Mini PCs are evolving rapidly. The category is no longer limited to compact, office-focused systems, with upcoming designs aiming at gaming, AI workloads, and modular computing.

Over this year, several companies have previewed next-generation mini PCs through early showcases, technology summits, and brand presentations, revealing bold form factors, powerful chipsets, and unconventional cooling approaches. Some concepts prioritize extreme compactness, while others push raw performance closer to full-size desktops.

Based on confirmed specifications, official previews, and early disclosures, these are the most promising mini PCs you can wait for in 2026.

Snapdragon X2 Elite Mini PCs

Qualcomm revealed two experimental Snapdragon X2 mini PC reference designs during the Snapdragon Summit. The first is a circular model that looks like a frisbee. It features the new Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip, with 12 Prime cores clocked up to 5.0GHz and six performance cores at 3.6GHz. The total 18-core configuration supports up to 228 GB/s memory bandwidth.

This saucer-shaped PC is milled from metal, finished in Snapdragon red, and includes USB-C, a headphone jack, and barrel power input. It also runs fanless thanks to Frore Systems’ AirJet cooling technology, which uses piezoelectric membranes instead of fans.

The second model is a square-shaped module that docks directly into a monitor base. It uses the same chipset and includes two Type-C ports and a 3.5mm jack. This all-in-one design allows users to swap out the computing module while keeping the monitor.

Qualcomm confirmed that at least three Taiwanese OEMs are working on Snapdragon X2-based systems. These reference designs may never become retail products, but they showcase what ARM PCs could look like in the near future.

Thunderobot Mix G2

Thunderobot plans to launch the Mix G2 mini PC globally at CES 2026. This compact 3.2-liter system includes Intel’s Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. The processor supports 24 cores and 24 threads, while the GPU brings 24GB of GDDR7 memory and up to 1824 TOPS of AI performance.

Thunderobot targets gamers and content creators with this high-end configuration. The Chinese version already launched with up to 64GB RAM and prices starting at around $3,800. Global pricing and region availability will be announced during CES.

Minisforum AtomMan G1 Pro

The AtomMan G1 Pro is a vertical gaming mini PC powered by AMD’s Ryzen 9 8945HX processor and a 145W GeForce RTX 5060 GPU. The system has a 3.8-liter chassis and features a built-in 350W power supply and a high-efficiency dual-fan Glacier cooling system.

The G1 Pro supports up to 96GB of DDR5 memory, two PCIe 4.0 SSD slots, and up to four 4K displays. It includes dual HDMI, DisplayPort 2.1, 5GbE LAN, USB-C, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.

The mini PC is currently available for pre-order, with prices starting at $1,430. Shipments are expected to begin in early January.

Gmktec Evo-T2

Gmktec showcased the Evo-T2 at Intel’s 2025 conference in China. The system is powered by Intel’s Panther Lake H 12Xe3 chip, which uses the 18A process and includes 12 Xe3 GPU cores. It also delivers up to 180 TOPS of AI performance.

The Evo-T2 supports up to 128GB of LPDDR5X-10677 memory and 16TB of total storage across two M.2 slots. It includes front-facing USB-A and USB-C ports along with a 3.5mm jack. Full I/O and pricing are expected to be announced in Q1 2026.

FEVM FAEX1

FEVM already launched its FAEX1 mini PC in China with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor. The 16-core chip supports 128GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory and integrates the Radeon 8060S GPU, which performs similarly to an RTX 4070 Laptop GPU.

The FAEX1 includes three M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots, a 10 GbE and a 2.5 GbE Ethernet port, and external GPU support via OCuLink and USB4. It also includes HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.0, an SD card reader, stereo speakers, and Wi-Fi 7.

The base model, which comes with 64GB of RAM, is priced at 10,999 yuan in China, roughly $1,550. There is no word yet on global availability, though it may appear on AliExpress later on.

Minisforum MS-02 Ultra

Minisforum MS-02 Ultra is a relatively recent launch, so we are adding this to the list as well. It is a compact 4.8-liter desktop that supports up to 256GB of DDR5 ECC memory, four M.2 SSDs, and three PCIe expansion slots. The system is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX mobile processor, featuring 24 cores and a boost clock of up to 5.5GHz.

The system includes a 350W internal PSU and a slide-out chassis for easy upgrades. The cooling system features six heatpipes and dual fans. Networking includes dual 25 GbE SFP+ ports, 10 GbE and 2.5 GbE RJ45, and Wi-Fi 7.

Models start at $1,199 for barebones and go up to $2,899 for 192GB RAM and 2TB SSD configurations. The 192GB variant will start shipping from December 25th this year.

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The post The Best Mini PCs to Wait for in 2026 appeared first on Gizmochina.

FEVM, a China-based brand focused on compact mini PCs, has launched its second system, the FAEX1. The new machine adopts a familiar cheese-grater aesthetic reminiscent of Apple’s designs, but incorporates a 16-core AMD APU and up to 128GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory into a compact 1-liter chassis.

FEVM FAEX1 Specifications 

The FAEX1 measures 220 × 133 × 35mm and uses a CNC-machined aluminum alloy shell to achieve its glossy, industrial look. Despite its size, the mini PC is unusually generous with ports. 

Both the front and rear panels include two USB-C 40Gbps ports, two USB-A 10Gbps ports, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.0, an SD 4.0 card reader, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an OCuLink 4i port for connecting external GPUs.

For connectivity, FEVM sticks to the latest standards. The FAEX1 supports dual-band Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, alongside a 2.5GbE RJ45 port for wired networking.

Powering the system is AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 “Strix Halo” processor. It’s a 16-core APU built on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, offering 32 threads, a Radeon 860S GPU with 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units, and an integrated XDNA 2 AI accelerator for on-device AI workloads.

To keep all of that in check, FEVM says the FAEX1 uses a 160W cooling solution that combines two active fans with a large vapor chamber. According to the company, this setup allows the mini PC to maintain peak performance even under sustained heavy loads.

Memory options include either 64GB or 128GB of soldered RAM, and storage is handled through three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 2280 slots for SSDs.

In China, the FAEX1 starts at 10,999 yuan for the 64GB barebones configuration with no SSD. The 128GB version costs 13,999 yuan, which roughly translates to $1,550 and $1,970, respectively, at current exchange rates.

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