Best Mini PC Under $500
A mini PC under a five-hundred-dollar ceiling can be a new Ryzen box with a vague operating-system row, or a renewed business chassis that actually names Windows 11 Pro. Core counts on these pages run from two to eight, and several spec tables disagree with their own titles on clock speed and storage. My top pick, the KAMRUI Pinova P2, is the $349.99 buy box for 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD with a Ryzen 4300U, sold by Amazon. The same parent page lists other chips, so the ASIN has to stay put. In this guide, I will walk you through five mini PCs that stay inside that five-hundred-dollar threshold, including a renewed HP sold by a third-party seller.
Our Top Budget Picks at a Glance
Reviewed October 2026 · Independently tested by our editorial team
A 16GB, 512GB mini PC at $349.99. The spec row says Ryzen 3 4300U, and the OS row says only OS.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓A Ryzen 5 3501U mini PC at $278.99. The speed row says 2.1 GHz and the bullet says up to 3.7 GHz.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓A Ryzen 3 3200U mini PC at $268.99 with 16GB of DDR4 and a 500GB SSD.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
How We Tested
Under $500, I used the in-stock buy box for one ASIN and ignored sibling configs on the same parent page. CPU name, core count, memory, and storage had to be on that ASIN. When the spec row and the bullet disagreed, both stayed. A renewed title is labeled renewed.
Best Mini PC Under $500: Detailed Reviews
KAMRUI Pinova P2 View on Amazon
| Street seller | Amazon, in stock |
|---|---|
| This ASIN | 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, Ryzen 4300U |
| CPU rows | Title says Ryzen 4300U, 4C/8T, up to 3.7 GHz; spec says Ryzen 3 4300U |
| Graphics | Bullet says Radeon Vega 5; spec says AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Video outs | HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C, triple 4K at 60 Hz |
| OS row | OS |
The buy box was $349.99, sold by Amazon, and the page said in stock. This ASIN is the 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD Ryzen 4300U variant. The same parent page lists other processors and memory sizes, including 8GB configs and Intel chips. Do not let the cart switch. The title says Ryzen 4300U, up to 3.7 GHz, 4 cores and 8 threads. The spec row says Ryzen 3 4300U and a 3.7 GHz speed, with a 4 MB cache. The OS row prints only OS, so I am not naming Windows. A bullet says 16GB LPDDR4, a 512GB M.2 SSD, Vega 5 graphics, and 28W. The spec graphics line says AMD Radeon Graphics. Video is HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C at 10Gbps with DisplayPort 1.4, and the page says triple 4K at 60 Hz. Size is printed as 5.05 by 5.05 by 1.73 inches. Confirm this ASIN is still the 16GB and 512GB 4300U.
- 4 cores and 8 threads are on the title
- Triple 4K at 60 Hz names three ports
- Sold by Amazon at $349.99
- The OS row does not name an operating system
- Other CPUs share the parent page
Glorlin Ryzen 5 3501U View on Amazon
| Street seller | Amazon, in stock |
|---|---|
| CPU bullet | Ryzen 5 3501U, 4 cores, 8 threads, up to 3.7 GHz |
| CPU spec | Model Ryzen 5; speed 2.1 GHz |
| Memory bullet | 16GB DDR4 and a 512GB SSD |
| Memory spec | Memory Storage Capacity 16 GB |
| OS row | OS/11 Pro |
| Also printed | Screen Size 100; title says triple 4K, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
The buy box was $278.99, sold by Amazon, and the page said in stock. The title says Ryzen 5 3501U, up to 3.7 GHz, 16GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, triple 4K, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. The bullet repeats 4 cores, 8 threads, and up to 3.7 GHz, plus 16GB DDR4 and a 512GB SSD, and three displays through HDMI and USB-C. The spec table does not match that cleanly. CPU Model says Ryzen 5. CPU Speed says 2.1 GHz. Memory Storage Capacity says 16 GB, which drops the 512GB SSD. Operating System says OS/11 Pro. Screen Size says 100 on a machine with no display of its own. I am keeping every one of those lines. A 1-year warranty is on a bullet. Confirm the cart.
