Intel Compute Stick

Overview

We do wish the Compute Stick had 802.11ac WiFi built in and a second usable USB port, but it is a first gen product and there’s only so much real-estate to work with. If you’re in need of a tiny, affordable device to add PC functionality to a display, and the Compute Stick’s low-power processor meets your needs, it’s absolutely worthy of consideration for only 150 bucks.

-- As reviewed by HotHardware

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 28 expert reviews

Excellent:

1
Good:

6
Average:

7
Bad:

14

6.8

User Score

Based on 315 reviews
as rated by users

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Last revision on January 3, 2017

Reviewers Liked

Small enough to fit behind a monitor
Can play 1080p video smoothly
Has 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Uses little power

Reviewers Didn't Like

Poor performance
Not enough ports
Just 19GB of storage available
Limited official OS support

Competitors and Related Products

Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets.

Expert reviews and ratings

More times than not, the Verge score is based on the average of the subscores below. However, since this is a non-weighted average, we reserve the right to tweak the overall score if we feel it doesn't reflect our overall assessment and price of the...

By The Verge on March 09, 2016

Intel's updated Compute Stick sports an extra USB port and a better wireless chip for improved streaming. It's still an impressively compact and affordable, but unless every inch of space counts, you can buy cheaper alternatives with more features....

By Computer Shopper on January 20, 2016

WELL, THIS is disappointing. The concept of a plug-and-play PC, a full-fat Windows computer smaller than a packet of tissues, is incredibly appealing - and the Intel Compute Stick promised to make it work. The problem is that it just doesn't work very...

By The Inquirer on October 13, 2015

The Intel Compute Stick works well as a demonstration of just how small a PC can be, but it's only half a computer and not the good half...

By IT PRO on September 11, 2015

A small, relatively cheap but seriously limited micro...

By Expert Reviews on July 03, 2015

We're looking forward to seeing what the second edition is capable...

By Trusted Reviews on June 15, 2015

The Intel Compute Stick is one of the more innovative devices of 2015 – if not the best. There are no surprises here – the Intel Compute Stick is what it is: a small footprint, low-power, great value PC. To say it's a “prototype” or a “beta”...

By wegotserved.com on June 05, 2015

The Compute Stick is proof that Intel can cram all the hardware you need for a PC into a portable stick, but it's far too limited for...

By Engadget on May 30, 2015

This inexpensive PC is an exciting experiment, but the tablet hardware can't quite keep up with Intel's vision of a...

By CNET Australia on May 06, 2015

This inexpensive PC is an exciting experiment, but the tablet hardware can't quite keep up with Intel's vision of a...

By CNET UK on May 05, 2015

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Intel Compute Stick

Overview

Pros & Cons

Reviews

Price: $132

TechSpot Metascore

User Score

Reviewers Liked

Reviewers Didn't Like

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Expert reviews and ratings