Best PC Sticks | January 2021
What is a PC Stick? A PC Stick is a miniature computer contained in a case the size of a USB stick; it connects to monitors and televisions through the HDMI input and some models are also equipped with USB Type-A and C inputs to support various accessories.
Are these solutions worth buying? The purchase of a device mainly depends on the user's needs; those who need an "ultra-portable" PC (to attach to house keys), will be more than satisfied with these products. On the other hand, the performance of a PC Stick is not comparable to that of traditional products.
If you decide to buy a PC Stick, you will have to keep in mind that they are meant for basic productivity: document management ( Word, Excel, etc.), browsing the web, watching videos and little else. The good news is that the following models support Windows 10, so you won't be limited by software (like on Chromebooks).
A PC Stick could come in handy for professionals who travel frequently and need to carry around with them your documents and software: teachers, writers, consultants, sales people and so on.
ACEPC T6 is an entry-level Stick PC equipped with 2GB of LPDDR3 and 32GB RAM eMMC Flash memory (expandable up to 128GB with microSD card). It costs around 100 euros and is one of the cheapest models on the market. It is about 9.9cm long, 3.9cm wide and 1.27cm thick; supports Dual band Wi-Fi and offers one USB 3.0, one 2.0 and one MicroUSB input.
It is equipped with the Intel Atom Z8350 processor, the most popular CPU in this sector. This is a low-end quadcore model useful for basic productivity.
»Click here to buy ACEPC T6 (2GB + 32GB)
AWOW TX2
Are these solutions worth buying? The purchase of a device mainly depends on the user's needs; those who need an "ultra-portable" PC (to attach to house keys), will be more than satisfied with these products. On the other hand, the performance of a PC Stick is not comparable to that of traditional products.
If you decide to buy a PC Stick, you will have to keep in mind that they are meant for basic productivity: document management ( Word, Excel, etc.), browsing the web, watching videos and little else. The good news is that the following models support Windows 10, so you won't be limited by software (like on Chromebooks).
A PC Stick could come in handy for professionals who travel frequently and need to carry around with them your documents and software: teachers, writers, consultants, sales people and so on.
The best PC Sticks of 2020
ACEPC T6 (2 GB + 32 GB) AWOW TX2 ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB) MINISFORUM S41 AWOW N41S1) ACEPC T6 (2GB + 32GB)
ACEPC T6 is an entry-level Stick PC equipped with 2GB of LPDDR3 and 32GB RAM eMMC Flash memory (expandable up to 128GB with microSD card). It costs around 100 euros and is one of the cheapest models on the market. It is about 9.9cm long, 3.9cm wide and 1.27cm thick; supports Dual band Wi-Fi and offers one USB 3.0, one 2.0 and one MicroUSB input.
It is equipped with the Intel Atom Z8350 processor, the most popular CPU in this sector. This is a low-end quadcore model useful for basic productivity.
»Click here to buy ACEPC T6 (2GB + 32GB)
AWOW TX2
AWOW TX2 is a medium-low range model equipped with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 64GB of eMMC Flash memory (expandable memory with microSD card up to 128GB) and the Intel Atom X5-Z8350 CPU, which reaches a boost frequency of 1.92 GHz.
The device supports Dual band Wi-Fi (2.4G and 5.0G) and Bluetooth 4.0, it also has a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 and a jack audio. The price is around 150 euros.
»Click here to buy AWOW TX2
3) ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB)
ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB) is a mid-range PC Stick equipped with 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 120GB of internal memory (eMMC); it costs around 180 euros and boasts excellent value for money. As you may have guessed, it is a variant of the entry-level model, so it offers the same specifications, only the size of the memories varies.
The PC Stick supports Windows 10 Pro (64 bit) and, if you need of a model with a lot of memory, this is the variant for you.
»Click here to buy ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120 GB)
4) MINISFORUM S41
MINISFORUM S41, like the ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB) costs around 180 euros, however it offers less memory but a more powerful processor. In fact, the device features 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of eMMC Flash memory (expandable with microSD card up to 128GB). The Intel Celeron N4120 CPU which reaches a boost frequency of 2.6 GHz, has 4 cores / 4 threads (it has no HyperThreading) and boasts good performance for this product category.
