#minisforum

#minisforum

The Honor 600 Pro managed a single-core score of 2,858 and a multi-core score of 8,666 in Geekbench 6.6, showcasing its performance capabilities.

Intel hasn't made it easy to buy a flagship desktop chip. The company's 2022 and 2023 Raptor Lake chips ran hot, power-hungry, and had those infamous crashes, while 2024's Arrow Lake-based Core Ultra 9 285K had lackluster gaming performance that the company has tried to address with updates.

I've grown accustomed to being impressed by Geekom products. You might not know the name, but it has produced some pretty impressive small form factor desktops, many of which I've reviewed. Also: I converted this Windows 11 mini PC into a Linux workstation - and didn't regret it Now, the company has hopped into the laptop market, and I'm glad it did.

When I go for a laptop, I typically prefer those in the 13- to 14-inch range. Every once in a while, however, I test a 16-inch laptop that makes me rethink my stance on size. Such was the case with the Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro . Although it might look a bit on the generic side, it's actually far nicer than its appearance would imply.

Mini PCs used to be defined by how invisible they could be, small black rectangles tucked behind monitors or under shelves. That made sense when they were just low-power desktops, but feels out of step now that these machines are running models, listening, watching, and routing data. If AI is going to sit on your desk, it might as well look like it belongs there instead of hiding like a piece of infrastructure.

Most high-end PC towers still shout for attention with exposed fans, RGB strips, and visible screws. That clashes with calmer, more considered interiors, especially when a tower lives on a desk next to a monitor and chair that look like real furniture. The MA-01 comes from the idea that performance hardware can grow up without losing its edge, treating a gaming rig as something you want to see every day instead of something you tolerate.

In my opinion, the biggest issue with gaming laptops is their high barrier to entry. They're expensive, with many costing several thousand dollars. It makes sense, though, since you're (usually) packing top-tier hardware, a high-quality display, and a robust cooling system into a compact machine.