Mini PCs · Head to head

Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) vs GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)

Full Mini PCs comparison in 2026

Updated November 2026
Data from the official Beelink and GMKtec sites.
2026 verdict
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) wins this matchup as the better value of these two budget mini PCs.
Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)
Winner
Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)
$439.00
Buy on Amazon USA
It is the cheaper box and the only one with a three-year warranty, against one year on the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB), and it adds a built-in 85W power supply and two HDMI outputs at 4K 60Hz. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) answers with a 1 TB drive against 480 GB and a metal chassis, and both ship 16 GB of DDR4 that can be taken to 64 GB across two memory slots and two M.2 bays. The GMKtec is also older in the ports that matter: its single Type-C port runs at 5 Gbps rather than USB4, and it is not Thunderbolt certified. Choose the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) for a cheap desktop or home server, and the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) if you need the 1 TB drive in a compact metal case.
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The biggest differences

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

  • Warranty3×Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)3 years vs 1 year
  • Storage Capacity2.1×GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)1 TB vs 480 GB
FeatureBeelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)Winner
Price$439.00$499.99Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)
Rating4.34.2Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)
Warranty3 years1 yearBeelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)
Storage Capacity480 GB1 TBGMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)
CPU ModelAMD Ryzen 5 5500UIntel Core i7-1185G7Different strengths
Memory ConfigurationDual-slotDual-channelDifferent strengths
GPU ModelAMD Radeon Graphics (7 CUs)Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96 EUs, 1.35 GHz)Different strengths
Memory TypeDDR4DDR4Tie
Memory Speed3200 MT/s3200 MT/sTie
Memory Capacity16 GB16 GBTie

What the differences mean

Storage

The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) includes a 1 TB drive, more than double the 480 GB in the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB). Both leave room for a second drive, and the GMKtec can reach 10 TB across its two bays.

Price and warranty

The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) is the cheaper of the two and carries a three-year warranty, while the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) costs more for its extra storage and offers a one-year term.

Power supply

The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) hides its 85W supply inside the case, so it needs only an AC cable. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) uses an external 100W brick connected through a barrel jack on the rear.

USB and docking

The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) has a single Type-C port at 5 Gbps that carries DisplayPort video, useful for a third screen but too slow for a high-bandwidth dock. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) has one data-only USB-C port and no DisplayPort.

Chassis

The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) is a 361 g metal box, while the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) uses a 520 g plastic chassis. Neither includes a VESA mount, so both sit on the desk unless you buy one.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) owners describe a quiet, single-cable desktop that suits two jobs at once: an everyday Windows machine for browsers, documents and 4K video, and a headless home server running Proxmox, Docker containers or a small game server. They praise the dual Gigabit ports, the free second M.2 slot and how easily one owner doubled the memory for game servers, and several report months of use without trouble. Their warnings are specific: BIOS updates are hard to find, a clean Windows install may need a product key from Beelink, the USB-C port is data only, and the older processor has basic integrated graphics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) or GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)?

The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) is the better buy, cheaper and covered for three years, with an internal power supply and quiet cooling. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) counters with a 1 TB drive, a metal case and DisplayPort over USB-C.

What is the biggest difference between the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) and the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)?

Storage and ports. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) ships 1 TB and carries DisplayPort over its Type-C port, while the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) has 480 GB, a data-only USB-C port and a three-year warranty.

Can both be upgraded?

Yes. Both take up to 64 GB of DDR4 across two SODIMM slots and have two M.2 bays for extra storage, so either can grow well past its shipping memory and drive.

Do either of these support USB4 or Thunderbolt?

No. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) has no USB4 at all, and the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) runs its Type-C port at 5 Gbps rather than USB4 speed.

Who should buy the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)?

Buyers who want a quiet, cheap desktop or home server with two Gigabit ports, a three-year warranty and a single-cable setup.

Who should buy the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)?

Anyone who wants more storage out of the box, a third display over USB-C and a compact metal chassis, and who does not need USB4 or a long warranty.

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