Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
Minisforum vs Scan
Minisforum vs Scan: the differences
| Compare | Minisforum ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Scan ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $194.90 | £48.98 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 yearsHigher |
| Return window | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Markets | DE, FR, GB, HK, JP, KR, RU, USCovers more | GB |
| Most memory (GB) | 128 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Build to order (Yes).
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Key differences
- Scan scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Warranty is higher at Scan: 3 years vs 2 years.
- Return window is higher at Minisforum: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Support channels: only Minisforum offers Community.
- Support channels: only Scan offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Scan: 1986 vs 2018.
- Minisforum is available in 8 more countries.
- Products: only Scan offers Laptop, Gaming laptop, Desktop.
- Operating systems: only Scan offers Linux.
- Markets: only Minisforum offers DE, FR, HK.
Our verdict on each
Minisforum
Minisforum suits buyers who want a single maker for both a compact mini PC and a full gaming PC, and who pick a spec at checkout rather than take a fixed build. Entry pricing of $194.90 is competitive rather than the lowest here.
Scan
Scan suits buyers who want one UK store for a machine built to order plus the monitors, headsets and controllers that go with it, with 3 years of cover on its own systems. The trust side scores 9.8, and the 14 day returns window is the number worth holding on to.
Score breakdown
| Area | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8Entry price of $194.90 ranks 14 of 34 brands, mid field rather than bargain end. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.2Builds to order, returns of 30 days and memory reaching 128 GB give more room than a fixed spec box. | 9.2Entry pricing of £48.98 across laptop, gaming laptop and desktop, with build to order and an extended warranty on top. |
| Trust | 8.3Cover of 2 years and support on email, phone and help centre sit behind a company founded in 2018. | 9.8Higher3 years of cover, a 14 day returns window and support on email, chat and phone. |
Pick Minisforum if, pick Scan if
Pick Minisforum if return window and markets matter most.
Pick Scan if warranty matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | China | United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Minisforum: 8.
How they place
| Ranking | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming PCs | 21 of 41 | 19 of 41 |
| Desktops and mini PCs | 34 of 62 | 29 of 62 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Mini pc, Gaming pc | Laptop, Gaming laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pcCovers more |
| Operating systems | Windows | Windows, LinuxCovers more |
| Graphics | Nvidia, Amd, Intel | Nvidia, Amd, Intel |
| Legal entity | Meigao Innovation Technology (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd | Scan Computers International Ltd |
| Headquarters | China | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2018 | 1986Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Cameras and drones
| Fact | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Top video resolution | Not confirmed | 8k |
| Flight time (min) | Not confirmed | 23 |
| Weight (g) | Not confirmed | 126 |
| Stabilisation | Not confirmed | Yes |
Monitors and peripherals
| Fact | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | Not confirmed | 720 |
| Panel types | Not confirmed | Ips, Va, Oled |
| Wireless peripherals | Not confirmed | Yes |
Gaming gear
| Fact | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Pc, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile |
| Battery life | Not confirmed | 70 hours |
Electronics stores
| Fact | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Departments | Not confirmed | Computers, Audio, Gaming, Cameras |
| Extended warranty | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Click and collect | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Minisforum | Scan | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 2 yearsat the median | 3 yearsabove the median | 2 years |
| Return window | 30 daysat the median | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 days |
| Most memory (GB) | 128above the median | Not confirmed | 64 |
Median across 45 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Minisforum
Pros
- A single maker covers both a mini PC and a gaming PC, so you can change size without changing brand.
- Build to order is a yes, so memory and chip choices are made when you buy rather than fixed in advance.
- Memory reaches 128 GB, which keeps a compact machine useful for heavier work later on.
Cons
- Machines come with Windows, so anyone after a different desktop has to install it after delivery.
- Cover is 2 years, which is modest for a machine bought with the intention of keeping it for years.
- A return window of 30 days is brief next to a machine that needs time to settle in.
Scan
Pros
- Scan builds to order, so a machine can be specified part by part rather than picked from a fixed shelf range.
- Cover on its own systems runs 3 years, and Scan ranks 1 of 34 brands compared on warranty length.
- The store spans laptops, gaming laptops, desktops, gaming PCs and mini PCs, so a household can do its computing in one basket.
Cons
- Trading is limited to GB, so delivery, returns and warranty claims stop at the UK border.
- Operating systems listed are Windows and Linux, so a buyer after a Mac or a ChromeOS machine finds nothing on the shelf here.
- Graphics choices are limited to nvidia, amd and intel, so anyone after Apple silicon hardware has to look elsewhere.
Who each suits
Minisforum
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a compact PC and a full gaming machine from the same brand.
- People who would rather choose memory and graphics options at checkout than take a fixed spec.
- Anyone who values a configurable build and a returns window over the lowest sticker price.
Who should look elsewhere
- Laptop buyers, who will find laptop, gaming laptop and desktop a closer fit at Scan.
- Shoppers after a full-size gaming box with no mini PCs, where Corsair lists gaming pc only.
- Buyers who want a tower desktop rather than a compact case, since CyberPowerPC lists laptop, gaming laptop and desktop and no mini PC.
Scan
Who it suits
- UK buyers who want a PC specified to their own parts list instead of a fixed configuration.
- Shoppers who want a laptop, a desktop, a mini PC, a monitor and a headset from one seller under a single returns window.
- Gamers who want nvidia, amd and intel graphics options and controllers for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile in the same order.
Who should look elsewhere
- GEEKOM, whose mini pc and laptop range is the compact computer route when that is all you need.
- CyberPowerPC, whose laptop, gaming laptop and desktop list is a tighter gaming machine route for a buyer who only wants rigs.
Country by country
| Country | Minisforum | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Hong Kong | Yes | No |
| Japan | Yes | No |
| South Korea | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
8 of 9 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Minisforum
How much does a Minisforum PC cost?+
The cheapest Minisforum machine is listed at $194.90. That is the entry point for the range rather than a mid-range figure, and it is worth holding next to Corsair, Scan and CyberPowerPC before you commit. Because Minisforum builds to order, the spec you pick at checkout is what you pay for in the box.
Which operating system do Minisforum PCs run?+
Minisforum machines run Windows. If you are used to a different desktop, you would be starting fresh and installing your own system after delivery. It is worth settling that before you buy, because it changes which software you can expect to open straight away.
Scan
What does a Scan computer cost, and does the price change later?+
Prices are set per product rather than as a subscription, and the entry figure across the store is £48.98. Nothing recurs, so the amount committed at entry is the amount that stands later, with no renewal charge added afterwards. Budget for the machine itself rather than for a cycle of payments.
Can Scan build a computer to my own parts list?+
Scan builds to order, so a machine can be specified part by part instead of being chosen from a fixed shelf range. That suits buyers who already know the graphics card and memory they want. Ready configurations drawn from laptop, gaming laptop and desktop sit alongside it for anyone who would rather take a finished build.