CES 2026: This Tiny Computer Is Like a Mac Mini for PC Users.
Mini PCs are great for those looking for a minimalist workspace, but with the exception of the Mac Mini, they don’t really appeal to the average user. Most are boring and rather bulky boxes, produced by little-known companies like Geekom , and aimed either at businesses or budget-conscious gamers. So what’s a Windows user to do if they don’t want to switch to Apple? This year, Lenovo is releasing a new mini PC that combines Apple’s elegance to fill this gap.
Unveiled at CES, the Lenovo Yoga Mini i is a cute little round laptop that fits in the palm of your hand and weighs just 1.3 pounds (with slight variations depending on configuration). The device is finished in a slightly textured silver-gray lacquer, and ports are plentiful, but they’re all located in separate spots on either the back or side. The back houses ports for an Ethernet port, a USB-A cable, an HDMI cable, and three USB-C cables—one for power, one for Thunderbolt 4 accessories, and one for everything else. The side panel houses a 3.5mm headphone jack (thankfully) and another Thunderbolt 4 port.
Overall, it’s an attractive design, which is important when selling a product based on form factor, but the real highlight is the power button located on the side of the device. It sounds simple, but it’s sure to inspire envy in those who bought the latest Mac Mini , which has the power button located under the case. And what’s even better? The power button also doubles as a fingerprint scanner for easy login.
In terms of specs, it features the latest Intel Core Ultra X-series AI processors, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of storage. It also has Wi-Fi 7, dual speakers, and even a built-in microphone for fast internet connections and convenient audio calls. This is more than enough for the average user, and probably even outperforms my old full-size desktop. Don’t expect it to play the latest games at max settings, but it’s roughly equivalent to a high-end work laptop if you choose the most powerful configuration options.
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To top it all off, the Yoga Mini i also has its own “one more thing.” Built into the device is an accelerometer and touch sensor, allowing it to work with Lenovo’s Smart Connect ecosystem. The company says you can use it to answer calls by tapping the PC screen, use specific touch gestures to customize the Yoga Mini’s productivity mode, or use a customizable double-tap to perform other actions, such as summoning an AI chatbot.
Taken together, its sleek appearance, user-friendly design, and compact size make it perhaps the closest thing I’ve seen to a Windows Mac Mini—and that includes the price. The Yoga Mini i will start at $700, which is $100 more than the base Mac Mini , but still quite affordable for such specs in a memory-constrained world . Lenovo hasn’t said how much more expensive the device might be with additional storage or RAM, and it’s possible that mid-range configurations will be cheaper or roughly the same price as the Mac Mini.
Personally, I was seriously considering a Mac Mini as my next computer, but with the Lenovo Yoga Mini i, I might stick with Windows for at least a little while longer. If you’re in the same boat, Lenovo plans to release the Yoga Mini i sometime in June of this year.