The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Mini PC Under 300 Dollars

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Mini PC Under 300 Dollars

What is a Mini PC and the Best Mini Pc Under 300 Dollars?

Modern technology advancement has made the need for a full-sized desktop to become unnecessary because of how big it is and it takes a lot of space in our working desk.

So mini PCs are also referred to as thin clients and they are integrated with your choice of monitors and peripherals like webcam and more.

Mini PCs are small in size where they can stay hidden out of sight either under the desk or behind a monitor but they are functional and compatible with software as traditional PCs. Since we all want to use the devices which are easy to carry around and you can use them anywhere this is where a mini PC comes into play.

They are compact and powerful enough as a full- size PC to be able to get your work done without a hiccup. Mini PC is upgradable and the price range is reasonable to match your needs. Thanks to their compact size because it is an excellent choice to use it when in a crowded workstation and when you are always traveling.

In our market today you will find a lot of mini PCs so to be able to help you choose the best PC I have listed the top five minis PC that you can own and enhance your work flow in tight spaces.

Mini PC Buying Guide & What to Consider When Buying

When you want to buy a mini PC you should first know about the important factors that will help you choose the best mini PC before buying them.

  • CPU: The first thing you should know is why you want to own a mini PC. Do you want it for surfing the internet, sending mails, playing games or working with heavy tasks? You can use a multi-core processor when you are computing basic tasks. When you want a mini PC for gaming and content creation it will be better to use a powerful processor that has 4 or more cores.
  • Barebone or Ready-to-go: Since there are two different types of mini PC in the market today, I will advise you to choose barebone because you can choose what you want to install in your mini PC and they are also cheap and they do not come with RAM, storage and operating system. Ready-to-go mini PCs come with everything installed making it have less room to install anything new.
  • Form Factor: Mini PCs will come in different forms and sizes where some are small like a USB drive so the size will determine its power. Ultra-small mini PC is only used in doing basic computing tasks.

Quickly Compare What’s The Best PC for 300 Dollars

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Guide to Finding the Best Mini PC Under $300 and Thin Clients

1. AZULLE ACCESS 3 MINI PC

The access tree from Azul is a fan less mini PC that fits in the palm of your hands and it is affordable to convert any compatible TV, monitor display or projector into a fully functional computer for business or entertainment in an instant powered by an Intel quad-core processor.

The access tree provides a smooth experience while juggling between various programs. It is equipped with 4 gigabytes of ddr4 synchronous dynamic Ram, 32 gigabytes of on-board storage. It also has a micro SDXC card slot that provides up to 256 gigabytes storage that makes it for watching content and surfing the web.

The access tree ensures stronger internet by providing both dual bands WI-FI as well as an Ethernet port for a faster and more reliable connection. Has a built-in Bluetooth 4.2 which provides a great connection to wireless peripherals.

It is designed with an HDMI port so that you can connect the access free to any HDMI ready TV, monitor or projector. It also has two built-in USB 3.0 ports so that you can customize your setup by connecting your personal mouse, keyboard and other accessories.

With its small form factor the access 3 gives you the flexibility of using your mini PC in any home or workspace and you can be able to get access to all of your documents, surf the web and stream your favorite shows from wherever you are. The xs3 is a pocket size mini PC that will do everything that a PC can and easily does your daily work. This mini PC has great reviews online and is available on amazon at a price of 229 dollars.

Features & Specifications

  • Processor –  Intel quad core
  • Graphics coprocessor – integrated
  • Storage – 256GB SDXC
  • Memory – 4GB DDR4 SD RAM
  • Operating system – Windows 10 Pro
  • Weight – 0.90 lbs.
  • Materials – Aluminum

Pros

  • It is portable
  • Has a built in Bluetooth
  • it can fit on the palm of your hand

Cons

  • It is weak as expected

2. ASUS CHROMEBOX 3 MINI PC

This is a chrome-box tree from Asus, a mini portable chrome-book that provides new and enriching computing experience in your office and classroom. It is powered by Intel core i7 processor and it’s a small device that supports up to 16 gigabytes of RAM and up to 256 gigabytes of fast storage.

