GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro

Updated on May 27, 2026

The GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro is a budget mini PC built around the Intel Core i3-10110U, a 2019-era Comet Lake chip that GMKtec is positioning against newer Alder Lake-N and Twin Lake competitors. The chassis is the familiar G3-family shell: vented metal-and-plastic, palm-sized at 4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches, with the same 2x HDMI, 4x USB-A, 2.5GbE Intel i226, and dual M.2 layout as its N100 and N95 siblings. What sets the G3 Pro apart is the platform around the chip: dual SODIMM slots accept up to 64GB of DDR4, the M.2 2280 NVMe slot supports drives up to 8TB, and there is a second M.2 2242 SATA slot for a smaller secondary drive. Whether that platform is enough to forgive a 14nm CPU that pre-dates COVID is the question every reviewer keeps coming back to.

Pros and Cons of the GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro

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GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro Comparison Chart

	GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro	GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro	GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro
Price	List Price: $239.98 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: $289.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: $189.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Version	8GB/256GB/Black	16GB/512GB	Barebone (no RAM, no SSD, no OS)
Performance Rating	3.5	4.2	4.2
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	Dual-core 2.10 Ghz (max 4.10 Ghz) Intel Core i3-10110U Processor	Dual-core 2.10 Ghz (max 4.10 Ghz) Intel Core i3-10110U Processor	Dual-core 2.10 Ghz (max 4.10 Ghz) Intel Core i3-10110U Processor
GPU	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	8 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel	16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel	0 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel
Internal Storage	256 GB SATA SSD	512 GB SATA SSD	0 GB
Dimensions width x length x thickness	4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches (114.05 x 105.92 x 42.42 mm)	4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches (114.05 x 105.92 x 42.42 mm)	4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches (114.05 x 105.92 x 42.42 mm)
Weight	0.62 lbs (0.28 kg)	0.62 lbs (0.28 kg)	0.62 lbs (0.28 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2
Ethernet	1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps
HDMI	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports
DisplayPort	No DisplayPort	No DisplayPort	No DisplayPort
VGA	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	4 USB 3 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), 2 front and 2 rear	4 USB 3 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), 2 front and 2 rear	4 USB 3 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), 2 front and 2 rear
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No	No
OCuLink	No	No	No
Internal SATA Ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports
Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo	combo	combo
Fanless	No	No	No
VESA Mount	Yes	Yes	Yes
In the Box	GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket with screws, user manual	GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket with screws, user manual	GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket with screws, user manual
Expandability	RAM up to 64GB DDR4 across 2x SODIMM slots, dual M.2 storage slots (NVMe + SATA)	RAM up to 64GB DDR4 across 2x SODIMM slots, dual M.2 storage slots (NVMe + SATA)	RAM up to 64GB DDR4 across 2x SODIMM slots, dual M.2 storage slots (NVMe + SATA)

Detailed Insights into the GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro

Physically the G3 Pro is the same mini PC GMKtec has been refining for two years. It shares its 4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inch footprint with the NucBox G3 (Intel N100) and the NucBox G3S (Intel N95), and the rear I/O is identical: 2x HDMI 2.0 (Type-A), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, the 2.5GbE port, a 3.5mm combo jack, the DC barrel jack, and a Kensington lock slot. The front face carries a power button and the other 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Cooling is active: a small fan paired with a single copper heat pipe, configurable through three TDP modes in BIOS (Silent at 8W, Balanced at 10W, Performance at 15W). The unit weighs about 280g (0.62 lbs) bare, with VESA hardware in the box for monitor-mounting.

At the heart of the G3 Pro is the Intel Core i3-10110U, a 14nm Comet Lake-U processor with 2 cores, 4 threads, a 2.1 GHz base clock, and a 4.1 GHz boost. This is the chip TechRadar called “outdated” and “hard to justify” in a 2026 product, and the criticism has weight: by core count and process node, the i3-10110U is a step behind the quad-core Twin Lake N150 chips that sit in similarly priced mini PCs today. What it does well is single-thread performance: its 4.1 GHz boost is meaningfully faster than an N150’s 3.6 GHz, which translates into snappier response in browser tabs, lightweight productivity, and Plex transcoding workloads where one fast thread matters more than four slow ones.

Connectivity is where the G3 Pro starts to look like a 2026 product again. Wireless is WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with Bluetooth 5.2, wired networking is a 2.5 Gbps Intel i226 controller, and dual HDMI 2.0 outputs drive two 4K@60Hz displays. The biggest expansion advantage over the N100-based NucBox G3 is RAM ceiling: where the N100 platform tops out around 16-32GB depending on board, the i3-10110U supports up to 64GB across the two SODIMM slots in dual-channel DDR4. Storage is also more flexible than typical at this tier, with one M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot rated up to 8TB and a second M.2 2242 SATA slot for an additional 1TB drive. There is, however, no USB-C port anywhere on the chassis, which rules out single-cable docks and limits the device to legacy USB-A and HDMI peripherals.

