Lenovo Review

This is a $1,200+ webcam stand for boardrooms. Unless you're outfitting a corporate conference room, it's a complete waste of money. Buy a real mini PC instead.

The Lenovo ThinkSmart SP Tiny Kit is a one-trick pony, and that trick is video conferencing. It's not a computer you buy for yourself. It's a specialized tool a company buys to mount on a wall for Zoom calls. The one thing you need to know is that this is a purpose-built appliance, not a general-purpose PC. It comes with a dedicated controller and a wall mount, and it runs Windows 11 IoT, a locked-down version of Windows meant for single-use devices. For its specific job, it's a tidy, reliable package. For literally anything else, you're looking at the wrong product.

Looking at the specs, nothing is a standout performer. The Intel Core i3-13100T is a low-power chip that falls behind most modern CPUs, and the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730 is a real letdown for anything graphical. The 16GB of RAM is about average, and the 256GB SSD is a weak spot that will fill up fast. In our database, its CPU and GPU scores land in the bottom third. The surprise isn't in the power, it's in the reliability score, which is well above average. This thing is built to run a meeting app 24/7 without crashing, and the numbers back that up.

The value proposition here is brutal. This hardware, in a standard mini PC, would cost maybe $500. Lenovo is asking between $1,174 and a staggering $2,016. You are paying a massive premium for the 'kit' part: the wall mount, the controller, and the commercial-grade reliability. If you need a video conferencing appliance, the value is in the complete package. If you need a computer, this is one of the worst deals on the market.

Don't compare this to gaming desktops like the HP Omen or Alienware Aurora—that's like comparing a forklift to a sports car. For a true mini PC alternative, look at something like the Asus ROG NUC. It packs far more powerful Intel Core Ultra processors and better graphics into a similar tiny form factor, and it runs full Windows 11. You'd have to source your own mount, but you'd get a real computer. The Acer Nitro 60 is another mini desktop that offers better specs for general use. The ThinkSmart only wins if your checklist starts and ends with 'video conferencing wall appliance.'

If you're looking for a compact desktop for your home office, a media center PC, or literally any kind of gaming, this isn't it. Go get an Asus ROG NUC or a Lenovo Legion Tiny instead. You'll get better performance, a full OS, and you'll keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket.

We can only recommend the ThinkSmart SP Tiny Kit to one group: IT managers buying dedicated video conferencing endpoints for conference rooms. For that job, it's a competent, all-in-one solution. For absolutely everyone else—home users, office workers, small business owners looking for a compact PC—this is a hard pass. You are paying for specialization you don't need. Buy a standard mini PC, save a ton of money, and get a machine that can actually do more than one thing.