If the market for Windows on ARM PCs is still waiting for a true flagship device that would rival Apple Silicon Macs, we now have a new entry-level Windows on ARM mini PC with the Apcsilmic Dot 1 (via Windows Central). The new device was announced back in February and started shipping last week, and it follows the release of the Snapdragon WOA Mini PC last fall.    

Apscilmic is a China-based manufacturer that claims to have “20+ years of experience” in manufacturing PC components for “various well-renowned global brands,” and the Dot 1 is the company’s first ARM-based mini PC starting at $229. The base model comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage, just like the $219 Snapdragon Developer Kit. 

However, the Apscilmic Dot 1 can also be configured with 128GB of storage and either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. There are also 2 HDMI ports supporting 2K resolution, 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 USB 3.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack with separate mic input. Moreover, the Dot 1 features an Ethernet port, and there’s an optional SIM tray for 4G connectivity in addition to the WiFi 5 modem. To get the 4G antenna, you’ll need to choose the $309 high-end model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The Apcsilmic Dot 1 is a fanless PC that uses a pretty small metal chassis (111 X 108 X 20 mm) that should easily fit in a bag or a backpack. Windows 11 comes preinstalled with it, though customers will need to purchase a license separately.  

If Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7c SoC is slower than the 8cx chip found on Microsoft’s Surface Pro X, it should be more than enough for browsing the web and other basic tasks. In a separate FAQ, Apcsilmic claims that its Dot 1 Mini PC “packs enough power performance to run most games,” but you should really take this with a big grain of salt. Keep in mind that the Snapdragon 7c is a low-end chip, and there’s also a performance penalty when running 64-bit x86 apps through emulation.

The Apcsilmic Dot 1 mini PC can be purchased on the manufacturer’s website, which also offers free worldwide shipping. Windows on ARM is still a tough sell for most consumers, but the form factor of the Dot 1 is pretty nice and there’s a decent selection of ports as well.

Tagged with Windows 11, Windows on ARM