Tucking an entire PC onto a thumb-sized USB stick may sound like science fiction, but that’s exactly what the best PC sticks manage. Like slipping a laptop into your pocket, these tiny computers let you do word processing, browsing, and even light gaming without lugging around so much as a laptop-sized chassis.
Continue reading for our best PC stick picks, or head over to our best mini PCs roundup for more tiny computing options.
Another benefit to a tiny, portable PC you can use with your own displays and input devices is that they can come at reasonable costs. The W5 Pro Mini PC a great example, with a quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8350 CPU that helps provide everything you need to get streaming video and basic desktop functions on your TV. There’s a configuration with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC flash storage that does the job just fine, but you can also pay extra and get a performance boost from the higher-end version with 4 GB of memory and a 64 GB of storage.
Best Budget
Terryza W5 Pro Mini PC
The W5 Pro comes in a compact 3.9-inch long case, cooled by a fan that makes very little noise. It offers Bluetooth and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, two USB ports for accessories, and a micro SD card slot to expand your storage. There’s a micro USB port for the included power adapter that you can plug into a wall outlet, but you can also power it using a portable power bank. This can come in handy when you’re on the go.
Google’s Chrome OS is a light and nimble operating system that takes advantage of the Internet and the cloud, so putting it use on the lightest and nimblest computers makes a lot of sense. This is exactly what Asus does with the Chromebit CS10, creating an effective portable PC with a very low price tag. Powered by a quad-core Rockchip RK3288C ARM-based processor and 2 GB of RAM, its performance won’t match up to a full Chromebook, but it can certainly do more than just video streaming like a Chromecast.
Best Chrome OS
ASUS Chromebit CS10
The Chromebit includes a somewhat limiting 16 GB of built-in storage, but it comes with 100 GB of free Google Drive cloud storage for two years. It’s a big help to have your files synced and accessible from anywhere, rather than have to switch out additional SD cards or external hard drives for storage — especially considering the device comes with no micro SD card slot and only one USB 2.0 port. You’ll likely want to use the USB port for a wireless mouse/keyboard combo or a USB hub for more flexibility.
We like Terryza’s excellent W5 for a cheaper alternative.
