Acer Chromebox CXI6 2025, Core 3, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Black

The Acer Chromebox CXI6 is a compact ChromeOS desktop with great port selection and four-display support. Performance is fine for web work but storage is small and gaming is a no-go. At $710, it's pricey for what you get unless you really need those extra displays.

The Core 3 processor sits at the 37th percentile in our database, so it's fine for Chrome tabs, Google Docs, and video calls, but it won't win any races. The 16GB of RAM is actually generous for ChromeOS and keeps multitasking smooth. Storage is the weak spot, 256GB lands at the 13th percentile, which is small even for a Chromebox. Integrated Intel graphics put it right around the middle of the pack, fine for streaming but useless for gaming. Our gaming score of 10 out of 100 says it all.

Stacked against the Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra, this thing is in a different universe, the Mac Studio crushes it on CPU, GPU, and storage, but it also costs several times more. The Lenovo Legion and HP OMEN are gaming towers that blow past the Chromebox on graphics but are way bigger and pricier. The Dell Desktop ECT1250 is probably the closest real-world alternative for basic office work, often with more storage for similar money. The MSI Aegis is another gaming-focused option that makes the Chromebox look like a toy in raw power, but again, different purpose entirely.

At $710 USD, this is a tough sell. ChromeOS boxes are supposed to be cheap, and you can find Chromeboxes with similar specs for less. The four-display support and port selection add some value for office setups, but the small SSD and mid-range CPU make the price feel steep. If you need ChromeOS specifically and four monitors, it might be worth it. Otherwise, you're paying a premium for ports.

The Acer Chromebox CXI6 is a tiny ChromeOS desktop aimed at offices, schools, and anyone who lives in a browser. You get an Intel Core 3 6-core chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD in a box that weighs less than two pounds. It's built for basic productivity, not for pushing pixels.

Connectivity is the real story here. Two HDMI ports, DisplayPort, six USB-A ports, USB-C, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 6. You can drive up to four displays, which is wild for a box this small. Just don't expect it to do much beyond web apps and light work.

Skip this if you need to run Windows software, play games, or store a lot of files locally. The 10 out of 100 gaming score and 256GB SSD make it a bad fit for anyone who wants a general-purpose desktop. If you're just browsing the web on one monitor, there are cheaper Chromeboxes that do the job.

Buy this if you need a compact ChromeOS machine with serious display flexibility. It's built for offices, kiosks, or anyone running web apps across multiple monitors. The 16GB of RAM helps it feel snappy in daily use. Just know you're paying for the form factor and ports, not raw performance.