Best mini PC under $300
The sub-$300 tier is almost entirely Intel N100 boxes — and that is a good thing. They are cheap, near-silent, sip power and hardware-transcode video. Here is how to choose between them, and where the money stops buying you more.
In short: For most buyers, the Beelink Mini S12 Pro is the pick — a complete, quiet N100 kit, cheap and able to hardware-transcode Plex. The GMKtec NucBox G3 adds 2.5GbE for a little less polish; the AceMagic S1 is the cheapest way in if you are happy to check the exact listing.
At a glance
Our top pick is Beelink Mini S12 Pro (score 8/10), from TBC Price TBC — not confirmed on a vendor/retailer page.Next is GMKtec NucBox G3 (7.8/10), from US$169.99 GMKtec US store — from (barebone option).
| Mini PC | Best for | Price from | Idle power | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beelink Mini S12 ProIntel N100, quiet and cheap | Best cheap Plex box | TBCPrice TBC — not confirmed on a vendor/retailer page | TBC | 8 | Check price |
| GMKtec NucBox G3Intel N100 budget box | Best budget mini PC | US$169.99GMKtec US store — from (barebone option) | TBC | 7.8 | Check price |
| AceMagic S1Intel N100 entry box | Best for a first mini PC | TBCPrice TBC — sold via marketplaces; no longer listed on the AceMagic store | TBC | 7.5 | Check price |
Prices were checked on 10 October 2026 and change often — always confirm on the vendor's or store's own page. Fields marked TBC could not be confirmed and are not estimated;see which records are still unverified.
How we score
- Value per dollar — what the entry price actually buys once you add RAM and storage.
- Real-world fit: Plex transcoding, light desktop use, and always-on home-server duty.
- Idle and load power, because a cheap box that runs 24/7 is a running-cost decision.
- Upgrade options: SODIMM vs soldered RAM, M.2 slots, and the networking on board.
- Whether the listing is barebone or a complete kit — a hidden cost at this price.
Our promises
The top picks, in detail
Beelink Mini S12 Pro
| CPU | Intel Processor N100 (4C/4T, up to 3.4GHz) |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics (Quick Sync) |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 (1× SODIMM) |
| Storage | 500GB M.2 SSD |
| Ports | TBC |
| Idle power | TBC |
Pros
- Very cheap and near-silent
- Quick Sync handles several 4K transcodes
Cons
- Ports and current price could not be confirmed — verify the exact listing
- Single RAM slot and one M.2 slot
Specs and price are sample data, not yet audited — confirm against the vendor before buying.
Where to buy Beelink Mini S12 Pro
Disclosure: Beelink Mini S12 Pro links are commercial and may earn us a commission once affiliate programs are live. It never changes our scores or the order we rank in. Availability and price vary by region — confirm on the store page.
GMKtec NucBox G3
| CPU | Intel Processor N100 (4C/4T) |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics (Quick Sync) |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 (1× SODIMM; barebone option) |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 SSD (barebone option) |
| Ports | TBC |
| Idle power | TBC |
Pros
- Very cheap for an always-on box
- Small, quiet and low power
Cons
- Port list could not be confirmed on the vendor page — verify before buying
- N100 is fine for light use, not heavy loads
Specs and price are sample data, not yet audited — confirm against the vendor before buying.
Where to buy GMKtec NucBox G3
Disclosure: GMKtec NucBox G3 links are commercial and may earn us a commission once affiliate programs are live. It never changes our scores or the order we rank in. Availability and price vary by region — confirm on the store page.
AceMagic S1
| CPU | Intel Processor N100 (4C/4T) |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics (Quick Sync) |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 SSD |
| Ports | TBC (marketplace listing mentions dual LAN and Wi-Fi 6/BT 5.2) |
| Idle power | TBC |
Pros
- One of the cheapest ways into the N100 class
- Fine for browsing, light server duties and a starter Plex node
Cons
- Delisted from the AceMagic store — sold mainly through marketplaces now
- Port list and price unverified; bundle configs vary by listing
Specs and price are sample data, not yet audited — confirm against the vendor before buying.
Where to buy AceMagic S1
Disclosure: AceMagic S1 links are commercial and may earn us a commission once affiliate programs are live. It never changes our scores or the order we rank in. Availability and price vary by region — confirm on the store page.
Keep reading
Common questions
What can a sub-$300 mini PC do?
Plenty: web browsing and documents, a Plex/Jellyfin media server with hardware transcoding, a light always-on home server (Home Assistant, downloads), a NAS front-end, or a second PC. What it will not do well is heavy video editing, gaming, or lots of simultaneous virtual machines.
Why is the Intel N100 so common at this price?
It is cheap, very low power (idle around 6W) and includes Intel Quick Sync, so it hardware-transcodes video. For the money it is the best all-round budget chip — the limits are the modest CPU, one RAM slot, and usually 1GbE or 2.5GbE networking.
Are these fast enough as a desktop?
For everyday use, yes — browsing, documents, streaming. For compiling, heavy multi-tasking or gaming, no. If you need more CPU, the 8-core AMD boxes (from around US$479) are the next rung up.
Can I upgrade a budget mini PC?
Usually the RAM and the M.2 SSD, in the models that use SODIMM rather than soldered memory. Check the specific listing: some budget boxes ship barebone (no RAM/SSD) and some have a single RAM slot, so buy the right configuration first.
Should I get a mini PC or a Raspberry Pi at this price?
If you want an x86 Windows/Linux desktop or easy Plex transcoding, a N100 mini PC wins. If you want low power, GPIO and tinkering, a Raspberry Pi (or an RK3588 board) is the better fit — see our Raspberry Pi alternatives guide.