Everyone is familiar with Lenovo’s Xiaoxin laptops, and at the Xiaoxin launch event in February this year, they introduced a new Xiaoxin mini host, which has finally been listed after nearly 3 months!
Today our protagonist is the Lenovo Xiaoxin Mini, which has a volume of only 1L, built-in power supply, and is equipped with an Intel 13th generation Core processor, making it sufficient for office and entertainment.
So how does this computer perform in real-world tests? Let’s analyze it briefly:
Lenovo Xiaoxin Mini
Swipe left to see the ports
Top of the machine
Front of the machine
Back of the machine
Its specifications are as follows:
i5-13500H Processor
16GB DDR4 3200MHz Memory
1TB Solid State Drive
Power Supply 150W 80PLUS Platinum
Dimensions 195×191×39mm
Weight 1.76kg
Power Cable Weight 76g
Reference Price 3699 Yuan
Its pros and cons are as follows:
Pros!
1. Easy to disassemble, convenient to upgrade memory and hard drive
2. Built-in power supply, no need for an external large power supply
3. A variety of ports and types available
Cons!
1. Equipped with DDR4 3200MHz memory
2. Does not support VESA monitor mounts
3. High core temperature under heavy load
[Upgrade Suggestions]
This Xiaoxin mini host is not difficult to disassemble; remove the top cover, unscrew 4 screws, take off the bottom cover, and you can install the solid state drive and replace the memory.
Dual-channel 16GB DDR4 3200MHz memory can meet basic usage needs, and the memory can be replaced by the user.
The test machine’s solid-state drive has a capacity of 1TB, model Yilian AM6A1, supports PCIe4.0×4 and NVMe, and the machine also has an M.2 interface, which can be replaced and upgraded if needed.
[Purchase Suggestions]
1. High requirements for computer size
2. Desire for strong CPU performance
3. No need for mobile office
The biggest feature of the Lenovo Xiaoxin Mini is its compact size; it packs a variety of ports into a 1L volume and has a built-in power supply, so you only need to connect one cable to run it without dragging around a large power adapter.
In terms of ports, the front of the machine includes a USB-A 10Gbps, USB-C 10Gbps, and a 3.5mm audio port;
The back of the machine has two USB-A 10Gbps, a USB2.0, Thunderbolt 4 (supports DP1.4 video output and power supply), HDMI2.0, DP1.4 ports, and a 2.5G network port.
In terms of noise, when the ambient noise is 33.5dB, its full load decibel value is 49.3dB.
Unlike laptops, the Xiaoxin Mini has no screen, keyboard, or touchpad, so the price is lower, and users can choose suitable peripherals according to their economic situation.
So if you want a mini desktop with good expandability and decent CPU performance, you might consider this computer. However, if you have mobile office needs, this computer is not suitable for you.
[Final Thoughts from Zhu Wang]
The above image shows the disassembly photos of the Lenovo Xiaoxin Mini, featuring dual fans (including the power supply fan), with heat dissipation fins directly covering the core.
Room temperature 25℃
Reflectivity 1.0
BIOS version: M4YKT0EA
For the standard pressure processor, use Stress FPU for stress testing.
In vertical placement, under full load, the CPU temperature stabilizes at 97℃, with a power consumption of about 55W, P-core frequency at 3.8GHz, E-core frequency at 3.0GHz.
In horizontal placement, under full load, the maximum CPU temperature is 100℃, stabilizing at 97℃, with power consumption of about 52W, P-core frequency maintaining at 3.7GHz, E-core frequency at 3.0GHz.
Top temperature of the roast machine
Bottom temperature of the roast machine
Front temperature of the roast machine
Back temperature of the roast machine
The surface temperature is shown in the above images, with the highest temperature of the machine’s top reaching 45.6℃ on the left side, and the center point at 40.6℃;
The maximum bottom temperature is 42.3°C, with the center point at 35.0℃;
The maximum front temperature is at the USB-C port, reaching 36.3°C, with the center point at 33.4°C;
The maximum temperature at the rear exhaust port reaches 58.2℃ at the USB-A port.
Unlike laptops, the surface temperature of the Xiaoxin Mini is not critical, as external keyboards do not need to touch the body of the machine, and since desktops are generally further away from users compared to laptops, the noise experience is also better.
[Final Thoughts from Zhu Wang]
As a desktop, the development approach of the Xiaoxin Mini is quite different from that of Intel NUC, as it adopts a built-in power supply design, meaning nearly half of the internal space is occupied by the power supply. However, the advantage is that there is no need to worry about the placement of an external power supply, and the official stand provided allows it to be used both horizontally and vertically.
In summary, the Lenovo Xiaoxin Mini is a refined desktop computer for office and entertainment, equipped with an Intel 13th generation Core i5-13500H processor that can handle multiple office and learning tasks, and the built-in Iris Xe graphics is sufficient for light entertainment needs.
For example, my work mainly involves writing articles. My colleagues send me evaluation data, and I write reviews based on the data combined with my “hands-on experience”. This requires multiple screens to display content. For instance, the main screen is for writing Word documents, the left screen shows the latest game frame rate chart, and the right screen opens the corporate WeChat dialog box (to ask questions about data issues anytime), which maximizes the efficiency of writing reviews.
This Xiaoxin Mini can connect up to 3 external monitors, which can meet my writing needs.
For daily entertainment, browsing Weibo and watching Bilibili is definitely effortless, and the Xe graphics can handle games like LOL and CSGO, making it enjoyable during leisure time.
With desktops, there is no need to worry about screen quality or keyboard feel, and the requirements for noise can be lower. High surface temperatures are not a problem. There is no need to worry about the thickness of the machine, so ports can be freely added. Except for the inability to work on the go, everything else is very flexible. Compared to traditional desktops, the Xiaoxin Mini is compact and occupies less space, making it unobtrusive whether placed at home or in the office, blending well into the environment.
As a former NUC user, I have always preferred these types of mini hosts and hope to see more mini hosts serving students and business professionals in the future.