Compared to ACEPC's proposals , has a bulkier body: it is about 13.3cm long, 4.6cm wide and 1.4cm thick. It offers Dual band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, it also has two USB 3.0 ports and one USB-C.
»Click here to buy MINISFORUM S41
5) AWOW N41S
AWOW N41S is a $ 300 Stick PC with a high-end data sheet: 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of storage and the “powerful” Intel Gemini Lake J4105 quadcore processor. Compared to the Celeron N4120, the single core performance is on par, while in multicore it manages to perform about 25% better.
Supports Dual Band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2. The connectivity side is complete, in fact it offers a USB 3.0 input, one 2.0, a USB-C port, an Ethernet port, a microSD card slot and even a headphone jack, as well as the inevitable HDMI 2.0 output. As you can see, despite its size, it also boasts a fanless design and the Wi-Fi antenna is external.
»Click here to buy AWOW N41S
AWOW TX2 is a medium-low range model equipped with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 64GB of eMMC Flash memory (expandable memory with microSD card up to 128GB) and the Intel Atom X5-Z8350 CPU, which reaches a boost frequency of 1.92 GHz.
The device supports Dual band Wi-Fi (2.4G and 5.0G) and Bluetooth 4.0, it also has a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 and a jack audio. The price is around 150 euros.
»Click here to buy AWOW TX2
3) ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB)
ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB) is a mid-range PC Stick equipped with 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 120GB of internal memory (eMMC); it costs around 180 euros and boasts excellent value for money. As you may have guessed, it is a variant of the entry-level model, so it offers the same specifications, only the size of the memories varies.
The PC Stick supports Windows 10 Pro (64 bit) and, if you need of a model with a lot of memory, this is the variant for you.
»Click here to buy ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120 GB)
4) MINISFORUM S41
MINISFORUM S41, like the ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB) costs around 180 euros, however it offers less memory but a more powerful processor. In fact, the device features 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of eMMC Flash memory (expandable with microSD card up to 128GB). The Intel Celeron N4120 CPU which reaches a boost frequency of 2.6 GHz, has 4 cores / 4 threads (it has no HyperThreading) and boasts good performance for this product category.
Compared to ACEPC's proposals , has a bulkier body: it is about 13.3cm long, 4.6cm wide and 1.4cm thick. It offers Dual band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, it also has two USB 3.0 ports and one USB-C.
»Click here to buy MINISFORUM S41
5) AWOW N41S
AWOW N41S is a $ 300 Stick PC with a high-end data sheet: 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of storage and the “powerful” Intel Gemini Lake J4105 quadcore processor. Compared to the Celeron N4120, the single core performance is on par, while in multicore it manages to perform about 25% better.
Supports Dual Band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2. The connectivity side is complete, in fact it offers a USB 3.0 input, one 2.0, a USB-C port, an Ethernet port, a microSD card slot and even a headphone jack, as well as the inevitable HDMI 2.0 output. As you can see, despite its size, it also boasts a fanless design and the Wi-Fi antenna is external.
»Click here to buy AWOW N41S
MINISFORUM S41, like the ACEPC T6 (8GB + 120GB) costs around 180 euros, however it offers less memory but a more powerful processor. In fact, the device features 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of eMMC Flash memory (expandable with microSD card up to 128GB). The Intel Celeron N4120 CPU which reaches a boost frequency of 2.6 GHz, has 4 cores / 4 threads (it has no HyperThreading) and boasts good performance for this product category.
Compared to ACEPC's proposals , has a bulkier body: it is about 13.3cm long, 4.6cm wide and 1.4cm thick. It offers Dual band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, it also has two USB 3.0 ports and one USB-C.
»Click here to buy MINISFORUM S41
5) AWOW N41S
AWOW N41S is a $ 300 Stick PC with a high-end data sheet: 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of storage and the “powerful” Intel Gemini Lake J4105 quadcore processor. Compared to the Celeron N4120, the single core performance is on par, while in multicore it manages to perform about 25% better.
Supports Dual Band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2. The connectivity side is complete, in fact it offers a USB 3.0 input, one 2.0, a USB-C port, an Ethernet port, a microSD card slot and even a headphone jack, as well as the inevitable HDMI 2.0 output. As you can see, despite its size, it also boasts a fanless design and the Wi-Fi antenna is external.
»Click here to buy AWOW N41S