For years, the Apple Mac Mini was the undisputed king of the compact desktop. But in 2026, the Windows ecosystem has finally caught up, offering "Mac Mini killers" that pack more power and better thermals into a similar aluminum footprint. If you’re hunting for the best bang-for-your-buck workstation that can handle both heavy spreadsheets and light 1080p gaming, the Mechrevo iMini Pro830 and the Lenovo Lecoo Mini Pro are likely at the top of your list.
Both machines leverage the Ryzen 8845H—a processor that has become the gold standard for high-end mini PCs. However, as any enthusiast knows, the spec sheet only tells half the story. After a deep dive into the internals and real-world performance of both, here is how these two compact titans actually stack up.
Design and Build: The "Apple-Esque" Aesthetic
Both Mechrevo and Lenovo have clearly taken notes from Cupertino. Both units feature sandblasted, oxygen-oxidized aluminum alloy casings with CNC-machined edges that feel premium to the touch. They are tiny enough to disappear under a monitor stand or fit into a backpack, making them perfect for clean desktop setups.
Accessibility is a draw here; both use a standard four-screw bottom entry design. While the footprint is nearly identical, the Mechrevo iMini Pro830 feels slightly more refined in its execution, especially with its color-changing logo and attention to detail on the cooling vents.
The Internal Battle: Layer Cakes vs. Logical Layouts
Once you crack these machines open, the differences become stark. Lenovo’s Lecoo Mini Pro uses a "stacked" or "sandwich" design for its components. While it includes an extra fan for the back of the motherboard, the lack of a dedicated airflow channel makes it more of a marketing bullet point than a functional cooling solution. Furthermore, the wireless card is buried directly under the primary SSD. This "layer cake" layout is a notorious thermal trap that can lead to performance throttling during heavy file transfers.
In contrast, the Mechrevo iMini Pro830 offers a more spacious internal layout. The biggest win here is the thermal management. Mechrevo’s phase-change cooling pads are roughly 2x to 3x thicker than Lenovo’s. Because the two M.2 slots in the Mechrevo sit at different heights, the manufacturer specifically tuned the thermal pad thickness for each slot—a level of engineering detail that is rare in the sub-$1,000 market.
Connectivity: Why Your WiFi Card Actually Matters
If you are running a homelab or pulling large 4K video files from a NAS, the wireless card is your biggest bottleneck.
• Lenovo Lecoo Mini Pro: Ships with the MT7921. In real-world testing, this tops out at around 1Gbps.
• Mechrevo iMini Pro830: Ships with the superior MT7922. This card hits speeds of 1.7Gbps—nearly double the throughput of the Lenovo.
For the casual browser, this won't matter. But for remote work, Zoom marathons, or internal network transfers, the Mechrevo is the clear winner.
Real-World Benchmarks: Efficiency is King
On paper, both machines should perform identically. In reality, the Mechrevo iMini Pro830 is the more efficient "daily driver."
During stress tests, the Lenovo unit pulled between 70W and 100W at the wall, while the Mechrevo remained much leaner, peaking at just 80W-90W. Despite the lower power draw, the Mechrevo actually outperformed the Lenovo in graphics tasks. While the CPU scores are within 1% of each other, the Mechrevo’s GPU performance is roughly 7% higher.
This graphical edge is likely due to the high-quality 5600MHz Micron RAM Mechrevo includes out of the box. In a market where memory prices are skyrocketing, getting high-frequency DDR5 that actually boosts your integrated graphics performance is a massive value add.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
The Lenovo Lecoo Mini Pro is a solid, reliable machine from a brand with a massive support network. However, its internal component stacking and slightly older WiFi card hold it back from being an enthusiast’s first choice.
The Mechrevo iMini Pro830 is the dark horse that takes the crown. It runs cooler, uses less power, and offers significantly faster internal networking speeds. If you want the most "pro" experience from a Ryzen 8845H mini PC without the premium price tag, the Mechrevo is currently the smartest play on the market.