Acemagic S1 Review: The Windows 11 Pro Mini PC has an LCD Display
Mini PCs are one of the best and most functional things for a person like me. I used them for a long time before shifting to Min-ITX PC. The weight, power consumption, size, cost, and many more are good reasons to get a mini-PC. Acemagic S1 is another classy device that has a crazy low power consumption and desktop-grade performance at an incredible price point. Moreover, it also has a beautiful LCD screen on the front that looks quite stunning.
So, does this computer perform as good as it looks?
Let’s Inspect!
Summary
Pros
- Stunning and unique design
- Exceptional price
- Good value component
- Satisfactory performance
- Ability to handle light games
Cons
- Lack of Thunderbolt and USB Type-C support
- The metallic base is unstable
Acemagic S1 – Price
The price is not that attractive compared to other Mini PCs. It starts at 199$, but we know the whole package with these specs in a normal PC package will cost around 350$. So, it might turn out to be a good deal after a thorough performance analysis. Acemagic is competing against well-established companies like Beelink, Morefine, Gigabyte and others.
Acemagic S1 – Unboxing
Considering the captivating design, I have high expectations for the unboxing. And Acemagic did not disappoint. It has a beautiful box, high-quality material and a subtle marketing that looks really great. We have the main product, the Acemagic S1 and a box housing the stand and power cable.
In addition to the mini-PC, the box has a power cable, magnetic stand, type-C cable and user manual.
Inside and Outside
Acemagic S1 has a very unique design for a mini-PC. It has a slim and slightly taller body with a beautiful LCD screen on the front. In the upright position, the mini-PC feels more like a tower PC. I am really a fan of its design, but it has plastic housing on the side, which feels weak. But I think it’s okay because reducing the weight and size is one of the primary priorities. Moreover, it also has a stand that makes it easier to stand vertically. The magnets are not the strongest but do an excellent job of keeping them in position.
The port selection on Acemagic S1 is great. It has 2xUSB2.0, 2xUSB3.0, 2x full-size HDMI, 2xLAN and 1 AUX.
The insides are pretty easy to access. It has one of the friendliest designs; just lift the plastic cover, and you will have access to all the internals. We have one SODIMM and an M.2 SSD with an extra slot to install more storage.
Technical Specifications
- Processor: Intel N95 Alder Lake Processor
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB or 1TB M.2 storage
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- Ports: 2xUSB 2.0, 2xUSB3.0, 2xfull-size HDMI, 2xEthernet, 1×3.5mm headphone jack
- Weight: 380 grams
Acemagic S1 – Performance
The PC is made from laptop-grade components, so all the parts are power-friendly, and the processor only consumes the max of 25W depending on the configuration.
Similarly, it has single-channel memory, so you cannot expect maximum performance. Moreover, the RAM is not the best but it handles most tasks elegantly. But for highly intensive tasks, you will sense some issues.
The storage is a nice M.2 SSD with an extra slot to accommodate more storage. It is not the best SSD out there, but it is definitely better than entry-level QLC-based drives. I have tested it in the toughest situations to analyze the lowest rates. And honestly, it is pretty good considering the price.
Acemagic S1 is also using Realtek Wi-Fi-6, which delivers excellent wireless performance. In addition, it also has two ethernet ports if Wi-Fi is not good enough for you. The components are worthy and can deliver good results, so let’s analyze the mini-PC’s performance.
LCD Display
The screen on the front looks really good, but I was concerned about the power consumption. But the usage of this mini-PC is ridiculously low; it is just a fraction of what an average PC is.
The LCD screen can display various power metrics and supports multiple screens to fit your theme. It is an excellent aesthetical addition that does not serve any beneficial function.
Office Tasks
Simple office and home tasks work fine. If you are buying it to stream movies, run multimedia and browse through social media. Then, you will never feel any stuttering or slowdowns. Moreover, Cinebench’s performance was also on par with the N97 processor. The fan on this thing is very quiet. The sound was low enough to go unnoticed even at the highest performance.
Windows 11 Pro is a pleasure to use on this mini-PC. It comes licensed, and the S1 handles it perfectly. There are no hiccups, drivers are stable, and I receive consistent updates on time.
Gaming Performance
Judging from the parts and size, the mini-PC is obviously not designed for gaming, but it can handle games at lower frame rates. Counter-Strike 2 is not playable at 4K, but you can expect okayish performance at 1080p. Many racing games also run fine.
Games are not the main focus, but you can expect a good performance with less power-demanding games.
Upgradability and Repairability
Acemagic S1 is one of the easiest mini-PCs to upgrade and repair. RAM and SSD slots are highly accessible, and you can service the fans from the other side. But if you run into a processor problem, changing the computer is better because it’s almost impossible to repair or upgrade the processor.
Drawbacks
- Single RAM module
- DDR4 memory
- No thunderbolt and USB Type-C port
- Some security concerns.
Conclusion
In the end, Acemagic S1 is a compact, power-efficient and unique mini-PC with good hardware for its price. But there are a lot of things that are small about the computer. So, if you are not planning to do any performance-intensive tasks and budget is your priority, choose the S1 to deliver good performance for years.
Watch our YouTube video for a thorough analysis.
