HP OmniDesk Mini Launched at $799.99 With Intel Wildcat Lake, a Mac Mini Rival in Size

$799.99 buys you 8GB of memory that can never be upgraded. That single figure defines HP’s new OmniDesk Mini, a Wildcat Lake-powered mini PC that copies the Mac mini’s footprint while sitting a full performance tier below it.

HP has listed four configurations, and the cheapest one asks flagship money for entry-level silicon.

The $799.99 Entry Point

The base OmniDesk Mini runs Intel’s Core 3 304, the least capable chip in the Wildcat Lake lineup, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 256GB SSD. HP lists that combination at $799.99 with a WiFi 6 card. Because the memory is soldered to the board, there is no upgrade path — buyers who outgrow 8GB must replace the entire machine.

The top-end option swaps in a Core 5 320 with 16GB of memory and starts at $1,099.99. That is a $300 premium for double the RAM and a modestly quicker processor, and it lands the OmniDesk Mini in territory occupied by full-size desktops and Apple’s entry Mac mini alike. Worth noting: the Wildcat Lake chips here are non-Ultra parts, which is why HP positions this as a refresh of the Core Ultra Series 3 mini PC it introduced at CES 2026 rather than a new flagship.

Ports, Storage and the Expandability Question

HP leans hard on connectivity as the selling point, and the port count is genuinely generous for a 5.12 x 5.12 x 1.89-inch chassis.

Buyers get one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, two more Type-C ports with DisplayPort 2.1 output, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI, LAN and a 3.5mm audio jack. Optional WiFi 6E adds Bluetooth 5.3.

Storage is the one area where HP gives buyers room to breathe. Two M.2 slots each accept up to an 8TB drive, so a fully loaded unit can theoretically carry 16TB internally. That flexibility is unusual at this size, and it echoes the multi-bay thinking we saw in the Minisforum N5 Max-P495 NAS, where expandability outweighs raw compute.

Why the Mac Mini Comparison Only Goes So Far

The OmniDesk Mini’s dimensions invite the Mac mini comparison, but the two machines chase different buyers. Apple’s M4 Mac mini has been widely cited at a $599 US starting Apple M4 efficiency at the low end of the desktop market.

HP’s answer is more ports and more internal drive bays, not more performance per dollar. Here’s the thing: at $799.99, the Core 3 304 model competes against machines with upgradeable memory and faster integrated graphics. HP is charging for the chassis and the port layout, and enterprise buyers who value a compact, serviceable footprint may accept that trade. Consumers comparing spec sheets will not.