Best mini PC for an always-on AI agent like OpenClaw (2026)

An always-on AI agent is a program that runs around the clock on a computer you own, reads your messages, and takes actions on your behalf. OpenClaw made the idea popular in 2026, and with it a surprising hardware trend: people buying Mac minis just to run it. The right machine depends on one question: will the agent use cloud models, or run its models locally?

If the agent uses cloud models

Most people point their agent at a cloud model from a provider such as OpenAI or Anthropic. The heavy work then happens in the provider’s data center, and the computer at home only runs the agent itself. OpenClaw’s documentation asks for just 2 GB of RAM, recommends 4 GB, and says the agent uses 200 to 400 MB when idle. It runs on macOS 13 or later, Linux, and Windows.

So you don’t need a powerful computer. You want one that is quiet, reliable, and cheap to leave on all day.

Why everyone bought a Mac mini

The Mac mini checks those boxes, and it lets an agent work with Apple apps such as Messages, Notes and Reminders, whose full integrations need macOS. Demand was strong enough that on Apple’s April 30, 2026 earnings call Tim Cook said the Mac mini and Mac Studio were sold out and could stay that way for several months, according to Decrypt. Supply has since recovered with the new M6 and M5 Pro models, which started shipping in September at higher prices than before.

The picks

Best overall Researched, not tested

Apple Mac mini (M6, 16 GB)

M6 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, 16 GB, 256 GB. Apple M6, 12-core CPU

Memory

16 GB unified

Bandwidth

153 GB/s

Price

$899

Apple's base Mac mini. Small, silent and frugal, it is the default machine for an always-on AI agent that uses cloud models, and it runs small local models; 16 GB rules out anything larger.

For an agent that uses cloud models, the base Mac mini is the obvious machine: silent, efficient, and at home with Apple’s apps. 16 GB is far more than the agent needs. Its 153 GB/s of memory bandwidth also runs small local models, such as Gemma 4 E4B, well enough for simple private tasks.

What we like

• Silent and very efficient for 24/7 use
• Deep macOS integration for agent tools

What we don't

• 16 GB limits local models to small ones
• Memory can't be upgraded later

Where to buy

• Check price at Apple 16 GB / 256 GB
• Check price on Amazon 16 GB / 256 GB

list price $899 (Apple store starting price; checked Sep 25, 2026). Prices change often; the buttons show today's price at each store.

Best budget Tested by us

ACEMAGIC K1

AMD Ryzen 3 4300U (4 cores / 4 threads, Zen 2, 2.7-3.7 GHz)

Memory

16 GB

Bandwidth

21.3 GB/s

Price

$369

A budget mini PC with a 4-core Ryzen 3 4300U, 16 GB of upgradeable DDR4 and two M.2 slots. It ships with a single memory module, so its memory runs at half speed; in our tests it wrote 3 to 6 tokens per second with small models, usable for experiments but slow for chat.

If you don’t need Apple’s apps, you don’t need to pay Apple’s prices. Any modern mini PC with 8 GB or more handles an agent that uses cloud models; the K1 we are testing has 16 GB of upgradeable memory, runs Windows 11 Pro, and lists at $369. It is far too slow for large local models, which is why we list it only for cloud-model agents: in our tests it wrote small models at 3 to 6 tokens per second (T0003, T0004), partly because it ships with a single memory stick. We are measuring its power draw next.

What we like

• Two SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB, so memory is a cheap upgrade
• Two M.2 slots
• Drives three 4K displays

What we don't

• Only 4 cores and 4 threads
• Ships with one memory module, so memory runs single-channel at 21.3 GB/s
• Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 are dated

Where to buy

• Check price on Amazon 16 GB / 512 GB
• Check price at ACEMAGIC 16 GB / 512 GB or 1 TB
• Check price at Best Buy 16 GB / 1 TB

list price $369 (ACEMAGIC store list price for 16 GB / 512 GB; checked Sep 25, 2026). Prices change often; the buttons show today's price at each store.

