For a small office where desktops need to run consistently from 9am–6pm, 5 days a week, and last for years without experiencing hardware failure you’ll want business-grade small form factor (SFF) or mini PCs rather than cheap consumer mini-PCs. Here are the best categories and examples:

1. Business Mini PCs (Most Reliable Choice)

These are designed for offices, so they can handle long daily use without overheating.

• Dell OptiPlex Micro (7010/7020) – built for business use, durable, easy to service. Power draw 65W–120W. 3–5 year lifespan typical.
• HP EliteDesk Mini (800 G6/G7) – very small footprint, VESA-mountable, enterprise cooling + reliability.
• Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny (M720q, M920q, M90q) – popular in corporate offices, dual monitor support, solid build.

✅ Best for: Office productivity (MS Office, browsing, finance apps, light business software).

2. Intel NUC / ASUS NUC (Enthusiast / Pro-Sumer)

These compact PCs are small but powerful, designed for reliability.

• Intel NUC Pro models – not the cheap home editions, solid cooling, reliable for office/dev use.
• ASUS NUC (newer models) – ASUS now manufactures NUCs after Intel’s handover.

✅ Best for: Small teams, developers, or light creative work.

3. Apple Mac Mini (If You’re in the Apple Ecosystem)

If your office uses macOS or creative software, the Mac Mini is a strong option.

• Apple Mac Mini (M2 / M2 Pro) – runs cool and silent, very energy-efficient, stable, and will easily last 5+ years.

✅ Best for: Offices using macOS/iCloud, or creative teams.

4. Fanless Mini PCs (Silent & Long-Lasting)

Good choice for quiet, low-maintenance setups with light workloads.

• MinisForum Fanless PCs
• Geekom Fanless PCs

⚠️ Caveat: Not as durable as Dell/HP/Lenovo business machines for heavy daily use.

✅ Best for: Admin desks, reception PCs, kiosks.

5. Key Things to Look For (Longevity Factors)

• Business-grade warranty (3–5 years) → Dell/HP/Lenovo offer this.
• SSD storage (not HDD) → for speed + reliability.
• 8–16GB RAM minimum → keeps things smooth long term.
• Efficient cooling design → prevents overheating failures.

👉 If you want something that won’t fail in a year, I’d recommend Dell OptiPlex Micro or HP EliteDesk Mini — they’re built for exactly this use case. Refurbished business models (2–3 years old) often sell for under £200–£300 and still last another 3–5 years.