Zotac says its ZBOX PI225 is the world’s smallest mini PC
Zotac says its ZBOX PI225 is the world’s smallest mini PC
Zotac has announced a couple of new additions to its ZBOX M and P series mini PCs. The ZBOX PI225 is probably the more interesting of the two, given that it’s a super tiny machine that Zotac says is the world’s smallest and thinnest mini PC.
It measures just 95.4 x 63 x 8mm, making it thinner than most laptops out there and roughly the same size as a 2.5-inch SSD. Of course, those dimensions do come with a trade-off, and you’re limited to just a dual-core Intel Apollo Lake processor instead of a proper desktop chip.
That said, this looks to be an interesting choice for those looking for a tiny system for basic tasks. Here’s an overview of the specifications:
- Intel Celeron N3350 processor (1.10GHz, 2MB L2 cache)
- 4GB LPDDR3 memory
- 32GB eMMC storage
- Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
The Apollo Lake processor has a TDP of just 6 watts, so Zotac went with a completely silent fanless design with no moving parts.
But despite its small size, you’ll still get support for 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, in addition to two USB 3.0 Type-C ports which support DisplayPort output.
However, if you want something more powerful, there’s the ZBOX MI553, a speedy machine that is still very compact. It measures 184.6 x 71.5 x 184.6mm, and is available in both barebones and fully configured models.
The ZBOX MI553 Plus is the version that’s ready to go right out of the box. Here’s a look at what you’re getting:
- Intel Core i5-7300HQ processor (2.50GHz, 6MB L3 cache)
- 4GB DDR4 memory
- 120GB M.2 SATA SSD
- Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
There’s a decent selection of I/O ports, including four USB 3.0 and one Thunderbolt 3 port at the back, and one USB 3.1 (Gen 2) Type-C port at the front. In addition, there are HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, and 3-in-1 card reader.
Zotac says it worked to maximize the surface area available for ventilation, and the PC is kept cool by a pretty standard heatsink and fan setup. The innards are also easily accessible by a push-and-lift mechanism, so you can upgrade things like the RAM and storage.