ZDNET's key takeaways The Minix Z97 mini PC is on sale for $191.
This tiny PC is a powerhouse that's well-suited for daily use.
Running demanding tasks like local AI workloads puts a strain on its resources. $238.9 at Amazon
The Minix Z97 mini PC comes with 12GB of RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, on sale now for $191. That's $47 off the regular price.
Imagine having a PC that fits in your hand and performs well enough to get you through the day (with power to spare). Such computers exist, but not all of them are created equal.
I've tested plenty of these tiny form-factor PCs, and a lot of them might be cute, but they lack any semblance of power to do much. Others, like the Piccolo N150 -- an eight-inch device I recently reviewed -- are useful in specific contexts but aren't for everyone. Because of this, any time I receive one for review, I go into the review process with a grain of salt.
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Imagine my surprise when I opened the palm-sized Minix Neo Z97 and realized my assumptions might very well be wrong.
Minix is a company you might never have heard of, but they create quite a lot of small form-factor hardware, such as PCs, car touchscreens, portable monitors, chargers, and wireless displays. Minix's products often impress and are offered at affordable prices. For instance, its new Z97 Mini PC sells for only $226 on Amazon.
Is it worth the price? Let's find out.
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