Over the last year, mini PCs have taken a huge leap forward in design and power. The new range of CPUs with integrated GPU and, of course, the advent of AI potential have made these small machines a viable alternative to desktop PCS and even laptops.

In my experiencing testing the best mini PCs (and a few of the worst), I find them to be ideally pitched between larger, unwieldy desktop PCs and laptops. The small size means that you can not only free up valuable desk space, but also floor space, and with expansion options, such as RAM, SSD and eGPUs for more intensive tasks, there’s a mini PC to fit any budget and profession. They’re also far more flexible than other machines, as I have found in both the studio and workshop. The small design means that they fix to the back of the monitor, so no lost workspace, and in the van, they give me an on-site go anywhere workstation always ready to go.

We’re already rounding up the best Black Friday mini PC deals, but in the run-up to the official launch, I’ve revisited some of this year’s reviews and delved into some of the most impressive deals I’ve seen this year.