Xiaomi's surprising desktop PC is as small as a mouse

Xiaomi Ningmei
(Image credit: Xiaomi)

The mini PC sector is getting a new player in the shape of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi. Gizmochina reports that the firm has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring its Ningmei Rubik’s Cube Mini to the market, joining the likes of the Chuwi Larkbox and GMK NucBox. The campaign has already exceeded its target with a week still to go.

The device is roughly the same size as a Rubik’s Cube at 62 x 62 x 42mm and weighs 145g. It contains an Intel Celeron J4125 processor and a small cooling fan to prevent overheating. The mini PC also comes with either 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR4 memory and can hold a single M.2 SSD hard drive.

In terms of its interfaces, the Ningmei Rubik’s Cube Mini boasts an HDMI port allowing you to connect it to a visual display, with 4K output supported. Xiaomi has also managed to cram in a USB-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, a micro SD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are also supported.

The little things

It is a testament to the recent pace of technological development that a mini PC market even exists. Not long ago, computers could take up entire rooms but today individuals expect to be able to record videos, connect to the internet and carry out work using their smartphones.

Currently, Xiaomi’s mini PC is only available through the official online Youpin store, retailing at 999 yuan (around $149) for the basic version. The more powerful iteration, which comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, comes in at just over $200. And for Marvel fans, there’s also a version displaying an Iron Man-inspired design.

Barclay Ballard

Barclay has been writing about technology for a decade, starting out as a freelancer with ITProPortal covering everything from London’s start-up scene to comparisons of the best cloud storage services.  After that, he spent some time as the managing editor of an online outlet focusing on cloud computing, furthering his interest in virtualization, Big Data, and the Internet of Things. 

Latest in Pro
cybersecurity
What's the right type of web hosting for me?
Security padlock and circuit board to protect data
Trust in digital services around the world sees a massive drop as security worries continue
Hacker silhouette working on a laptop with North Korean flag on the background
North Korea unveils new military unit targeting AI attacks
An image of network security icons for a network encircling a digital blue earth.
US government warns agencies to make sure their backups are safe from NAKIVO security issue
Laptop computer displaying logo of WordPress, a free and open-source content management system (CMS)
This top WordPress plugin could be hiding a worrying security flaw, so be on your guard
construction
Building in the digital age: why construction’s future depends on scaling jobsite intelligence
Latest in News
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 23 (game #1154)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 23 (game #385)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 23 (game #651)
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold main display opened
Apple is rumored to be prioritizing battery life on the foldable iPhone – which could also feature a liquid metal hinge for added durability
Google Pixel 9
The Google Pixel 10 just showed up in Android code – and may come with a useful speed boost
L-mount alliance
Sirui joins L-Mount Alliance to deliver its superb budget lenses for Leica, DJI, Sigma and Panasonic cameras