Can I turn bowls on a benchtop or mini lathe?

Small bowls, yes, within the lathe's swing limit (the maximum diameter that clears the bed). A 10"–12" swing machine handles modest bowls; micro lathes are not suited to bowl work. Reviewers note that heavier cast-iron benchtop lathes handle the imbalance of bowl blanks far better than lightweight units, which can walk across the bench without added weight.