Meet the $45 Mini-PC: Intel Celeron N4020 and Ubuntu on a Shoestring Budget

A compact desktop called the Wo-We Mini-PC has launched at a mere $45. While its makers claim solid performance and good image quality, this deal looks more like a compromise pick for barebones computing.

Inside, you'll find a dual-core Intel Celeron N4020 processor — a chip originally released back in 2019. It clocks in at 1.1 to 2.8 GHz with a low 6W TDP, meaning it runs fanless. Don’t expect much horsepower, though; it’s barely enough for basic tasks. It packs 4GB of RAM and a sluggish 128GB eMMC drive, with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 5 and Gigabit Ethernet.

The chassis stays small, offering just the essentials for ports: HDMI and VGA for monitor hookups (supporting dual displays, including one up to 4K), plus front-facing USB-C and two USB 3.0 ports. Around back, you get two USB 2.0 ports, an RJ-45 jack, and a microSD slot. Measuring roughly 5 x 6.6 inches, the Wo-We won’t hog your desk space.

Its use case is clear: light-duty computing — web browsing, documents, simple apps, and video playback. A $54 model bumps RAM to 8GB but downgrades to an even older, eight-year-old AMD A9-9400 CPU. Bottom line? The Wo-We Mini-PC is for buyers who know what they’re getting into. It’s hard to recommend as a primary machine, but as a backup web box, thin client, or dedicated typing machine, it might just find its niche.