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In a nutshell: Today's computers vastly outpace their predecessors in raw power, but there's no denying the iconic style and meticulous craftsmanship of 1980s desktop designs. Tapping directly into that nostalgia is Ayaneo's latest creation – the Retro Mini PC AM01S. This device not only revives the vintage Mac aesthetic but also packs decidedly modern components behind its retro exterior – all crammed into a compact 1-liter CNC alloy case.
If you've already heard of Ayaneo's original AM01 retro mini PC, then this newer model should be pretty familiar. The AM01S retains the same cute, chunky design as its predecessor, complete with chamfered edges and tiny retro racing stripes. But the big upgrade here is the addition of a built-in flip-up touchscreen display.
This 4-inch smart screen functions as a native extended Windows display, meaning you can use the AM01S as a self-contained portable PC without an external monitor. When flipped down, the setup transforms into a convincing homage to classic Macs – complete with Apple's iconic "hello" screensaver plastered across Ayaneo's promo images.
The real magic, however, happens when you flip the screen up. It becomes a handy touchscreen for quick settings adjustments, performance monitoring, or just looking undeniably cool while you work. This functionality is powered by Ayaneo's proprietary software, which adds useful features like performance overlays, one-tap mode switching, and live weather and clock widgets.
Yet, as much as the vintage aesthetics charm, the real star is what's under the hood.
The AM01S packs AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, which is a 12-core, 24-thread unit. That chip also comes with the Radeon 890M, a powerful integrated GPU with 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units, making it more than capable of 1080p gaming.
Equally impressive is how Ayaneo has managed to squeeze an efficient 65W dual-fan cooling system into such a small form factor. The setup includes dual heat pipes, a dedicated SSD cooler, and ample ventilation to prevent thermal throttling.
Rounding out the specs are DDR5 5600MT/s memory, an M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD, USB4 connectivity, and even 2.5GbE Ethernet. Dual SSD slots and an SDXC card reader are also included. For such a tiny package, the AM01S certainly doesn't cut corners on performance.
That said, tiny PCs with flip-up displays appear to be a growing trend for 2025. This release follows the Aoostar G-Flip 370, another retro-inspired mini PC – though that one leans more into a Game Boy aesthetic.
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