Of course, if all you need of a computer is being able to run Overbridge, you don’t need an M1. You can get yourself a used 2016 or so MacBook Air for 250 to 300 dollars. It’ll do the job just fine.
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configure the laptop to not suspend when closing the lid, then just close it and store it vertically when you are not using it.
Look for vertical laptop stand.
There are smaller computers but you will eventually have to connect a keyboard/trackpad and a screen at some point and anything smaller than a laptop such as a latte panda dev board + touchscreen will be more expensive than your budget anyway.
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The laptop out of the way is really good advice and a lot of bang for the buck. You mentioned a fixed rout to your mixer or audio interface. Are you looking to also run a daw and record on this machine or are you trying to use it as an over bridge sub mixer of some sort to avoid audio cables? Very curious about your use case. I love minimal headless setups in general. What are you trying to get done?
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The idea is to create some type of a breakout box as most Elektron boxes only have stereo i/o.
I wont be using any DAW for this.
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By breakout box, Is the idea that all the elektron boxes will go into this pc and then be routed as individuals outputs from an audio interface into a hardware mixer or something like that?
Indeed. 
Nice. How many outputs are you aiming for? Have you got the interface for the outputs already?
I used to run it on a surface Pro 6, ran great, the newer ones are probably even better
Depends on how many Elektron devices I might get. The fact they all not getting some type of Songmode is still disappointing and I think Elektron is shooting itself in the foot by doing so. But maybe I can overcome that and do the order. If so I’ll probably start with the DT than add the ST and DN. That’s 24 channels in total I believe.
Didn’t someone on here make it run on a rpi?
I’ve seen a couple topics like this one. Runs on a RPi it seems, but that’s too DIY for me.
I think I’ll go for the 11" Macbook Air, 2015 (or newer depending on availability & price).
That model is still able to run the latest OS so should cover any near future updates.
Anyone here using a 2015 MBA with Overbridge?
Steam Deck - my intention is to use it for exactly this. And it’s battery powered.
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At 24 channels you’re throwing a lot of audio around, you’re either looking at an adat expander or two (audient or MOTU types of interfaces with pre expanders) or a mixer with usb audio (behringer, Allen and heath sq series or Midas) all of which gets space consuming quickly. Obviously if you’re looking to take these into an outboard mixer solving this with a mixer is not ideal. You had mentioned space as a consideration for the pc/Mac running this for you but I don’t see how you’re avoiding at best a rack of gear and a significant investment to get to that channel count unless you already have everything but the pc already
I think knowing the channel count - laptop with decent specs still makes the most sense AND if you are building a rack for an interface and two Adat expanders (I’m assuming a lot here) then you can effectively add 0 extra space with one of these assuming the ventilation works out
Anyway - Hopefully you find something elegant for you.
Depending of what you want to do, a raspberry pi with https://github.com/dagargo/overwitch can’t be beaten if you’re mainly looking after the separate audio outputs.
You can all also find very cheap < 100$ 8 inch windows tablet that could do the job.
I wont be playing 24 channels at the same time, but I do want everything hooked up. That’s where the patchbay comes in.
If no DAW to rationalize recording separate tracks, why overcomplicate over a mixer?
I want to be able to process every channel separately, but what I don’t want is a computer and plugins to make music. Dedicated hardware is better suited for me.
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Ok, stepped back and somehow missed the “need individual channels” on models that don’t have individual outs and that you’ve got a mixer already 
Look at the laptop as a patchbay with a display and saveable routings and put it in a rack drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. Do you need an output for every channel? Or could you get away with some grouping and 16 channels?
2014 Mac Book Air 11" on Montery or Big Sur.