Reviewer Insights on the GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro

Brad Linder at Liliputing framed the launch as a deliberate counter-positioning move by GMKtec. “Most of the cheap, low-power mini PCs that we’ve seen in the last few years with sub-$200 starting prices have been powered by Intel’s low-cost, low-power Alder Lake-N or Twin Lake processors. The GMK NucBox G3 Pro takes a different approach.” He noted that the i3-10110U beats newer Twin Lake chips on single-core benchmarks and supports more memory than they do, but loses on multi-core performance and energy efficiency. His verdict: “Despite its age, this chip actually has a few advantages over newer Twin Lake chips, but there are also some down sides.”

TechRadar was more skeptical. The publication treated the G3 Pro as a curiosity built to sell off a parts inventory of older Comet Lake CPUs, framing its “dated” silicon as the main story rather than a feature. The piece does credit the platform for supporting up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, which is unusually generous for the price tier, but warns that casual users would struggle to justify picking the G3 Pro over a current-generation N150 or Ryzen-based mini PC.

Gizmochina covered the launch as a straight specs piece, emphasizing the dual M.2 storage layout and the tool-free quick-release chassis. The publication highlighted the unusually compact 260g chassis and called the device “budget-friendly,” but its review centered on what was in the box rather than how the chip actually performed under load. Across the three writeups the consensus is clear: the platform around the i3-10110U is genuinely good, and the chip itself is genuinely old.

TV Box Stop put the G3 Pro through the hands-on testing the written pieces skipped and landed in the same place: fine for Windows basics and media, but you have to drop games to the lowest preset and flip the BIOS to “Ultra Performance” to get the most out of the i3. The more interesting find was off the beaten path: the reviewer used the free M.2 slot and FydeOS to turn it into a capable 64-bit Android-app box, which (alongside full surround-sound pass-through to a soundbar) makes a stronger case for it as a living-room or light-desktop machine than as anything you would game on. One ceiling to note: 4K output tops out at 30Hz, with 60Hz available only at 1080p.

Customer Reviews of the GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro

Amazon shoppers have rated the listing 4.2 out of 5 stars across roughly 1,400 reviews, although that figure is shared with related variants of the NucBox G3 family on the same product page rather than reflecting G3 Pro buyers alone. The recurring theme in the highest-rated reviews is value: buyers note that the unit handles browser-and-Office workloads, light retro emulation, Plex serving, and 24/7 home-server duties without issue, and several call out the absence of bloatware on the bundled Windows 11 Pro install. One reviewer used the unit as a Plex server streaming 4K over WiFi and reported it “performing reliably” at that role.

The most common complaints fall into two buckets. The first is Linux compatibility: more than one buyer reported display and audio issues during a Linux install, with no mainline distro detecting the audio out of the box. The second is the gap between the listing’s headline specs and what actually shipped: one three-star review noted the unit arrived with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD instead of the 16GB / 1TB the listing implied, a recurring problem with Amazon’s variant grouping on this product family. Buyers who bought the barebone configuration and added their own RAM and storage avoided this issue entirely.

Power-user reviewers consistently call out the lack of a USB-C port and the absence of Thunderbolt as deal-breakers for laptop-replacement scenarios. For pure desktop or always-on server use the limitations are easier to live with, which is why the device’s strongest reception comes from buyers who treat it as a low-power always-on box rather than a daily driver.

Conclusion

The NucBox G3 Pro sits in an awkward window. The chassis is good, the platform is generous, and the i3-10110U delivers competent single-threaded performance for browsing, light productivity, and home-server roles. If you need 32GB or 64GB of RAM in a sub-$250 mini PC and you do not want to step up to a Ryzen-based unit, the G3 Pro is one of very few options that gets you there. The dual M.2 layout is also a real advantage for buyers building a small NAS or backup target.

For most readers, though, the value math points elsewhere. The current-generation NucBox G3 (Intel N100) costs less, runs cooler, and matches the G3 Pro on most workloads while losing only the RAM ceiling. The NucBox G3S (Intel N95) sits between them in price and performance. Buyers who specifically need the 64GB ceiling, the second M.2 SATA slot, or stronger single-thread performance for a Plex transcoding server are the right audience for the G3 Pro; everyone else is better served by a current-generation N100 or N150 mini PC. To compare these against each other, see Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart.

Frequently Asked Questions