That old Mac vibe with a Ryzen 9 punch? Count me in.
You know that feeling when you spot something that looks like it came out of an ’80s tech museum — but it turns out to be more powerful than your current laptop? Yeah, that was me unboxing the AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM01S. One look, and I was already in love with its mini Macintosh-inspired case, but what sealed the deal was what’s inside — a beastly AMD Ryzen AI 9 chip, Radeon 890M graphics, a flip-up touchscreen, and a ton of I/O for creators, gamers, and nostalgic nerds like me.
If you’ve been searching for a mini PC that goes beyond the boring black box — and throws in a little retro joy with real horsepower — let me introduce you to your next desktop obsession.
Full Specifications
Processor: AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370 (12-core, 24-thread, Zen 5 architecture)
Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon™ 890M (RDNA 3.5, 16 CU)
Memory: DDR5 5600MT/s, upgradable
Storage: M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD + extra M.2 slot + SDXC card reader
Display: 4-inch flip-up IPS touchscreen (adjustable 0°–90°)
Connectivity:
2x USB4
3x USB-A
2x 2.5G
Ethernet
HDMI 2.1
3.5mm audio jack
SD card reader
Cooling System:
65W TDP, dual-fan, dual-heatpipe advanced copper cooling
Software: AYASpace 2.0 with performance modes and widget interface
Body Volume: 1L
Special features: Retro magnetic faceplates, hidden front ports, Mac-style power button
Design & Materials: Retro soul in a modern shell
This thing is a love letter to the original Macintosh. The boxy cream-colored body, the floppy drive lookalike grill, the charming LED power button — it’s pure nostalgia, reimagined. But don’t be fooled. The AYANEO AM01S isn’t just for show.
It’s small — like, “hide-it-behind-a-monitor” small.
The build is solid, no cheap plastic vibes. And the modular faceplates?
Magnetic and replaceable — yes, you can swap the front panel and customize the look (AYANEO might release more styles down the line).
In short: retro on the outside, smart and sleek on the inside.
Functionality & Interface: The touchscreen that winks at you
Let’s talk about the flip-up touchscreen, because that’s not something you see every day on a mini PC. It’s a 4-inch secondary screen that can pop up to face you or stay tucked in stealth mode.
In real life? It works great:
As a mini system monitor showing your temps, RAM use, clock, or weather via AYASpace widgets.
Or, leave it up while streaming music or monitoring your smart home stats.
The UI is responsive, thanks to AYASpace’s redesigned interface.
And let’s not forget the hidden I/O behind a magnetic panel — very Apple. You get easy-access ports without the visual clutter.
Performance: Ryzen AI 9 is seriously no joke
Inside the retro body is a 12-core, 24-thread monster — the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, based on the new Zen 5 architecture. Add to that the RDNA 3.5-powered Radeon 890M iGPU, and what do you get?
- 1080p gaming? Totally doable. Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Apex Legends — just tweak the settings.
- Content creation? Blender, Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve — no sweat.
- AI-assisted tasks? The NPU packs 50 TOPS. Stable Diffusion or AI voice tools run smoother than I expected.
Thermals are well-managed thanks to a serious dual-fan copper pipe setup. Even after hours of gaming, the temps stay chill.
Tech for Life: One mini PC, three lives
Whether you’re a designer who wants a compact workstation, a gamer needing a discrete living room PC, or a retro collector craving something unique — this is it.
I’ve been using mine for:
- Gaming on the couch, connected to a 4K OLED via HDMI
- Editing photos while monitoring CPU/GPU load on the mini screen
- And yeah, sometimes just staring at it lovingly on my desk
It’s the kind of device that starts conversations — but also ends them with “…wait, it runs Baldur’s Gate III?”
Price & Availability
- Official pricing: Not yet announced
- Release: Expected Q2 2025
- Regions: Global, via ayaneo.com and major retailers
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Retro design that turns heads
- Extremely powerful Ryzen AI 9 CPU
- Secondary flip-up touchscreen
- Great cooling and quiet
- Expandable storage and RAM
Cons
- Price not confirmed likely premium
- Flip-up screen may be gimmicky for some
- Niche appeal — not for minimalists
Final Verdict:
AYANEO AM01S is one of the most creative and capable mini PCs I’ve ever tested.
It’s not just a computer — it’s a statement piece, a throwback, and a real performer. If you’re a collector, a power user, or someone tired of bland black boxes, this little guy might just steal your tech-loving heart.
