Sapphire’s new Edge AI is one of the most user-friendly mini PCs I’ve ever seen

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Mini PCs are becoming increasingly popular, and many companies are now making them. I recently received one from Sapphire, a company well-known for its AMD Radeon graphics cards.

Mini PCs are increasingly popular, but true innovation in this area is challenging. Because they’re designed to be compact, most look very similar. However, this particular model breaks the mold with a surprisingly effective and clever feature.

It has a magnetic lid. MAGNETS!

What makes this mini PC so impressive? It’s incredibly easy to use. The lid comes off with a simple magnetic pop, giving you direct access to the RAM and SSD slots.

While you can usually upgrade mini PCs, it often requires some effort. Expect to remove feet, unscrew lots of tiny screws, and disconnect cables. It’s not difficult, but it can be a bit tricky – I spent about 10 minutes just opening up the Geekom A9 Max, for instance.

The Sapphire Edge AI opens incredibly quickly – it only takes about two seconds to get started. This is particularly useful because it will be sold as a basic kit, meaning you’ll need to provide your own memory and storage drive.

When it comes to specifications, there’s some flexibility to customize it with your own RAM and storage choices. It features two slots for LPDDR5 RAM, supporting up to 96GB.

The laptop also has space for two SSDs: a standard NVMe SSD and a smaller 2230 SSD, which is often found in handheld gaming devices.

Sapphire also offers several models, all powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series processors. You can choose from the Ryzen AI 5 340, Ryzen AI 7 350, or the high-end Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. I’m currently testing the mid-range Ryzen AI 7 350 and will share my review shortly.

All Sapphire Edge AI models are Copilot+ PCs and include a powerful 50 TOPS NPU. They all use Radeon 800M series graphics, but for the best gaming experience, we recommend the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.

This device offers a wide range of connection options, including HDMI 2.1, USB-C 4.0, Wi-Fi 6, and 2.5G Ethernet. The only thing missing is an SD card slot.

Initial reactions are positive, and I’ll share a detailed review shortly. The biggest challenge could be availability, but Sapphire plans to sell the product through authorized retailers like Overclockers UK, starting in the next few weeks.

Looking at the UK market, I’m seeing starting prices of £439. If you’re interested in the Ryzen AI 7 model, it’s priced at £539, and the higher-end AI 9 HX370 will run you £649.

It’s great when even small improvements noticeably enhance how people use a product. Mini PCs are getting so good that I’m increasingly recommending them, even for demanding things like artificial intelligence and gaming. I plan to continue following this category closely over the next few years.

FAQ

What is a barebones PC?

A basic PC, often called a ‘barebones’ system, comes with essential parts like the processor, but you’ll need to add things like memory, a hard drive, and an operating system yourself.

Does the Sapphire Edge AI mini PC run Windows 11?

Yes, it can run Windows 11, but it doesn’t come with it pre-installed. Since it’s a basic system, you’ll need to purchase and add your own Windows 11 license. Or, if you prefer, you can install Linux instead.

What is a Copilot+ PC?

A Copilot+ PC is essentially a computer with a special chip called an NPU that’s powerful enough – at least 40 TOPS. Copilot+ is a set of AI features built into Windows 11 that uses this chip to run everything directly on your computer, without needing the internet.

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2025-11-04 17:42