It is a powerful hardware but it operates in remarkable silence because of the optimized fan setting that keeps noise level down. With support for USB power delivery Asus chrome-box 3 can charge a connected phone or accessory. It can also receive power from a supporter display or other device eliminating the need for a separate power adapter for a cleaner work space uncluttered with cables.

It supports dual display via HDMI and USB type-c without the need for an additional graphics card making multitasking a whole lot easier with this feature you can spread out your documents mirror content or extend a single browser across the multiple displays.

When it is time to kick back and relax you can enjoy a rich selection of android apps which are available on Google play you can easily find great apps for productivity communication, entertainment and more. You can do all of that easily because Asus chrome-box free even features touch screen support to provide more engaging user interactions.

If you want a powerful yet compact PC that comes with an affordable price range to use in an office then you should take a look at the chrome-box 3 with great reviews and ratings online this device is available with a cost of 189 dollars.

Features & Specifications

  • Processor – Intel core i7
  • Graphics coprocessor – Intel 4k HD graphics 610
  • Storage – 4GB DDR4 RAM SSD
  • Memory – 256GB 
  • Operating system – Chrome
  • Weight – 2.20 lbs.
  • Material – Aluminum

Pros

  • It is portable
  • Has built-in security features
  • It is easy and fast

Cons

  • Sometimes it can forget password you can make this better

3. AWOW WINDOWS 10 PRO MINI PC

This mini PC comes from AWOW manufacture and it balances between specification and usability. It has an elegant body design and the specifications are great making it compatible so you will fall in love with it.

This mini PC is a 5th generation Intel Core i3-5005U and the processor is responsible since it plays a very important role in the whole system and windows 10 making it to be a fast processing windows system.

However many companies have loaded their machines with 8GB RAMs and so AWOW mini PC also has the 8GB DDR3 RAM which helps and synchronizes the system to work well without any complications.

The loading speed and booting speed is maximized where the storage is loaded with 128GB M.2 SATA SSD making it to be the same as other PCs. You can increase storage capacity if you are not satisfied with it by installing any M.2 SSD or 2.5 Inch HDD or even use a micro SD card with up to 256GB capacity.

It has a unique design because it is slim and shiny where it looks like the material is made of glass but the body is made from aluminum with glossy finish making it have an elegant look. At the bottom of this mini PC there is a cooling fan and a rubber pad that will help to maintain good airflow from the top to bottom.

It also has connectivity ports which includes two USB 3.0 type A, one type C port, two USB 2.0 type A ports, dual full-sized HDMI ports, micro SD slot, combo audio jack and one LAN port but they don’t find it very useful. 

This mini PC also has a built-in WIFI that will help maintain a strong connection and you can also connect with LAN cable. You can easily upgrade the storage capacity and also expand it. The dual HDMI ports will give you dual 4K picture resolution giving an advantage over one HDMI with VGA port. You can also transfer your mobile data easily because it has built-in Bluetooth.

Features & Specifications

  • Processor – Intel core i3 5005U
  • Graphics Intel HD graphics
  • Storage 128GB M.2 SSD
  • Memory 8GB DDR3 RAM
  • Operating system Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
  • Weight 2 pounds
  • Material aluminum

Pros

  • Elegant device
  • 4k support
  • Compatible
  • Easy to upgrade and to connect

Cons

  • At least 5 type A ports

4. AWOW WINDOWS 11 PRO MINI PC

This is another mini PC from AWOW manufacture and it is the perfect mini PC for home entertainment because the processor is suitable and it will give you enough entertainment. It is from Intel Celeron J4115 and with a boost frequency of 2.0 GHz so if you want a working heavy device this will be the best option.

However the processor is weak when you compare with the others but it is loaded with 8GB DDR4 RAM so the performance is higher and also has i3 with DDR3 RAM. And because of its abilities the DDR4 has emerged and is used more widely in laptops.

It has a 128GB storage that comes from NVMe SSD and this is a step forward technology from normal SSDs but it is an optimum storage. You can easily expand by using a 2.5 inch HDD or SSD because it is connected directly with the machine motherboard thus giving you a responsible and good experience.

The design of this PC is simple and optimal with a shiny grayish black color with a top lid making it visible. Has a silver body that is made up of aluminum and also has an internal cooling fan that has an opening air vent making the system and processor to always remain cool. It is free from slippery surfaces because of the rubber pad on the bottom.

