Tips from China: Extremely cheap miniature PCs under 2,000 CZK, even with Windows 11!

In one of our previous installments of Tips from China, we looked at mini PCs priced around 3-4 thousand Czech crowns. Today, we’ll go down another level. What if you need a basic computer at the absolute lowest price? On AliExpress, you can find surprisingly capable mini PCs starting from 1,700 CZK. Let’s see what these devices offer and for whom they might be an ideal choice.

Who are ultra-cheap mini PCs suitable for?

Before we dive into specific models, it’s good to clarify who these cheapest mini PCs are actually for. With processors like Intel Celeron N4000 or N5105 and 6-8 GB of memory, they are certainly not high-performance machines. Their domain is basic tasks such as web browsing, working with documents, less demanding web applications, multimedia playback, or simple home automation.

A great advantage of these devices is their extremely low power consumption (usually 5-15 W) and completely silent operation thanks to passive, fanless cooling. Mini PCs in this price category often use eMMC storage, which is faster than a traditional hard drive but significantly slower than a full-fledged SSD. Fortunately, most models support the additional installation of a faster SSD drive, which is an affordable upgrade that significantly improves the user experience.

BMAX B1Pro – a mini PC for the price of a better mouse

The BMAX B1Pro is available on Aliexpress for just 2,070 CZK. For this price, you get a computer with a dual-core Intel Celeron N4000 processor clocked up to 2.6 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Naturally, it comes with pre-installed Windows 11 Pro.

Uživatelé oceňují především velmi tichý provoz a překvapivě dobrou odezvu při běžných úkolech. Nejčastější využití nacházejí jako multimediální centrum – jeden zákazník dokonce chválí, jak dobře funguje jako domácí Plex server připojený k externímu 4TB disku. Několik uživatelů zmiňuje, že výkon N4000 je dostačující pro základní kancelářské úkoly, ale pro cokoliv náročnějšího už je lepší sáhnout po výkonnějším modelu.

In terms of ports, it offers a pleasing three USB 3.2 ports, HDMI, VGA, and gigabit ethernet. The device also supports WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2. The dimensions are truly miniature – just over 10 cm in each direction, allowing for easy placement behind a monitor or TV.

Price: 2,070 CZK

Teclast N10 – with dual monitor support

The Teclast N10 is another mini PC built on the Intel N4000 processor, this time with 6 GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. At a price of 1,740 CZK, it is the cheapest computer in our selection. Like the BMAX, it comes with pre-installed Windows 11 Pro.

Co dělá tento model zajímavým, je jeho portová výbava. N10 nabízí VGA a HDMI výstupy s podporou dvou monitorů, tři USB 3.2 porty, USB-C, čtečku microSD karet, audio jack a gigabitový ethernet. Toto množství konektorů není u takto levných mini PC samozřejmostí a dělá z Teclastu N10 zajímavou volbu pro základní kancelářské sestavy.

However, user reviews reveal one drawback – the internal storage is not the full 128 GB as stated by the manufacturer, but only 98 GB. Several customers also reported issues with overheating. Despite these shortcomings, the Teclast N10 is popular for its low price and sufficient features for basic tasks.

Price: 1,740 CZK

MLLSE M2 Air – compact design at a reasonable price

The MLLSE M2 Air comes with a similar configuration to the previous models – an Intel N4000 processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. For 1,936 CZK, however, it offers improved connectivity options. The device features three USB 3.2 ports, an HDMI output (4K@30Hz), a VGA output, gigabit ethernet, and a microSD card reader.

Potěší také velmi kompaktní tělo s rozměry 119 × 119 × 24,5 mm a hmotností pouhých 245 gramů. To z něj dělá ideální volbu pro situace, kdy potřebujete opravdu malý počítač, například pro digitální reklamy, informační kiosky nebo jako nenápadné multimediální centrum v obýváku.

Users are generally satisfied with this mini PC, often praising it as an ideal choice for office programs, emails, and internet browsing. Several customers appreciated the absolute silence thanks to passive cooling and the long lifespan, as the device has no moving parts. An interesting tip from one user: for better performance, it is advisable to purchase a separate M.2 SATA disk size 2242, which is faster and more reliable than the built-in eMMC storage.

Price: 1,936 CZK

GMKtec KB5 – best value for money

If you can invest a little more in a mini PC, the GMKtec KB5 is worth considering. For a price of 2,504 CZK, it offers a significantly more powerful 4-core Intel N5105 processor clocked up to 2.9 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Thanks to its four cores, this mini PC can handle more demanding multitasking, and common applications run more smoothly on it than on models with the N4000.

Co dělá KB5 obzvláště zajímavým, jsou jeho extrémně kompaktní rozměry 72 × 72 × 44,5 mm a hmotnost pouhých 206 gramů. Jde o vůbec nejmenší mini PC v našem výběru, menší než pouzdro na telefon, jak uvádí jeden z uživatelů. I přes miniaturní rozměry nabízí dva HDMI 2.0 výstupy s podporou 4K@60Hz, tři USB 3.2 porty, gigabitový ethernet a 3,5mm audio jack.

Reviews indicate that the GMKtec KB5 is popular not only for basic office tasks but also as a multimedia center with 4K support or a server for home automation. Several users mention that after replacing the default 128GB storage (which offers only about 70 GB of free space after Windows installation) with a larger SSD, it becomes a very usable machine. Interestingly, some users successfully replaced Windows 11 Pro with Linux (such as Mint or Debian), which logically brought them even better performance and more free space.

Price: 2,504 CZK

How to improve the performance of cheap mini PCs?

Most ultra-cheap mini PCs suffer from the same drawbacks – slow storage and limited processor performance. While you can’t do anything about the processor, the storage can be easily upgraded on many models. The most effective upgrade is installing a faster SSD drive, which can dramatically improve the overall user experience.

For these mini PCs, we recommend purchasing an M.2 SATA SSD in the 2242 format (denoting dimensions of 22 × 42 mm). A 256GB SSD can be bought for as little as 500 CZK, and the difference in speed will be immediately noticeable. For models with Windows 11 Pro, it is also advisable to disable some effects and features that unnecessarily burden the hardware – for example, transparency effects, animations, or background services.

Another tip is to install a lightweight version of Linux, such as Linux Mint or Lubuntu, which are much less demanding on hardware than Windows. As reviews confirm, this step can significantly improve performance even on the weakest models.

Conclusion: Which model is the best choice?

Among the presented mini PCs, the GMKtec KB5 with the N5105 processor emerges as the clear winner. For a price only slightly higher than models with the N4000, it offers significantly better performance thanks to its four cores, two HDMI outputs with 4K@60Hz support, and extremely compact dimensions. It’s a small extra investment that is definitely worth it.

Pokud chcete utratit absolutní minimum, Teclast N10 za 1 740 Kč je rozumnou volbou – nabízí podporu dvou monitorů a dostatek portů pro základní použití. Jen počítejte s tím, že úložiště nemá plných 128 GB a výkon procesoru N4000 je vhodný opravdu jen pro ty nejzákladnější úkoly.

Tato ultra-levná mini PC samozřejmě nemohou konkurovat dražším modelům s výkonnějšími procesory, které jsme představili v předchozím dílu. Jejich kouzlo však spočívá v minimální pořizovací ceně, nulové hlučnosti a extrémně nízké spotřebě energie. Jako základní počítač pro internet, kancelářské aplikace nebo multimediální centrum ke starší televizi dokážou překvapit tím, co všechno za tyto peníze zvládnou.

Do you use any mini PCs at home? Or do you prefer classic computers?