Key Takeaways
1. Innovative Designs: Mini PC manufacturers are creating imaginative cases with features like RGB lights and unique styles, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.
2. Integrated Audio: The Soayan EXR1 includes 10 W stereo speakers, a mini subwoofer, and a 24-bit DAC, eliminating the need for external audio devices.
3. Powerful Hardware: It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS with 8 cores and 16 threads, and includes a Radeon 780M integrated GPU, but may have limited upgrade options.
4. Extensive Connectivity: The mini PC offers a variety of ports, including USB4, HDMI 2.1, and a 2.5 GbE port, alongside Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities.
5. Pricing Variability: The Soayan EXR1 is priced at $479.97 with 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD, while the same specs under the Chatreey brand cost significantly more.
When it comes to creating cases, Mini PC manufacturers have been showing a lot of imagination lately. Some designs include flashy features like RGB lights and unique styles, while others aim to offer extra functionalities. For instance, the latest EXR1 from Soayan (also known as the Chatreey EX1 on AliExpress) resembles a portable Bluetooth speaker and might even work as one, but it lacks a rechargeable battery, meaning it must always be plugged in.
Integrated Audio Features
In addition to the mini PC components, this round case comes equipped with 10 W stereo speakers, a mini subwoofer, and a 24-bit DAC, which eliminates the need for headphones or external speakers. To add to its appeal, there’s also an RGB light ring on the top.
Impressive Specs
On the hardware side, this mini PC is driven by an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, featuring 8 Zen 4 cores and 16 threads, along with a Radeon 780M integrated GPU. It reportedly supports 2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots and 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots. However, photos of the motherboard only show one RAM slot and one SSD slot, suggesting that the other slots might be located on the opposite side. This model does not seem to be upgrade-friendly, as the manufacturer advises against disassembling it.
Connectivity Options
The selection of ports is quite impressive considering how compact the mini PC is. It includes a USB4 port, three USB-A 10 Gbps ports, a USB 2.0 port, HDMI 2.1 and DP 2.1 video outputs, an audio jack, and a 2.5 GbE port. For wireless connections, it features a Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 card. The case itself measures 6.6 inches (167 cm) in height and 4.4 inches (112 mm) in width, though the mini PC inside appears to occupy less than half of the case’s width.
As mentioned earlier, this design is available on AliExpress under two different brands. The Soayan EXR1 is the more budget-friendly choice at $479.97, which includes 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. The same specifications are offered by Chatreey with the EX1 model, but its price is more than double for some unknown reason.
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