A mini PC gives you full desktop performance in a body smaller than a paperback — but “mini PC” covers a few different shapes. This guide explains the difference between an Intel NUC, a Micro, a Tiny and a Small Form Factor desktop, and helps you pick the right one.
A mini PC is a full Windows desktop computer shrunk into a tiny case — typically between the size of a paperback book and a slim hardback. It runs the same Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, RAM and SSD storage as a normal desktop, so for everyday work — Office, email, browsing, video calls and most business software — it performs identically to a full tower. What you trade away is internal expansion room and, in the smallest models, some ports. What you gain is a near-silent machine that sips power and tucks behind a monitor or under a desk. Most of our mini PCs come from corporate and government fleets, professionally refurbished and graded, which makes them outstanding value.
The four shapes you’ll see most often, side by side.
| Intel NUC | Micro (Dell) | Tiny (Lenovo / HP Mini) | Small Form Factor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Ultra-compact (~0.5L) | Compact (~1.2L) | Compact (~1L) | Slim desktop (~7–9L) |
| Typical CPU | i3–i7 (mobile) | i5–i7 | i5–i7 | i5–i7 (full desktop) |
| RAM / storage | 8–16GB / SSD | 8–16GB / SSD | 8–32GB / SSD | Up to 32GB+ / SSD (+HDD) |
| Ports | Limited | Good | Good | Most |
| Upgrades | RAM & SSD | RAM & SSD | RAM & SSD | RAM, SSD, low-profile PCIe |
| Best for | Home, signage, kiosks | Office, point-of-sale | Business fleets, reception | Power users wanting room to grow |
Micro, Mini and Tiny are different vendor names for the same idea — Dell calls it Micro, HP calls it Mini and Lenovo calls it Tiny. All three are the business standard and behave almost identically.
The smallest option — barely bigger than your hand. Brilliant for a tidy home setup, digital signage or a kiosk. Fewer ports, so plan for a USB-C hub or dock if you connect a lot. Shop Intel NUC →
Dell’s OptiPlex Micro — a desktop-class i5/i7 in a palm-sized box with a solid port selection. The classic refurbished office machine. Shop Micro desktops →
Lenovo’s ThinkCentre Tiny and HP’s EliteDesk/ProDesk Mini — rock-solid business fleets, easy to service, often with more RAM headroom. Shop Tiny desktops →
A slim desktop, larger than a Tiny but far smaller than a tower — room for more ports and a low-profile card. Pick this if you want a little expansion. See desktops →
Whichever shape you choose, every unit is graded Premium to Acceptable and backed by our 12-month warranty.
Browse every form factor in one place on our refurbished mini PCs page.
Once you’ve picked a shape, these are the specs that matter.
An Intel i5 is ideal for everyday office work; choose an i7 for heavier multitasking or light creative tasks.
8GB is fine for basic use; 16GB is the sweet spot for business and multitasking. Most mini PCs let you add more later.
Always choose an SSD — every machine we sell has one. 256GB suits light use; 512GB+ for plenty of headroom.
Count what you’ll plug in — monitors, USB devices, ethernet. Smaller NUCs have fewer ports; a dock solves it.
If you need heavy graphics, gaming or lots of internal expansion, a tower is still the better choice. If you want the computer and screen in a single unit, look at an all-in-one. For everything else — office work, study, reception, point-of-sale, signage and tidy home desks — a mini PC gives you the same everyday performance in a fraction of the space and power. For business buyers, mini PCs are easy to deploy in volume; ask us about bulk orders.
There’s no single “best mini PC” — the right one depends on how you’ll use it.
Browse every form factor — Intel NUC, Micro, Tiny and more — on our refurbished mini PCs page. SSD, Windows 11 Pro and a 12-month warranty as standard, with free shipping Australia-wide.
LAST UPDATED · JUN 2026 · CLS BUYING GUIDE
