Next-Generation Mini PCs: A Look at January 2025 Models
New year, new mini PCs. January brought several unusual models with cutting-edge processors, AI support, and strong performance. These devices are well suited to work, study, and multimedia while maintaining a balance between power and size. In this roundup, I go over the most interesting new arrivals, their standout characteristics, and their key features. If I missed something, let me know in the comments!
GEEKOM A9 Max
This is a high-performance mini PC built around AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 375. It has 12 cores (4 Zen 5 and 8 Zen 5c) and 24 threads. The device also comes with integrated Radeon 890M graphics and an NPU rated at up to 80 TOPS, which makes it a very capable system for AI-related workloads, office applications, gaming, and content creation.
Specifications:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 375 (12 cores, 24 threads),
- Graphics: integrated Radeon 890M (16 RDNA 3.5 compute units),
- Memory: support for dual-channel DDR5-5600,
- Storage: two SSD slots, NVMe support,
- Ports: USB Type-C, USB Type-A, HDMI, DisplayPort,
- Audio jack: 3.5 mm,
- Network: Ethernet,
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3,
- Operating system: Windows 11 Pro.
Topton F12
This mini PC stands out from its peers with a vertical form factor, a magnetic side panel for easy access to the components, and stylish RGB lighting. The Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H processor is based on the Meteor Lake-H architecture and includes six performance cores that deliver high speed in demanding workloads. An additional eight efficiency cores optimize power consumption during background or less demanding tasks.
The system supports up to 96 GB of DDR5-5600 memory and up to 8 TB of storage through two M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 slots. The Thunderbolt 4 port also makes it possible to connect an external GPU for improved graphics performance.
Specifications:
- Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H (6 performance cores up to 4.8 GHz, 8 efficiency cores),
- Graphics: integrated Intel Arc iGPU,
- Memory: up to 96 GB DDR5-5600,
- Storage: two M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 slots, up to 8 TB total,
- Ports: 1 × Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps), 3 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps), 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 × HDMI 2.1, 1 × DisplayPort 2.1, 2 × 2.5GbE (Intel i226-V), 1 × 3.5 mm audio out, 1 × 3.5 mm microphone in,
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2.
Thanks to its specifications and upgrade potential, the Topton F12 should appeal to people looking for a powerful, compact mini PC for work and entertainment. It is not exactly top-tier on its own, but adding an external GPU expands its capabilities significantly.
Asus ROG NUC 15 (2025)
Asus is preparing to release the new ROG NUC 15 (2025), a mini PC designed for gamers and more. It is expected to be a very powerful device, useful for a wide range of users. The official unveiling was expected at CES 2025 in January.
Specifications:
- Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 285H (Arrow Lake),
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 or RTX 5070,
- Memory: support for up to 64 GB DDR5,
- Storage: NVMe SSD support up to 4 TB,
- Ports: USB Type-C, USB Type-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, 3.5 mm audio jack, Ethernet,
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3.
From what we can tell, the ROG NUC 15 is a powerful yet compact solution for users who need high performance in a very small footprint.
AOOSTAR N1 Pro
An ultra-compact mini PC measuring just 89 × 89 × 41.5 mm (3.50 × 3.50 × 1.63 in), powered by an Intel® N100 processor and designed for everyday tasks in tight spaces.
The AOOSTAR N1 Pro stands out for its ultra-compact design, which is ideal for limited spaces, two 2.5GbE Ethernet ports for high-speed networking, and support for up to three displays at once, making it convenient for multitasking and server applications.
Specifications:
- Processor: Intel® N100 (4 cores),
- Memory: 12 GB LPDDR5,
- Storage: M.2 2242 slot for PCIe NVMe or SATA SSD,
- Ports: 3 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps), 1 × USB Type-C (with DisplayPort Alt Mode support), 1 × DisplayPort, 1 × HDMI, 2 × 2.5GbE, 1 × 3.5 mm audio jack, 1 × DC power input,
- Wireless: dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (exact versions not specified).
System76 Meerkat
The System76 Meerkat mini PC is a compact device designed specifically for Linux users, with Pop!_OS or Ubuntu preinstalled.
The System76 Meerkat stands out for its compact design, which makes it easy to place on a desk or mount behind a monitor to save space. It offers flexible configuration options, including a choice of 13th Gen Intel® processors (i3, i5, or i7), support for up to 64 GB of DDR4 memory, and up to 16 TB of storage. With two HDMI 2.1 ports and two DisplayPort 1.4a outputs over USB-C, the Meerkat can drive up to four monitors at the same time, making it ideal for multi-display setups.
Specifications:
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-1315U, i5-1340P, or i7-1360P options,
- Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics (for the i3) or Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics (for the i5 and i7),
- Memory: up to 64 GB DDR4 SODIMM @ 3200 MHz,
- Storage: support for up to 16 TB (using two drives),
- Ports: 2 × HDMI 2.1, 2 × DisplayPort 1.4a over USB-C, 1 × 2.5GbE (Intel® i225-LM), Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 (Intel AX211), plus an additional 2.5GbE port on the high-end model.
Manufacturers, of course, offered more than just five models. This roundup is subjective. If there are devices you personally like and can recommend, feel free to talk about them in the comments.