We begin the week with a review of the GEEKOM Mini Air12, an ultra-compact device ideal for office and multimedia tasks, as it is equipped with the Intel N100 processor, which does not offer high performance. However, it provides all these features in a chassis with a mere 0.45-liter capacity, making it perfect for placing behind a monitor or taking up minimal space on a desk.
Technical Specifications of the GEEKOM Mini Air12
GEEKOM Mini Air12
Format: Mini-PC desktop compatible with VESA support
Dimensions: 117 x 112 x 34.2 mm (length, width, height)
Processor: Intel N100 (Alder Lake-N)
4 cores / 4 threads @ 3.4 GHz
6 MB Intel Smart Cache
TDP: 6W
Memory: 2 SO-DIMM DDR5 slots – Max. 16 GB
* 16 GB DDR5 @ 4800 MHz
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
24 execution units at 750 MHz
Storage: 512 GB / 1 TB Lexar M.2 PCIe 3.0 SSD
Networks: Realtek GbE (RJ-45)
Realtek 8852BE Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.2
Other connections
Front:
1 x USB-C
1 x USB 3.2 Gen2
TRRS Jack (headphones and microphone)
Sides:
Kensington lock
SD card reader
Rear:
1 x USB-C (DP)
2 x USB 3.2 Gen2
1 x HDMI 2.0
1 x Mini-DisplayPort 1.4
Power: 19V / 45W transformer
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
Packaging and Accessories
We start the review of the GEEKOM Mini Air12 by placing its small cardboard box on our workstation. On the back, we find its main hardware features and various images of its design on the sides.
Inside the box, we find the device well protected by a foam frame, and a complete pack of accessories on another level.
Along with the user manual, the GEEKOM Mini Air12 includes a pack of screws, a VESA 100 mount for placing it behind the monitor, an HDMI 2.0 cable for connecting to the monitor, and a 45W (19V / 6.3A) power transformer.
Design and connectivity of the GEEKOM Mini Air12
We continue the review of the GEEKOM Mini Air12 after unpacking it and placing it on our workstation. In front of us, we have an ultra-compact device made of gray plastic chassis with a dark gray lid that offers a stylish design and simple but high-quality finishes. The device has dimensions of 117 x 112 x 34.2 mm (length, width, height), giving it a capacity of only 0.45 liters, making it incredibly compact for a desktop device.
On the front, we find a pair of USB 3.2 Gen2 A/C ports and a TRRS jack connector for headphones and a microphone, as well as the power button with a status LED.
On the sides, we find a practical SD card reader and a Kensington lock connector if we need more security where it is installed.
Meanwhile, the rear side contains most of the connectivity options, as well as the cooling grill. The GEEKOM Mini Air12 offers 3 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (two in A format and one in C format) as well as HDMI 2.0 and Mini-DisplayPort 1.4 video outputs. It also has an RJ-45 connector for GbE connectivity, while inside, it features a Realtek 8852BE Wi-Fi 6 wireless network card with Bluetooth 5.2.
On the base of the GEEKOM Mini Air12, we see four screws that, once removed, allow access to the inside. We can also opt to replace this cover with the one seen in the accessories, which provides VESA support for placing it behind a monitor.
Inside the device, we see an M.2 unit installed in the only available storage slot, while only one of the two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots is occupied. One of the differences compared to the GEEKOM Mini IT12 is that it does not have a 2.5-inch bay, which would be ideal for significantly increasing storage capacity with a mechanical disk.
GEEKOM Mini Air12 Hardware
We now examine the hardware powering the GEEKOM Mini Air12 in sections of our review.
Intel N100 Processor (Alder Lake-N)
First, we have the Intel N100 processor, which is a basic, latest-generation model based on the Alder Lake-N architecture. It has 4 cores that offer 4 execution threads capable of reaching a maximum frequency of 3.4 GHz. This way, it allows maintaining the TDP at a mere 6W, an insignificant figure for a processor with x86 architecture.
16 GB DDR5 Memory
The processor is accompanied by 16 GB of DDR5 RAM at 4800 MHz, which, as seen in a previous image, comes in a single module. It does not, therefore, take advantage of dual-channel, but this is not a major issue in practice.
Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
The Intel N100 processor features integrated Intel UHD Graphics, albeit in a very basic version with only 24 execution units running at 750 MHz.
M.2 PCIe 3.0 SSD Storage
For data storage, the GEEKOM Mini Air12 has a 512 GB Lexar SSD in M.2 PCIe 3.0 format, offering performance in line with its interface and more than adequate for a device of this nature.
Performance Tests
Finally, in our GEEKOM Mini Air12 review, we analyze the performance that this device can offer. To start it up, we simply need to plug it into the power supply and connect basic peripherals such as a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. We will, however, need to install the Windows 11 Pro operating system, which is somewhat cumbersome due to the numerous parameters to configure, but otherwise straightforward.
After completing our tests on the GEEKOM Mini Air12, we have found that it offers a very basic performance, as expected given its processor. In practice, we have observed that it performs adequately in office tasks and multimedia playback, although not as smoothly at 4K resolution as at lower resolutions. However, do not expect to play anything more demanding than Minesweeper or similar, as its graphics power is also very limited.
On the other hand, we should highlight the effectiveness of its cooling system, which keeps processor and graphics temperatures below 60°C (140°F) and is barely audible at a maximum sound level of 40.5 dB.
GEEKOM Mini Air12 Conclusions
We conclude our review of the GEEKOM Mini Air12 by emphasizing that it is an ultra-compact device, smaller than most models of this brand. It offers adequate performance for office tasks and multimedia but cannot handle more demanding workloads. It is therefore perfect for people who simply need a computer at home or the office for working with Office, browsing the internet, watching videos, and little else. Its good USB and network connectivity options, without the latest technologies that would increase its price, are also commendable.
We can find the GEEKOM Mini Air12 for sale on the official website for 249 euros ($280) using the coupon ECIAIR12, a great price for a complete device that has half its price justified by the memory and SSD alone.
Main Advantages:
+ Ultra-compact design, only 0.45 liters
+ Adequate performance for multimedia and office tasks
+ 16 GB of RAM, ideal for Windows 11
+ 512 GB M.2 PCIe Gen 3.0 SSD
+ 5 USB 3.2 Gen2 A/C ports
+ Wi-Fi 6 + GbE
+ Can be mounted behind a monitor with its VESA support
+ Includes Windows 11 Pro license
Negative Aspects:
– Limited performance for gaming
The mini-PC GEEKOM Mini Air12 is awarded the Gold Award by El Chapuzas Informático.
The entry GEEKOM Mini Air12, micro-PC with Windows 11 in just 0.45 liters first appears on El Chapuzas Informático.
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