If the market for Windows on ARM PCs is still waiting for a true flagship device that would rival Apple Silicon Macs, we now have a new entry-level Windows on ARM mini PC with the Apcsilmic Dot 1 (via Windows Central). The new device was announced back in February and started shipping last week, and it follows the release of the Snapdragon WOA Mini PC last fall. Â Â
Apscilmic is a China-based manufacturer that claims to have “20+ years of experience” in manufacturing PC components for “various well-renowned global brands,” and the Dot 1 is the company’s first ARM-based mini PC starting at $229. The base model comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage, just like the $219 Snapdragon Developer Kit.Â
However, the Apscilmic Dot 1 can also be configured with 128GB of storage and either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. There are also 2 HDMI ports supporting 2K resolution, 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 USB 3.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack with separate mic input. Moreover, the Dot 1 features an Ethernet port, and there’s an optional SIM tray for 4G connectivity in addition to the WiFi 5 modem. To get the 4G antenna, you’ll need to choose the $309 high-end model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The Apcsilmic Dot 1 is a fanless PC that uses a pretty small metal chassis (111 X 108 X 20 mm) that should easily fit in a bag or a backpack. Windows 11 comes preinstalled with it, though customers will need to purchase a license separately. Â
If Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7c SoC is slower than the 8cx chip found on Microsoft’s Surface Pro X, it should be more than enough for browsing the web and other basic tasks. In a separate FAQ, Apcsilmic claims that its Dot 1 Mini PC “packs enough power performance to run most games,” but you should really take this with a big grain of salt. Keep in mind that the Snapdragon 7c is a low-end chip, and there’s also a performance penalty when running 64-bit x86 apps through emulation.
The Apcsilmic Dot 1 mini PC can be purchased on the manufacturer’s website, which also offers free worldwide shipping. Windows on ARM is still a tough sell for most consumers, but the form factor of the Dot 1 is pretty nice and there’s a decent selection of ports as well.
Tagged with Windows 11, Windows on ARM