HP EliteDesk HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1i AI Desktop Computer Review

The HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1i is a fantastic ultra-compact office PC. It scores 78.7 for business use, thanks to a modern Intel Core Ultra CPU and killer connectivity. Just don't expect to game on it. Worth it if your priority is a tiny, modern workhorse.

The HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1i is a tiny desktop that's all about modern office work. It's got Intel's latest Core Ultra chip with AI acceleration, a healthy 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a fast NVMe SSD, all crammed into a box that's barely bigger than a paperback book.

HP built this for businesses and home offices, and our scoring backs that up. It hits 78.7 for business use and 76.8 for home office. It's not here to play games or edit 8K video. It's here to run your spreadsheets, video calls, and browser tabs without breaking a sweat.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is a solid modern CPU. Its 14 cores handle multitasking well, landing it in the 65th percentile for processing power in our database. That's more than enough for office work. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM is also good, sitting around the middle of the pack. The weak spot is the integrated Intel Graphics, which scores in the 37th percentile. That's fine for driving displays, but it explains the abysmal 15.5 gaming score. Don't even think about it.

It's priced between $1245 and $1279. For that, you're paying for the ultra-compact form factor, modern connectivity like Thunderbolt 4 and WiFi 7, and business-grade reliability (which scores in the 78th percentile). You're not paying for raw power. If you need a tiny, reliable, and modern PC for work, the price is fair. If you just need a fast computer and don't care about size, you can get more horsepower for less money.

This isn't a gaming PC, so comparing it to the HP Omen or Alienware Aurora is apples to oranges. Those have powerful dedicated GPUs. For a mini PC, a closer competitor might be something like an Intel NUC or a Lenovo Tiny. The EliteDesk 8 G1i's big advantage is its top-tier port selection (98th percentile) and modern WiFi 7. It trades some raw CPU power for that sleek, business-ready package and AI features. If you need more graphics power in a small box, you'd have to look at mini PCs with discrete GPUs, which cost a lot more.

Gamers and content creators should skip this immediately. The integrated graphics can't handle it. Also, if you don't care about having a tiny PC and just want the most power for your budget, you can get a much faster traditional desktop tower for the same price or less.

Buy this if you run a business or home office and want a modern, ultra-compact, and reliable desktop that will handle all your daily tasks without issue. It's perfect for reception desks, point-of-sale systems, or a clean home office setup where you hate cables and big towers. The included keyboard and mouse are a nice touch to get you started right out of the box.