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Apcsilmic DOT 1 Mini PC Review Ratings
generalize
The Apcsilmic DOT 1 Mini PC is an affordable Snapdragon 7c powered mini PC that is arguably a better choice than the ECS LIVA mini box. While Windows 11 Arm doesn’t always provide the best experience, native apps work well. Small size, low power consumption, and 4G connectivity allow for a wide range of alternative uses.
advantage
- affordable price point
- 4G connection
- The overall design and functionality are ideal for a wide range of creative uses.
- Good performance when using native apps
shortcoming
- The simulated application is not running well
- DC12V power plug
The Apcsilmic DOT 1 Mini PC is one of the only desktop PCs on the market to run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c computing platform.
This makes it the most energy-efficient Windows PC you can buy, and likely the smallest as well.
I won’t say I’ve had the best experience window on arm In the past, I don’t think it lived up to the marketing hype. But as long as you know what it can and can’t do, it’s a great option.
Specification
| Model | Point 1 Mini PC |
|---|---|
| processor | Qualcomm SC7180 |
| 4G | 4G network (SIM card support) |
| storage expansion | microSD and USB |
| HDMI | HDMI 1 supports 1080p resolution (video only) |
| HDMI 2 supports 2k resolution (audio and video) | |
| Dual channel display | |
| USB | 2 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0 |
| audio input | 3.5mm microphone input |
| Audio output | 3.5mm audio jack supports left and right stereo channels |
| local area network | Support 100MB LAN input |
| memory | 4GB + 64GB, 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB |
| Wifi | Gen 5 Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz + 5Ghz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 |
internal photos
Since it’s so small, I’d love to see the interior layout and see if it can be upgraded. As you can see from the photos, there doesn’t seem to be anything that can be easily upgraded. All ram and storage are included on the PCB.
Design/Function with ECS LIVA Mini Box QC710 Desktop.
The ECS LIVA Mini Box QC710 Desktop is the only similar device I know of that uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, the official Snapdragon development kit for Windows. It’s attractively priced at $220, the same as the base model of the Apcsilmic DOT 1.
This is the smallest mini PC I’ve reviewed; you can probably fit it in your pocket, and of course a bag. There’s a small stand included in the package that allows you to mount it to the back of the monitor, or you can easily mount it to a wall or table. It’s also completely fanless and silent.
Disappointingly, it uses a standard DC power adapter instead of USB-C for power. All Chromebooks and other devices I use that use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c computing platform use USB-C, as does the ECS LIVA Mini Box.
There are two HDMI ports and at first I was a little confused about the resolution.I use Innolux 27C1U 4K LCD Monitor And only 1080P. The first HDMI port is HDMI 1, limited to 1080P, 2nd Can do 2K, can also do audio.
Ethernet seems to be limited to 100Mbit, which is the same as ECS LIVA. So you may get better performance from 5Ghz WiFi 5.
I received the 8GB/256GB WiFi + 4G model, so there is plenty of storage for a device of this nature. If you choose one of the lower-spec models, you can expand the storage with a microSD card. ECS is limited to 4GB/64GB.
With 4G, there are two SMA antenna connections, one male and one female. One for WiFi and the other for 4G. It’s worth noting that the ECS LIVA doesn’t have an antenna connection, I expected a weaker WiFi signal overall, and it also lacks 4G.
You have a lot of ports, more than ECS, and that includes microphone and audio out.
The Qualcomm chipset means this is the most energy-efficient desktop computer on the market. Given current electricity prices, that could be a big selling point. Or, I think it can open up options for other uses.
The cost of running it as a server is negligible, and its small fanless design opens up opportunities for creative placement. You also have a wide range of business opportunities such as POS and digital displays. The 4G connection also means it can be installed anywhere there is a power source, but no WiFi or Ethernet connection is required.
simulation
Windows on Arm has featured emulation for years, and recently they implemented 64-bit emulation in Windows 11. In theory, this allows you to use Windows on an Arm PC like any other Windows PC.
Qualcomm and the companies that make these machines will admit that emulation has a negative impact on performance, but it seems to me that they are downplaying the issue to the point of misselling these devices.
Running 64-bit Windows applications on a Snapdragon 7c-equipped PC or laptop can have a significant performance impact.I found that in Chrome Samsung Book Go. Too bad I ended up resetting the whole PC.
Similarly, I installed Plex for Windows. The overall experience is not as good as Chrome, but the app is unusable, the interface is sluggish, and the main issue is stuttering media playback.
You can run some programs OK, anything lightweight should be fine, but I think it’s important to emphasize what the Snapdragon 7c can and can’t do with traditional Windows apps. If you have realistic expectations, these are decent devices and you won’t be disappointed.
I’m expecting a different user experience with one of the premium devices using a Snapdragon 8c or 8cx and hope everything works well, but I wouldn’t buy a PC or laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c expecting you to run whatever you want program.
Native app with Windows 11 on Arm
Running applications rebuilt for Arm can significantly improve performance. Your best bet is to install apps from the Windows Store whenever possible.
Microsoft Edge works well because it’s optimized for Arm. Now it’s a great browser to import all your Chrome plugins, bookmarks and history. You just need to log in with your Google account.
The first test I did was to install VLC, which is in the Windows Store. Everything installed quickly and apps loaded quickly. Then I mounted a network drive and played a 11GB 4K movie encoded in x265, which I thought was difficult to play properly, but I had no problems. Playing the same file in Plex is a completely different experience.
I also have Office installed and it works fine, although loading documents is a bit slow. Coming from a high-end Windows PC, the overall user experience is usually a bit slow, no big deal, but it does become noticeable when you’re used to everything loading in an instant.
Price and Alternatives
The base model Apcsilmic DOT 1 Mini PC costs $220 with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and no 4G.
The top-of-the-line 8GB/256GB model with 4G is $309. I’d say spending the extra $90 on the base model is worth the money, and the extra RAM would help a lot.
The only direct competitor I know of is the $219 ECS Liva Mini Box QC710 Desktop, the official Snapdragon development kit for Windows. It has 4GB/64GB and microSD expansion. It has fewer ports overall, but does have USB-C power.
The Samsung Book Go laptop is just £329 with a 14-inch display, 4GB RAM and 128GB eUFS.
Alternatively, you can buy an Intel-based mini PC at a fairly affordable price.
Beelink U59 with Intel N5095 and 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for just £180
comprehensive
After reviewing the Samsung Book Go, I had realistic expectations for the capabilities of the Snapdragon 7c and Windows 11 on Arm. So I really like the Apcsilmic DOT 1 Mini PC.
At an attractive price, it seems like a better option than the ECS LIVA Mini Box, with the main downside being the lack of USB-C power delivery.
You can buy Intel-based mini PCs for less, these may be more suitable for general-purpose PCs, but they are bulkier and less power efficient. So I think Apcsilmic DOT 1 might be better for some commercial applications or some kind of server.
I’d love to know if this works on Linux. There’s no reason you shouldn’t; you can install Linux on a Chromebook, and Raspbian for the RPi is an ARM-based Linux distribution. I haven’t tested this, but will probably do it in a separate review.
