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

In one of our previous Tips from China articles, we looked at mini PCs priced around 3-4 thousand CZK. Today, we’ll go one level lower. 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 definitely not high-performance machines. Their domain is basic tasks such as web browsing, working with documents, less demanding web applications, playing multimedia, or simple home automation.

A big advantage of these devices is their extremely low power consumption (usually 5-15 W) and absolutely silent operation thanks to passive cooling without fans. 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, which is an affordable upgrade that will significantly improve 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 storage. Naturally, it comes with pre-installed Windows 11 Pro.

Users particularly appreciate its very quiet operation and surprisingly good responsiveness for everyday tasks. They are most often used as a multimedia center – one customer even praises how well it works as a home Plex server connected to an external 4TB drive. Several users mention that the N4000’s performance is sufficient for basic office tasks, but for anything more demanding, it’s better to opt for a more powerful model.

The port selection includes 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 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.

What makes this model interesting is its port selection. The N10 offers VGA and HDMI outputs with dual monitor support, three USB 3.2 ports, USB-C, a microSD card reader, an audio jack, and gigabit ethernet. This number of connectors is not common for such cheap mini PCs and makes the Teclast N10 an interesting choice for basic office setups.

However, user reviews reveal one drawback – the internal storage is not a 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 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.

Also pleasing is the very compact body with dimensions of 119 × 119 × 24.5 mm and a weight of only 245 grams. This makes it an ideal choice for situations where you need a really small computer, for example, for digital signage, information kiosks, or as an inconspicuous multimedia center in the living room.

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 storage. Thanks to its four cores, this mini PC can handle more demanding multitasking, and everyday applications run faster on it than on models with the N4000.

What makes the KB5 particularly interesting are its extremely compact dimensions of 72 × 72 × 44.5 mm and a weight of only 206 grams. It is the smallest mini PC in our selection, smaller than a phone case, as one user states. Despite its miniature size, it offers two HDMI 2.0 outputs with 4K@60Hz support, three USB 3.2 ports, gigabit ethernet, and 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 installing Windows) 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, which can dramatically improve the overall user experience.

For these mini PCs, we recommend purchasing an M.2 SATA SSD in the 2242 format (indicating dimensions 22 × 42 mm). A 256GB SSD can be bought for as little as 500 CZK, and the speed difference will be immediately noticeable. On 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.

If you want to spend the absolute minimum, the Teclast N10 for 1,740 CZK is a reasonable choice – it offers dual monitor support and enough ports for basic use. Just be aware that the storage is not a full 128 GB, and the performance of the N4000 processor is suitable only for the most basic tasks.

These ultra-cheap mini PCs naturally cannot compete with more expensive models with more powerful processors that we presented in the previous article. Their charm lies in their minimal purchase price, zero noise, and extremely low power consumption. As a basic computer for the internet, office applications, or a multimedia center for an older TV, they can surprise you with what they can handle for this price.

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