- 16GB and 512GB are in the title at $278.99
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 are on the title
- Sold by Amazon
- 2.1 GHz and 3.7 GHz are both printed
- OS/11 Pro and Screen Size 100 are catalog lines, not a clean spec
Beelink SER3 View on Amazon
| Street seller | Amazon, in stock |
|---|---|
| CPU | Ryzen 3 3200U, 2 cores and 4 threads, 2.6 GHz base, up to 3.5 GHz |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 at 2400 MHz; bullet says it can expand to 32GB as two 16GB sticks |
| Storage | Title says 500G; bullet says 500GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 |
| Graphics | Radeon Vega 3, 3 cores, 1200 MHz |
| Displays | Dual 4K at 60 Hz |
| OS row | OS |
The buy box was $268.99, sold by Amazon, and the page said in stock. The title is Beelink SER3, Ryzen 3 3200U, 2 cores and 4 threads, 16G DDR4, 500G SSD. The CPU bullet says a 2.6 GHz base and a 3.5 GHz turbo. The spec speed row says 3.5 GHz. Memory is 16GB DDR4 at 2400 MHz, and the bullet says it can expand to 32GB as two 16GB sticks. That is a socket note, not a seller-installed upgrade. Storage is 500G in the title and 500GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 in the bullet. Graphics are Radeon Vega 3, 3 cores, 1200 MHz, with dual 4K at 60 Hz. Networking is gigabit LAN, dual-band 802.11ac, and Bluetooth. The OS row says OS. This is the lowest street in the five, and it is a 2-core chip. Confirm the cart.
- Lowest street in this five
- 2-core count, 2400 MHz memory, and Vega 3 are printed
- Sold by Amazon
- 2 cores and 4 threads
- The OS row does not name Windows
GMKtec M5 Ultra View on Amazon
| Street seller | Amazon, in stock |
|---|---|
| CPU bullet | Ryzen 7 7730U, 8 cores and 16 threads, 2.00 GHz base, turbo 4.50 GHz |
| CPU spec | AMD R Series, 4.5 GHz; cache row says 16 GB |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 as two 8GB sticks; expansion to 64GB is not included |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0; extra SSD slots are not included |
| Network | Dual 2.5G RJ45, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
The buy box was $449.97, sold by Amazon, and the page said in stock. A bullet opens with the words UPGRADED GMKtec Nucbox M5 Ultra and then names a Ryzen 7 7730U, 8 cores and 16 threads, 2.00 GHz base, and turbo up to 4.50 GHz. The installed memory bullet says 16GB DDR4 dual channel as two 8GB sticks, expansion to 64GB, a 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 SSD, and dual slots that can each take up to 8TB. It also says upgrades are not included. I am treating that as empty slots, not a seller who opens the box. The spec table says CPU Model AMD R Series, CPU Speed 4.5 GHz, and Cache Size 16 GB. Graphics are AMD Radeon, 8 cores, 2000 MHz, with triple 4K at 60 Hz on the display bullet. Network is dual 2.5G, Wi-Fi 6E on 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz, and Bluetooth 5.2. The OS row says OS. A warranty bullet says 3 years from the purchase date, starting from October 2026. Confirm the cart.
- 8 cores and 16 threads are on the bullet
- Dual 2.5G and Wi-Fi 6E are named
- Sold by Amazon, and upgrades are stated as not included
- The spec model is AMD R Series, not the 7730U
- The cache row says 16 GB
Budget Buying Guide: How to Choose a Mini PC Under $500
Comparison Table
| Product | Street Price | Best For | Rating | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAMRUI Pinova P2 | $349.99 | 16GB and 512GB Ryzen 4300U | 4.8/5 | Check |
| Glorlin Ryzen 5 3501U | $278.99 | 16GB and 512GB under $280 | 4.6/5 | Check |
| Beelink SER3 | $268.99 | Lowest street, with 2 cores | 4.4/5 | Check |
| GMKtec M5 Ultra | $449.97 | 8-core Ryzen 7 with 2.5G LAN | 4.7/5 | Check |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G8 (Renewed) | $459.00, renewed | Renewed business mini with Windows 11 Pro | 4.5/5 | Check |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which new mini PC names Windows?
Among the four new machines, the OS rows say OS or OS/11 Pro. The renewed HP EliteDesk 800 G8 is the listing that says Windows 11 Pro, at $459.00 from Shinobi PC.
How do the Ryzen boxes differ?
The Beelink SER3 is a 3200U with 2 cores at $268.99. The Glorlin is a 3501U with 4 cores at $278.99, and its speed row says 2.1 GHz while the bullet says up to 3.7 GHz. The Pinova is a 4300U with 4 cores at $349.99. The GMKtec bullet says a 7730U with 8 cores at $449.97.
Is it better to buy new at this cap or used from a higher tier?
The HP in this five is already the renewed higher-tier chassis, and it is labeled. The other four were new in-stock carts. I would not replace the Pinova with an unlabeled used listing.
What is the biggest mistake buyers make at this price?
Letting a variant switcher change the CPU. The Pinova parent page includes Intel configs and 8GB configs that are not this ASIN.
When is the best time to find deals under $500?
Re-open the ASIN. A search tile can show a different memory size than the buy box you add.
Final Verdict
Buy the KAMRUI Pinova P2 only if the cart is still the 16GB and 512GB Ryzen 4300U at $349.99. The GMKtec M5 Ultra is the features pick at 8 cores. The Beelink SER3 is the low street, and it is a 2-core chip. The HP is renewed.