Best for local models Researched, not tested

Apple Mac mini (M5 Pro, 64 GB)

M5 Pro 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 64 GB, 1 TB. Apple M5 Pro, 18-core CPU

Memory

64 GB unified

Bandwidth

307 GB/s

Price

$3,199

The small, silent way to run mid-size local models. The M5 Pro's 307 GB/s of unified memory bandwidth is about 20% more than a Ryzen AI Max+ 395, but 64 GB is the maximum, so 120B-class models don't fit.

If you want your agent to think locally and privately, memory is everything. The 64 GB M5 Pro Mac mini holds capable models such as Qwen3.6 35B-A3B and gpt-oss 20B, and its 307 GB/s bandwidth runs them quickly (see the table below). It stays small and quiet, which matters for a machine that never switches off.

What we like

• 307 GB/s memory bandwidth in a tiny, near-silent box
• Very low power draw for always-on use

What we don't

• 64 GB maximum, fixed at purchase
• Apple charges a lot for memory upgrades

Where to buy

• Check price at Apple 64 GB / 1 TB

list price $3,199 (Apple store price for M5 Pro 18-core CPU / 20-core GPU / 64 GB / 1 TB; checked Sep 25, 2026). Prices change often; the buttons show today's price at each store.

Best for large local models Researched, not tested

GMKtec EVO-X2

128 GB / 1 TB (also sold with 64 GB). AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16 cores / 32 threads, up to 5.1 GHz)

Memory

128 GB unified

Bandwidth

256 GB/s

Price

$3,499.99

A Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PC with 128 GB of fast unified memory, and the lowest-priced 128 GB machine among those we compared in September 2026. It holds gpt-oss 120B and 70B-class models.

For the biggest open models, such as gpt-oss 120B, you need 128 GB. The EVO-X2 is the lowest-priced 128 GB machine we found. It is much bigger than a Mac mini and, with a chip that runs at up to 120 W, likely louder under load; its power supply is an external brick.

What we like

• 128 GB of 256 GB/s unified memory for less than rivals
• Two M.2 slots
• Also sold with 64 GB for $1,300 less

What we don't

• Memory is soldered; choose the size you need up front
• Only 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, where some rivals have 10 Gigabit

Where to buy

• Check price at GMKtec 64 GB or 128 GB
• Check price on Amazon 128 GB / 2 TB

$3,499.99 at GMKtec for 128 GB / 1 TB on Sep 25, 2026; list price $3,999.99 (GMKtec store regular price for 128 GB / 1 TB; checked Sep 25, 2026). Prices change often; the buttons show today's price at each store.

Which local models can each run?

Estimated writing speed, tokens per second

Machine	Qwen3.5 9B5.68 GB file	gpt-oss 20B12.11 GB file	Qwen3.6 35B-A3B22.13 GB file	gpt-oss 120B63.39 GB file
Apple Mac mini (M6, 16 GB) 16 GB, 153 GB/s	17-23	No fit	No fit	No fit
Apple Mac mini (M5 Pro, 64 GB) 64 GB, 307 GB/s	34-45	68-87	67-86	No fit
GMKtec EVO-X2 128 GB, 256 GB/s	29-38	57-74	56-73	41-53

For agents, speed matters less than for chat, because the agent often works while you are away. Capability matters more: bigger models follow multi-step instructions more reliably. That is the case for 64 GB or more if your agent runs locally.

Leaving it on all day

A machine that never sleeps should be quiet and efficient. Apple’s recent Mac minis draw only a few watts at idle and are near-silent. Small x86 mini PCs are also frugal at idle, but their fans can be audible. Put the machine on a surge protector, set it to restart automatically after a power cut, and keep the agent’s access to your accounts as narrow as you can. We are adding wall-socket power measurements to our tests, starting with the K1.