Skip the $1,500 laptop - why Mini PCs are the way to go as RAM prices skyrocket

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini x is disposable present for $849 astatine Best Buy.
• It provides reliable show acknowledgment to its Snapdragon X Plus processor, ample RAM, and a decent enactment of ports.
• Graphical show is limited, and app compatibility issues could beryllium a concern.

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Back successful December, my desktop died. I inactive don't cognize precisely what happened, but the result was clear: I needed a caller one. Thankfully, I had the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini x connected hand. I was skeptical, but this mini PC, which launched astatine the extremity of 2025, delivered an acquisition amazingly adjacent to my accustomed setup. And it's 1 I urge if you're connected a budget.

The caller AI craze has seen developers gobble up arsenic overmuch RAM arsenic they tin get their hands on, driving PC prices to caller heights and leaving companies struggling to find components. I've seen modern laptops with lone 16GB of RAM retail for $1,500. Mini PCs similar Lenovo's IdeaCentre are a large alternate due to the fact that they connection show comparable to, and sometimes adjacent amended than, modern laptops.

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In this peculiar instance, it's decidedly amended due to the fact that the IdeaCentre exemplary that I reviewed comes with 32GB of RAM to present precocious velocity and power, portion besides being cheaper astatine conscionable $900 astatine the clip of this writing. Granted, it's not arsenic portable arsenic a laptop, but the upsides are excessively bully to ignore. 

Why we similar it

Compared to different mini PCs I've tested, this instrumentality is simply a spot connected the larger side, measuring 1.68 x 7.68 x 7.52 inches and weighing conscionable nether 4 pounds. It reminds maine a batch of the aged Mac Minis earlier the redesign. It doesn't instrumentality up a batch of space, but if you find it excessively large for your desk, Lenovo includes a tiny vertical basal that props the machine upright.

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What's absorbing astir this instrumentality is that it is portion of Lenovo's ARM-compatible lineup. It runs connected a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 processor, paired with an Andreno graphics card. If you're not acquainted with Windows connected ARM, it is simply a much energy-efficient mentation of Windows designed that tally peculiar ARM-based chips alternatively than accepted Intel and AMD hardware. 

For years, these types of PCs were efficaciously seen arsenic little powerful. But times person changed, and Windows connected ARM PCs are present viable alternatives. We've tested several specified laptops implicit the past year.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Below is simply a array wherever I comparison the benchmark results of the IdeaCentre Mini x to the Acer Veriton NUC AI, which is the past mini PC I tested, and the Acer Swift Edge 14, a work-centric laptop from this year. Looking astatine the numbers, you'll announcement the IdeaCentre outperforms its rivals, averaging a multi-core people of astir 13,290 successful Geekbench 6.

In mundane use, the IdeaCentre felt accelerated and responsive. A large origin successful that velocity is the 32GB of RAM it houses. Browsing the internet, handling wide bureau work, penning successful a connection processor, and doing airy photograph editing each felt smooth. I utilized the PC arsenic my superior enactment machine during the period my main desktop was retired of commission, and the quality betwixt the 2 felt virtually indistinguishable.

Graphical show is wherever the issues amusement up, and that's not a surprise. This is not a instrumentality meant for dense contented creation. Sure, it handles graphics-intensive tasks amended than its rivals, but compared to much creator-focused machines like Samsung's Galaxy Book6 Ultra, it falls short. 

Also: This Lenovo gaming laptop has nary concern being this bully for work

I should besides constituent retired that it is imaginable to play video games connected the IdeaCentre. Monster Hunter Rise was a crippled I tested, and it ran perfectly fine, though I had to tweak immoderate graphical settings to marque the acquisition smoother. Still, arsenic a no-frills PC built for mundane tasks, determination are immoderate limitations connected what you tin tally connected Lenovo's PC. I'll get into those restrictions a small aboriginal on.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Who it's for

The Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini x is champion suited for radical who privation an affordable, compact PC for mundane tasks oregon concern use. It's fast, reliable, and, astir notably, quiet. Even nether heavier workloads, the loudest it gets is simply a brushed hum from the interior fan. 

The chassis does lukewarm up a spot during sustained use, but ne'er to a worrying level. Connectivity connected the IdeaCentre is beauteous solid. You get 4 USB-A ports, 2 USB-C inputs, Ethernet for wired internet, HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4a for video output, and a headphone/mic combo jack. That's capable to enactment a afloat bureau setup implicit with aggregate accessories and outer displays.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Who should look elsewhere

To repetition what I've said earlier, this is not a PC built for exceedingly intensive workloads. If earthy show is simply a apical priority, determination are stronger options. Samsung's aforementioned Galaxy Book6 Ultra outperforms the IdeaCentre crossed each metric. Apple's M4 Max Mac Studio from past twelvemonth is different large option. It's a tiny machine that provides importantly amended show than Lenovo's PC.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Also, there's the compatibility contented with Windows connected ARM. While bundle enactment has improved importantly implicit the years, not each app tin tally natively oregon adjacent beryllium emulated connected an ARM-based system. Without getting excessively heavy into the weeds, this spread successful enactment exists due to the fact that ARM chips usage a antithetic architecture than accepted processors. Most large programs tally good connected the IdeaCentre, however. 

But determination are immoderate exceptions. Google Play Games does not presently enactment connected Windows connected ARM, for example. During testing, I recovered a precise adjuvant website called Windows ARM Software & News. It maintains a regularly updated database of programs that enactment with Windows connected ARM. 

ZDNET's buying advice

Multiple configurations of the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini x are available. The Snapdragon-powered exemplary that I reviewed typically retails for $1,340, but it's presently connected merchantability for $900. If you're looking to walk less, the institution besides offers an Intel-based mentation of the IdeaCentre for $550. The machine is simply a coagulated alternate to pricier laptops and desktops. If you get this PC, I urge checking retired that Windows ARM website to spot which apps enactment and which don't.