Labstack Pick
Best mini-PCs for Home Assistant and Proxmox
Three picks. Open the one that matches the job, then check the SKU.
How we compare
We normalize public vendor specs into the fields that matter for a lab build: CPU, RAM ceiling, networking, and storage paths. Labstack Fit turns those fields into a ranked shortlist per job.
- Use-case tags for Proxmox, Home Assistant, Plex, and Jellyfin
- Source links on every product so you can verify SKUs
- Amazon search placeholders until a verified ASIN is set — never a broken
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Start from the job
Pick the workload first, then open the hardware that fits.
- Best mini-PC for Home Assistant in 2026
- Best mini-PC for Proxmox in 2026
- Labstack Fit
- Spec diff — any two models
- Always-on kWh budget for mini-PCs
- Minisforum vs Beelink for homelab
- What we would buy first
- Stop buying one box for everything
- N100 is enough — until it isn’t
- RAM ceiling vs the badge on the lid
Buyer lanes
Three common paths into the catalog.
Catalog
Full mini-PC matrix →A clean list of published models — open any row for specs and availability.
Compare
See matrices →When you already have two candidates, jump straight to the delta.
- Beelink SER5 vs Minisforum MS-A1 (2026) for Proxmox
- Beelink EQ12 vs SER5 (2026): Home Assistant or Proxmox?
- Beelink SER8 vs Minisforum UM790 Pro for Proxmox
- Geekom A8 vs Beelink SER5
- UGREEN DXP4800 vs DXP6800 Pro
- Synology DS923+ vs UGREEN DXP4800
- Beelink EQ12 vs EQ14 (2026): N100 or N305 for Home Assistant?
- Geekom Mini IT13 vs Beelink SER8
Before you buy
Practical checks that save returns and underpowered builds.
- Confirm RAM ceiling and whether SODIMM is user-upgradeable on the exact SKU.
- Match NIC speed to your switch — 2.5GbE only helps if the rest of the path keeps up.
- For Plex/Jellyfin, decide if you need iGPU transcode headroom or mainly direct play.
- Retailer links may earn a commission; prices and stock live on the retailer page.