The Minisforum AI X1 Pro is a compact, upgradeable mini PC with a powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, extensive ports, and customizable memory and storage, making it a flexible Windows alternative to the Mac Mini, though its integrated graphics and value compared to laptops should be considered.
The article reviews the Framework Desktop, a modular and upgradeable mini PC that performs impressively for gaming and everyday tasks, making it a versatile and stylish addition to a living room entertainment setup, especially with its ability to handle demanding games on a 4K TV without a discrete GPU.
The Framework Desktop, despite being less modular than its laptop counterparts, offers a compact, powerful, and customizable small form factor PC suitable for gaming and content creation, with a unique design and no bloatware.
The Minisforum G1 Pro is a surprisingly powerful and customizable mini PC that resembles a PS5, featuring a full desktop Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, upgradeable graphics card, and a sleek design, making it an impressive option for gaming and versatile use in a compact form factor.
Framework is now offering a sub-$500 barebones configuration of its modular laptop, the Framework Laptop 13, which includes an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor but lacks RAM, storage, Wi-Fi connectivity, power adaptor, and an operating system. Tinkerers can purchase additional components from the Framework Marketplace, and refurbished DDR4 memory is available at a discounted price. The B-stock systems may have slight cosmetic display issues and are currently available in the US, Canada, and Australia.