, tablets with DP in functionality are also a new trend. The Lenovo Legion Y900, for instance, is a 14.5-inch OLED tablet that supports DP in. Besides being a regular tablet, it can also connect to a computer as a secondary screen or be used as a mini PC screen when going out.

Mini PC + tablet that supports video input, this combination feels like the perfect match for mini PCs.

Currently, there are only two such tablets, both from Lenovo. I hope in the future, manufacturers of mini PCs will also release a DP in tablet at the same time.

4. One-cable connectivity mini PCs

Mini PCs can be purchased for just a few hundred to over a thousand. However, they often do not support one-cable connectivity, meaning they lack USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 ports. You need to spend around three thousand to find mini PCs that support one-cable connectivity. Of course, some support one-cable connectivity but do not support power delivery through the C port, so this is something to be aware of.

1. Mingfan EM680

This Mingfan EM680 has some shortcomings in certain areas, but its advantage is its compact size, measuring 80mm wide, 51.6mm high, and very small in design. It has an R7-6800U processor, with onboard memory that cannot be replaced, and LPDDR5 specifications, along with liquid metal cooling. It has two USB4 ports, supporting one-cable connectivity and powering the mini PC.

For regular use, just carry a PD charger, and it can also power a phone and portable screen, but Mingfan’s brand recognition is quite low.

2. Mingfan UM773

This mini PC with a 7735HS processor represents sufficient performance and configuration. This model supports one-cable connectivity but does not support PD for internal power delivery. Additionally, the power adapter is relatively large, so if you need to go out, it’s more convenient to replace it with a smaller power adapter. The configuration is decent and not expensive, making it a popular choice.

3. Xiaomi Mini PC

I bought this second-hand for just over two thousand, and the shell feels quite good. The power adapter is also not large, with a power of 100W. I bought a DC to C port adapter, allowing me to charge my phone, which reduces the number of chargers I need when going out. The DC port specification is 5521, which many have purchased.

It has an i5-1240P processor, which is not very powerful. However, I want to use it for going out, so I don’t care much about performance; stability is what matters. I also like that it has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, making it very convenient for one-cable connectivity with portable screens. However, it does not support PD for internal power delivery.

There are also new models with the 7840HS processor, but since they just came out, if you’re not in a hurry, I suggest waiting. Such high performance needs to be observed in terms of cooling. Other mini PCs, I’ve written about before, so you can search for those. Here, I mainly want to discuss the functionalities of mini PCs, hoping to provide some ideas for interested friends.

Further Reading