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In December, my desktop broke. I still don’t know exactly what happened, but the result was clear: I needed a new one. thankfully, i had Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini On hand. I was skeptical, but this mini PC, launched in late 2025, provided an experience surprisingly close to my normal setup. And if you’re on a budget I recommend it.
The recent AI craze has driven developers to grab as much RAM as possible, pushing PC prices to new heights and leaving companies scrambling to find components. I’ve only seen modern laptops with 16GB RAM for $1,500. Mini PCs like Lenovo’s IdeaCentre are a great option as they provide performance equal to, and sometimes even better than, modern laptops.
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In this particular example, it’s definitely better because the IdeaCentre model I reviewed comes with 32GB of RAM to deliver higher speed and power, while it’s only $900 cheaper at the time of this writing. Admittedly, it is not as portable as a laptop, but its benefits are so good that they cannot be ignored.
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why we like it
Compared to other mini PCs I’ve tested, this device is a bit larger, measuring 1.68 x 7.68 x 7.52 inches and weighing just under four pounds. It reminds me a lot of the old Mac Mini before the redesign. It doesn’t take up a lot of space, but if you find it too big for your desk, Lenovo includes a small vertical stand that holds the computer upright.
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What’s interesting about this machine is that it is part of Lenovo’s ARM-compatible lineup. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 processor, paired with Adreno graphics card. If you’re not familiar with Windows on ARM, it’s a more energy-efficient version of Windows that runs special ARM-based chips instead of traditional Intel and AMD hardware.
For years, these types of PCs were effectively seen as less powerful. But times have changed, and Windows on ARM PCs are now a viable option. We have tested many such laptops in the last year.
Below is a table where I compare the benchmark results of the IdeaCentre Mini Looking at the numbers, you’ll see that the IdeaCentre outperforms its rivals, with a multi-core score of around 13,290 in Geekbench 6.
In everyday use, the IdeaCentre felt fast and responsive. A big factor in that speed is the 32GB of RAM it has. Browsing the Internet, handling general office tasks, writing in a word processor, and doing light photo editing all felt seamless. I used the PC as my primary work computer during the month that my main desktop was discontinued, and the difference between the two felt almost indistinguishable.
Graphical performance is where the issues appear, and it’s no surprise. This is not a machine made for heavy material manufacturing. Sure, it handles graphics-intensive tasks better than its rivals, but compared to more creator-focused machines like Samsung’s Galaxy Book6 Ultra, it falls short.
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I should also point out that it is possible to play video games on the IdeaCentre. Monster Hunter Rise was one game I tested, and it ran just fine, although I had to tweak some graphical settings to make the experience smoother. Still, as a no-frills PC built for everyday tasks, there are some limitations to what you can run on Lenovo’s PCs. I’ll explain those restrictions a little later.
what’s that for
The Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini It’s fast, reliable and, most notably, quiet. Even under heavy workloads, the loudest sound is the low noise coming from the internal fan.
The chassis does get a little warm during sustained use, but never to worrisome levels. Connectivity on IdeaCentre is pretty solid. You get four USB-A ports, two USB-C inputs, Ethernet for wired internet, HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4a for video output, and a headphone/mic combo jack. It’s big enough to support a full office setup with multiple peripherals and external displays.
who should look elsewhere
To reiterate what I’ve said before, this is not a PC built for extremely intensive workloads. If raw performance is a top priority, there are stronger options. Samsung’s aforementioned Galaxy Book6 Ultra outperforms the IdeaCentre in every metric. Apple’s M4 Max Mac Studio from last year is another great option. It is a small computer that offers much better performance than Lenovo’s PCs.
In addition, there is also a compatibility issue with Windows on ARM. Although software support has improved significantly over the years, not every app can run natively or even be emulated on ARM-based systems. Without going too deep, this difference in support exists because ARM chips use a different architecture than traditional processors. However, most major programs run fine on IdeaCenter.
But there are some exceptions also. For example, Google Play Games does not currently work on Windows on ARM. During testing, I found a very useful website named Windows ARM Software and News. It maintains a regularly updated list of programs that work with Windows on ARM.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
multiple configurations of Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini are available. The Snapdragon-powered model I reviewed usually sells for $1,340, but it’s currently on sale for $900. If you want to spend less, the company also offers an Intel-based version of Idea Center for $550. The computer is a solid alternative to expensive laptops and desktops. If you get this PC, I recommend checking the Windows ARM website to see which apps work and which don’t.
