These Mini PCs offer AI Performance and Retro Designs

Published Sep 7, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. You don't have to buy a Mac Studio or RTX Spark system to get a mini PC that excels at AI. Acemagic used IFA 2026 to launch and showcase a raft of its latest compact desktops, including a fresh workstation based on AMD's Gorgon Halo chip, a premium Intel Panther Lake model, and even a pair of models with not-so-subtle tributes to classic Nintendo consoles. The new flagship workstation, the F9A, is built around AMD's lengthily-titled Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 processor with 16 cores, up to a hefty 192GB of RAM, fast integrated Radeon 8065S graphics (comparable to a mid-range dedicated GPU), and dual SSD slots. USB 4 is as fast as your input normally gets, but a four-lane OCuLink connection allows for external GPUs. You're not stuck with your computer's onboard power. Acemagic notes that there's a combined 131 TOPS of computing power between the CPU, GPU, and NPU. You likely won't use that all at the same time, but that capacity and the unified memory make this a potentially great PC for running large AI models on-device, and without using too much power (140W peak). The company was demonstrating AI models like Qwen 3.6 at its IFA booth, and the F9A unsurprisingly handled them well. The company will only say that the price and release date are "coming soon," including for a step-down model with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and a maximum 128GB of RAM. With that said, either is likely to be expensive: Lenovo's new ThinkCentre X Ultra desktop with the 495 will start at $3,699 when it arrives in November, and it 'only' allows for 128GB of memory. Acemagic's PC is meant for developers and creatives who know they'll need the CPU and are willing to pay a premium to get it. Acemagic's NES-inspired mini PCs Who needs raw speed when there's nostalgia? Acemagic mini PCs at IFA 2026.Credit: Jon Fingas / How-To Geek Like other Chinese mini PC manufacturers, Acemagic sells a lot of models — so many that you might not realize what you're missing. That's certainly true for special versions of the G3A Pro (aka Retro X5) and G3B (X3 Mini), both of which are clearly designed to resemble Nintendo's 1985-era NES console. They were teased months ago, but this was my chance to finally see them in person. The G3A Pro / Retro X5 is the star. In addition to running the fastest chips (up to a Core Ultra 388H), it looks most like its inspiration. You can even slide the top 'cartridge' cover off to reveal Game Boy-like pixel art that conveniently points out the access screws. You can equip it with a very respectable 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage, and it will run Linux if Windows isn't your style. I'd love it if I wanted reminders of playing Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt every time I sat down to run an emulator. The G3B / X3 Mini runs older chips (up to AMD's Ryzen AI 7 Pro 350 or Intel's Core Ultra Series 2) and isn't quite so nostalgic, but it does offer the same upgradability and OS choices. Of course, raw speed isn't the point — these are nostalgia trips that happen to be good enough for everyday computing. And if you do want more choices, they might be coming. Acemagic expects to launch versions of the G3A Pro / Retro X5 with Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 and Ryzen AI 9 465 processors, so you won't have to choose Intel to get an up-to-date CPU. We have yet to see US pricing for any of these more recent models, but an old X3 Mini is on sale for $599. High-end Intel Panther Lake in a mini PC Yes, it's a gaming-ready tiny desktop Acemagic mini PCs at IFA 2026.Credit: Jon Fingas / How-To Geek Some of the most unassuming models at the show were the most interesting. Tucked next to the F9A was the F2A 358H, which uses its namesake Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor with up to 64GB of RAM, 1TB of included storage (4TB max), and Linux compatibility. That X7 is key, as the computer is smaller than the F9A but still has enough graphics prowess for moderate gaming and AI models. This is also the system you can most easily buy. Acemagic recently began selling a version with 32GB of memory and the 1TB drive for $1,399 on Amazon. That's far from trivial, but it's more affordable than the upcoming Mac mini M6 with identical RAM and storage options ($1,799). It might be worth the savings. The main challenge is simply that Acemagic isn't alone. Beelink, GEEKOM, and other Chinese brands have their own high-end mini PCs. However, Acemagic certainly offers a wide selection and has the whimsy of its retro machines. So long as you can find the spec you want, it's worth considering if space is at a premium and you prefer Linux or Windows.