As laptop prices continue to climb, many users are looking for more affordable computing alternatives — and mini PCs are stepping up to fill that gap in a big way. Not only are they often much cheaper than traditional laptops, but they also offer surprising flexibility and upgrade potential in a compact design. One of the standout deals right now is the GMKtek G3 Plus mini PC, which is available for just $156.87. Best of all, you don’t need a Prime subscription or any special membership to grab this discount.
The GMKtek G3 Plus is a great example of how far mini PCs have come. It packs laptop-class components into a chassis that’s just 4.5 x 4.2 inches in size (or 114 x 106mm for metric users), making it ideal for space-constrained environments like dorm rooms, minimalist home offices, or compact workstations. Inside, it features an Intel N150 quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM, and a generous 512GB SSD. For those who want to enhance the machine later, it supports up to 32GB of DDR4 laptop memory and up to 2TB of M.2 2280 NVMe Gen 3 storage. It even comes with Windows 11 preinstalled, ready to use out of the box.
Performance-wise, this isn’t going to rival a high-end desktop or gaming laptop. The Intel N150 CPU is built for efficiency, not speed. However, it’s more than capable of handling day-to-day productivity tasks, multiple browser tabs, light media consumption, and even light software workloads. It supports dual 4K displays, connects via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and includes an Ethernet port for stable wired networking. The one notable drawback is the absence of USB-C, but it makes up for it with four USB-A ports (two front, two rear) and HDMI for external displays.
Considering that the barebones version of this model — which doesn’t include RAM, storage, or Windows — sells for $120, the fully equipped model at just under $157 is a steal. Whether you’re building a secondary PC for home use, creating a simple media hub, or just want a compact desktop that won’t break the bank, the G3 Plus is a compelling choice that proves you don’t need to spend a fortune for solid, upgradeable performance.
