Since Qualcomm announced its Snapdragon X processors last year, I’ve been waiting for a versatile mini PC running Windows with one of those chips. Now, Lenovo has delivered with the IdeaCentre Mini X. It’s powered by the basic Snapdragon X processor and has a sleek design similar to the older Mac Mini, but it’s more easily upgraded and costs less.
This is easily one of the best Windows mini PCs powered by ARM available today. It offers a wide variety of ports, runs smoothly for everyday use, and feels well-made – something you don’t usually see in mini PCs at this price. It’s a strong candidate for inclusion in our list of top mini PCs.
I’ve been using the IdeaCentre Mini X as my main computer for the past two months, and here’s what I think after using it for a while.
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Price and specifications
The Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini X is available starting at $699 and includes a Snapdragon X processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive. A higher-end version costs $899 and features a more powerful Snapdragon X Plus processor, along with the same 32GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. However, for most users, the standard model should be sufficient.
Unfortunately, the specific configurations you can purchase will probably depend on where you are located and which store you buy from. Not all models are sold everywhere, so prices and features will likely change based on your location and retailer.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon® X X1-26-100 (2.97 GHz) or Snapdragon® X Plus X1P-64-100 Processor (3.40 GHz) |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home for ARM |
| Graphics | Integrated Qualcomm® Adreno™ GPU |
| Memory | 32 GB LPDDR5X-8448MHz (Soldered) |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512GB, or 1 TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth® 5.2 |
| Ports | Front: USB-A, USB-C (10Gbps), Headphone/mic combo Back: Ethernet (RJ45), 2× USB-A, USB 2.0, USB-C (40Gbps), HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a |
| Cooling | Dual-fan system with Intelligent Cooling Engine |
| Dimensions | 42.6mm × 195.0mm × 191.0mm |
| Weight | Starting at 1.8kg |
| Color | Luna Grey |
| Sustainability | 35% recycled materials, plastic-free packaging, ENERGY STAR® rated |
Design and ports
The IdeaCentre Mini X is a sleek, modern computer designed to fit neatly on any desk. It’s a compact box, measuring 195mm x 191mm, and is constructed from a mix of aluminum and plastic. The aluminum provides a premium feel on the sides, while the removable plastic top and bottom panels allow for easy access.
The device feels really high-quality and I especially like its sleek, compact design – it’s much slimmer than most other mini PCs. It is a bit heavy, but that’s not a big concern since it’s meant to stay put on a desk.
I especially like the sleek grey and black color scheme – it feels clean, modern, and high-quality. The top and bottom panels come off easily, letting you access the internal parts. This means you can upgrade things like the SSD or Wi-Fi card yourself, although the RAM isn’t upgradable as it’s fixed to the board. Fortunately, you can use a standard M.2 drive for storage upgrades.
The IdeaCentre Mini X includes a stand, letting you position it either horizontally or vertically. I personally prefer it lying flat, but the stand is really useful if you need to save space and want to set it up vertically.
On the front of the device, you’ll find a USB-A port, a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and the power button. The back panel includes an Ethernet port, three USB-A ports, another USB-C port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a DisplayPort 1.4a. It has a generous number of ports overall, though an extra USB-C port on the back would be even more useful.
The box’s vents, located on the bottom and back, help keep the device cool. It includes a quiet fan that effectively manages heat from the Snapdragon X processor, even when it’s working hard. In fact, it’s so quiet I initially thought the device didn’t have a fan at all – I only heard it during demanding tasks like running benchmark tests.
Performance
Lenovo’s IdeaCentre Mini X comes in two versions, powered by either the Snapdragon X or Snapdragon X Plus processor. I tested the standard Snapdragon X model, and was pleasantly surprised by how well it performed – it’s definitely not slow!
The Snapdragon X processor is excellent for everyday use and simple creative projects. Combined with 32GB of RAM, this system can handle many apps running at the same time, letting you switch between them smoothly and effortlessly.
Our testing shows the IdeaCentre Mini X delivers performance typical for an Arm-based mini PC expected in 2025. It scored 96 in the single-core Cinebench 2024 test and 687 in the multi-core test, which is comparable to the performance of Apple’s M1 and M2 chips.
The device achieved scores of 2,137 in the single-core and 10,828 in the multi-core tests within Geekbench 6. Its OpenCL GPU performance scored 9,780. In CrossMark, it earned a score of 1,332, putting it on par with the Beelink SER5 Pro and Surface Studio 2+. Overall, it’s a very capable machine for everyday use, which is great.
It struggles with gaming and demanding creative tasks like video editing. Since this is the standard processor, it has a limited number of powerful cores – just four out of eight – which means these tasks will be slower or may experience lag.
For everyday use and simple creative projects, you likely won’t experience any performance issues. It’s ideal for typical office work – things like using web browsers, sending emails, and communicating on Teams and Slack – as well as watching videos. You can even do some basic photo and video editing occasionally.
Conclusion
I’ve been really impressed with the IdeaCentre Mini X. It’s exactly what I’ve wanted from a Windows desktop – similar to the Mac Mini – although it’s a little bigger. It looks great on my desk and runs so quietly and coolly that I often forget it’s even turned on.
This computer has plenty of ports for all your devices. It’s also great that you can easily upgrade components like the storage or Wi-Fi later on – that’s something you don’t often find in PCs like this, so it’s good Lenovo included that option. Plus, the included stand is a helpful bonus.
My main wish for future versions is more choices when it comes to the processor. Right now, you can get this device with a Snapdragon X or X Plus chip, but it would be great to have an option with the more powerful Snapdragon X Elite. It would also be helpful to have models with less RAM; currently, the base amount is 32GB, which is more than many people need. Offering a 16GB version would make it more affordable for a lot of users.
This mini PC is truly excellent – one of the best Windows options available right now. It’s stylish, powerful, and surprisingly affordable. You can often find it on sale for around $599, and at that price, it’s an incredible value.
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2025-12-11 14:41