It has connectivity ports that are on the front and rear side of the body where the front side has two USB 2.0 type A ports, audio combo jack and USB type C for triple display setup. The rear side has single LAN ports, dual HDMI ports with two USB 3.0 type A ports.

With its display feature the mini PC is able to give a triple 4K support without any distorted pixel. It also has an inbuilt WIFI and with LAN ports it can connect an Ethernet cable and transfer Ethernet to wireless peripherals. This mini PC also has Bluetooth 5.0 support.

Features & Specifications

  • Processor – Intel Celeron J4115
  • Graphics coprocessor – Intel UHD Graphics 600
  • Storage – 128GB NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Memory – 8GB DDR4 RAM 
  • Operating system – Windows 10 pro 64 Bit
  • Weight – 1.6 pound
  • Material aluminum

Pros

  • It is a 4K quality
  • It support triple display
  • Has Bluetooth 5.0

Cons

  • Does not have a micro SD card slot

5. KAMRUI WINDOWS 10 PRO MINI PC

This mini PC is beautiful and unique and the design of this PC is eye-catching and it is different from other mini PCs in the market today. It is an Intel Celeron J3455 processor with a good performance. Have no disturbance lag and the waiting issue.

It has an 8GB RAM that is able to operate with other components and it is enough and it is DDR3. It comes with a normal capacity and has options to expand and this is easy to upgrade and expand. This mini PC comes with 128GB M.2 SSD and you can install SSD and HDD at the same time because it supports dual storage capacity.

The design of this mini PC from KAMRUI manufacturers is elegant, unique and sleek giving you a nice experience. Has no extra curves and there is also an internal fan but the most liked feature in this PC is that when you turn it on it the top of the body shines up because of the blue lights. It also has a gaming set up and there are also LED lights behind the monitor when it is mounted.

I really like this device because of its uniqueness and is different from the other devices. The design is perfect, giving you an experience of having an expensive device for those people who love having expensive devices and taste in their home or working area. You can get this device on amazon with a price of 195 dollars only.

Features & Specifications

  • Processor – Intel Celeron J3455
  • Graphics coprocessor – Intel UHD graphics 500
  • Storage  120GB M.2 SSD
  • Memory – 8GB DDR3 RAM 
  • Operating system – Windows 10 pro 64 Bit
  • Weight – 1.94 pounds
  • Material – aluminum

Pros

  • The design is beautiful
  • Has an elegant body
  • Has lighting effects
  • Has a quiet cooling system

Cons

  • Low specs

FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)

Mini PCs are a popular option for those wishing to enhance their home electronics if they want a strong, portable, and energy-efficient computer. They are suitable for a variety of uses around your house in addition to being perfect for work and business.

Mini PCs are now a lot more appealing option than they formerly were. A desktop PC will provide you greater power and allow for upgrades, but it will also take up more room. Although a tiny PC is extremely portable and typically cannot be upgraded, it is still more than adequate for those daily duties.

Mini PCs are a popular option for those wishing to enhance their home electronics if they want a strong, portable, and energy-efficient computer. They are suitable for a variety of uses around your house in addition to being perfect for work and business.

Mini PCs cannot be greatly expanded due to their small size, however most Windows machines allow you to update the storage and RAM, and some even let you replace out the CPU.

The drawbacks mostly apply to certain application instances or customer requests: Mini PCs lack an optical drive and a dedicated graphics card, making them ineffective for some tasks that require a lot of hardware.

Mini PCs and laptops both function at comparable levels. Due to their small bodies, both devices make significant power and performance sacrifices. Although there are robust laptops and tiny PCs for graphically demanding or gaming jobs, the equipment is better suited for everyday usage.

Mini PCs are computers with a smaller form factor that are intended to provide the same degree of computation in a more compact form. Mini PCs are compact, portable computers that can be picked up and moved anywhere. They come in a wide variety of configurations and with a variety of extra components.

Final Remarks

By now you should know the kind of the mini PC you want that is under 300 dollars for you. I did the research according to the reviews and found the most top five rated mini PC devices. I will be glad if this article will help you to make the right choice.

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