The newest addition to the OneXPlayer brand of portable PC gaming from One-Notebook was introduced in early 2022: The OneXPlayer Mini. It is the younger and smaller brother of the original OneXPlayer and has been positioned to compete with other portable PC gaming devices such as the Steam Deck and other handheld game consoles to include the Nintendo Switch, including the Switch OLED and Switch Lite. This article reviews the key features and the specific pros and cons of the OneXPlayer Mini.
Pros of OneXPlayer Mini: Reasons Why You Should Buy
Similar to its bigger brother, the OneXPlayer Mini comes in two models: One that is powered by an Intel Core i7-1195G7 CPU and an Intel Iris Xe integrated GPU, and one that is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5800U CPU and an AMD Ryzen RX Vega integrated GPU. Both models generally have similar processing capabilities since their respective CPUs and GPUs are marketed for mid-range laptops and desktop computers.
Considering the aforementioned in mind, this portable PC from One-Notebook is a capable device. Note that Windows 11 comes preinstalled. With 16GB of random access memory and 512GB to 2TB of storage based on a solid-state drive, this device is a true-blue personal computer that can run most Windows-based apps without performance issues.
Remember that this device is both a portable personal computer and a handheld PC-based game console. Hence, when compared with other handheld game consoles such as the Nintendo Switch or mobile gaming devices such as Android smartphones and tablets, as well as the iPhone and iPad, one of the advantages of the OneXPlayer Mini is the massive and continuously expanding game library of the Windows operating system.
Below are the notable specifications and features, as well as reasons why you might want to check out this portable PC gaming device:
• Solid Built and Premium Design: The outer shell of this device and its buttons are made of plastic. But it does not feel cheap. Everything feels solid. Furthermore, compared with its bigger brother, this device has a dimension of 0.94 x 14.13 x 10.2 inches and weighs 20.07 oz or about 568.97 grams. It is also comfortable to hold due to its ergonomic design that takes into consideration prolonged handheld use.
• Decent Touchscreen Display: A 7-inch in-plane switching LCD with a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 and 323 PPI density gives the OneXPlayer Mini a decent overall user experience that is somewhat akin to smaller Android tablets or the iPad Mini. The screen is adequately bright and the images are vivid and crisp.
• Control Layout and Touch Input: The conventional control layout of this device looks familiar. It has two off-axis analog sticks, ABXY buttons, a standard direction pad, and two pairs of shoulder triggers. The buttons are tactile and responsive. Users can also navigate through the user interface using the capacitive touchscreen LCD.
• Other Specs and Features: Similar to its bigger brother, this device has 2 USB 4.0 Type C ports and a USB 3.0 Type A port for wired connectivity and docking options, as well as WiFi-6 and Bluetooth 5 for wireless connectivity. There are also two front-facing stereo speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack. The specific solid-state drive is based on the specific PCIe 3.0 x3 NVMe technology.
Cons of OneXPlayer Mini: Reasons Why You Should Not Buy
Remember that two of the major advantages of the OneXPlayer Mini are the pre-installed Windows 11 and the large library of game titles available for the Windows operating system. Nevertheless, when it comes to gaming performance, the result is somewhat of a mixed bag. The Core i7 and the Ryzen 5800U are decent CPUs with mid-range capabilities. They can run most Windows apps and several game titles without a problem.
However, when playing games on maximum graphics settings or running resource-demanding game titles such as hardcore Triple-A games, the disadvantages of the OneXPlayer Mini become noticeable. It is important to note that this major drawback is also found in its bigger brother, as well as in most portable PC gaming devices.
The fact remains that portable personal computers would not be able to compete with laptops and desktop computers because of their smaller form factors that provide technical limitations to their processing capabilities. It is also worth mentioning that integrated GPUs have limited graphics processing capabilities compared with discrete graphics solutions.
Below are the notable limitations and issues, as well as reasons why you should think twice about purchasing this portable PC gaming device:
• Screen Limitations of Windows 11: A key disadvantage of OneXPlayer Mini and other portable Windows-based PC centers on the fact that Windows is not meant to be run on screens smaller than 10 inches. The user interface looks very small. Icons are too minuscule and texts can be hard to read. Navigating through the operating system is awkward. These issues affect the overall user experience.
• Underwhelming Benchmark Scores: Results of benchmark tests have shown the performance capabilities and limitations of this device. For example, using the PCMark 10 Productivity Test Suite, it achieved an overall score of 5181 points. Note that the budget gaming laptop Acer Nitro 5 scored 6502 points.
• Shorter Battery Life: Battery performance is also a notable drawback. Of course, this is expected from a portable PC. The 10455 mAh battery would not be able to last long on a full day of heavy usage. To be specific, when playing a video file, this device can last up to less than 6 hours. For comparison, the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch OLED can last between 7 to 8 hours under similar use cases.
• Expensive Portable PC Device: Another disadvantage of the OneXPlayer Mini is its premium pricing. The base models retail for around USD 1000.00 while models with higher storage configurations can retail for around USD 1200.00. The Steam Deck retails only for only USD 399.00 while the Switch OLED retails for USD 349.99.
Conclusion: A Review of the Pros and Cons of OneXPlayer Mini
The OneXPlayer Mini is still a capable portable PC gaming device despite its shortcomings. Considering its hardware limitations, it should be stressed that it is still capable of running most game titles for Windows, including a selection of AAA games. However, considering its price tag, the Steam Deck remains a formidable competitor.
