Mini PCs · Head to head

Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) vs Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)

Full Mini PCs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from the official Asus and Beelink sites.
2026 verdict
Windows 11 Pro is the operating system that decides this, and the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) is the mini PC that ships with it.
Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)
Winner
Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)
$299.00
Buy on Amazon USA
It has 16 GB of DDR4, a 500 GB SSD, dual HDMI and a three-year warranty, and it is the more affordable of the two. The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) runs ChromeOS on a Celeron 7305 with 4 GB of DDR4, a 128 GB SSD and a richer video row: two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C. It is the better reviewed, with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4. Both use gigabit Ethernet. Pick the Beelink when you need a Windows desktop with more memory and storage, and the Chromebox when the house already lives in ChromeOS.
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The biggest differences

Where these two are furthest apart, and by how much.

  • Memory Capacity4×Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)16 GB vs 4 GB
  • Storage Capacity3.9×Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)500 GB vs 128 GB
FeatureAsus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB)Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)Winner
Price$399.00$299.00Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)
Rating4.44.3Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB)
Memory Speed3200 MT/s2400 MT/sAsus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB)
Memory Capacity4 GB16 GBBeelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)
Storage Capacity128 GB500 GBBeelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)
CPU ModelIntel Celeron 7305AMD Ryzen 3 3200UDifferent strengths
Memory ConfigurationSingle-channelDual-slotDifferent strengths
GPU ModelIntel UHD GraphicsAMD Radeon Vega 3Different strengths
Memory TypeDDR4DDR4Tie

What the differences mean

Operating system

The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) comes with Windows 11 Pro. The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) comes with ChromeOS, which updates itself and stays inside the browser. That is not a setting you flip later without leaving the product each one is. Desktop apps, local installs and a normal Windows disk belong on the Beelink. A managed browser desktop belongs on the Chromebox.

Memory and storage

The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) has 16 GB of DDR4-2400, up to 32 GB, and a 500 GB SSD. The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) has 4 GB of single-channel DDR4-3200, up to 16 GB, and a 128 GB NVMe SSD. The Chromebox memory is the faster of the two. The Beelink has four times the RAM fitted and far more storage. Both can be upgraded, within those ceilings.

Video outputs

The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) has two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C port with DisplayPort, four outputs in all. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) has two HDMI ports and no DisplayPort and no USB-C video. If the desk is three or four screens, the Chromebox is the one that can feed them. If it is a television and one monitor, the Beelink is enough.

Wireless

The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Ethernet is gigabit on both, so a cable makes them equal on the wire. The Chromebox also has a micro SD reader. The Beelink does not. Neither has Thunderbolt.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) talk about a Windows 11 Pro desktop that is still going years later, with a fan that stays off through light daily use and a chassis small enough for spots a tower cannot reach. They like that the licence is real and that the 16 GB of DDR4 sits in slots they can open, and dual HDMI plus four USB 3.2 ports covers the desks they describe. The complaints are about headroom and a few bad units. The dual-core Ryzen 3 is called the limit for serious multitasking and anything heavier than documents or 4K playback, memory stops at 32 GB and runs at 2400 MHz, and a minority report reboots or crashes within weeks. There is no DisplayPort and no USB-C video in the stories they tell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) or Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)?

The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB), if you want Windows. It has 16 GB, a 500 GB SSD and Windows 11 Pro, and it is the more affordable mini PC. The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) is the better reviewed ChromeOS machine, with stronger video outputs and Wi-Fi 6E, but only 4 GB and 128 GB.

What is the biggest difference between the Asus Chromebox 5a and the Beelink SER3?

The operating system. The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) runs ChromeOS. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) runs Windows 11 Pro, with much more memory and storage. Video outputs favour the Chromebox. Everyday Windows work favours the Beelink.

Does the Asus Chromebox 5a run Windows like the Beelink SER3?

No. The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB) comes with ChromeOS. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) comes with Windows 11 Pro. They are not two installs of the same system.

Which one can drive more monitors, the Chromebox or the SER3?

The Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB), with two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C DisplayPort output. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) has two HDMI ports and no DisplayPort.

Who should buy the Asus Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB)?

Someone who wants a ChromeOS mini PC with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, a micro SD reader and four display outputs, and who does not need Windows apps or more than 16 GB of RAM.

Who should buy the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)?

Someone who wants the more affordable Windows 11 Pro desktop, with 16 GB of DDR4, a 500 GB SSD, dual HDMI and a three-year warranty, for browsing, documents and 4K playback.

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