GEEKOM Air12 Lite Mini PC Review

The GEEKOM Air12 Lite Mini PC aims to offer an affordable solution for those looking for reasonable computing performance in a compact design. Having reviewed many of GEEKOM’s mid to high-end products, I was interested to see how its entry-level PCs would fare during my review process. After testing it for both work and play, it’s time to give my verdict.

The N100 still delivers

At the heart of the Air12 Lite is the Intel N100 processor. This CPU has built a reputation of being a solid choice for basic everyday tasks like web browsing and word processing, though it can also deliver playable frame rates in games like League of Legends and Valorant, thanks to the UHD Graphics.

The Air12 Lite’s other components can be easily accessed through the bottom of the PC. Users removing the bottom plate will find 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, which can be expanded up to 16 GB. There’s a 256 GB SSD, too, filling up the single storage slot.

Inputs and outputs

Looking around the outside of the Air12 Lite, a generous amount of input and output ports can be found. Highlights include the Gigabit Ethernet port, six full-size USBs, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.4. It’s an excellent selection, especially for those with many USB devices, but the lack of a USB-C port will no doubt irk some users. Other spec highlights include WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Multi 4K monitor support

Like many of GEEKOM’s PCs, the Air12 Lite impressed with its small form factor and energy efficiency. This mini PC can be placed or mounted just about anywhere, including to the rear of a monitor for a stealthy setup, and requires very little power to function.

As mentioned earlier, my Air12 Lite setup consists of two 4K 60 Hz monitors, which this mini PC can handle. It’s an impressive feat and means that even users with a budget can target high-resolution workflows.

Lite limits

The Air12 Lite might be impressive for the price, but it does have limits. Those looking to perform more intensive tasks like high-resolution video editing or higher-end games may need to look towards the Air12 (non-Lite) instead for a bit more power.

Other than the lack of USB-C, the only other gripe I have with the Air12 Lite is the default fan profile, which has the fan spinning a little too loudly under load. Personally, I’d recommend users customize the fan curve for a quieter experience as there is headroom for lower fan noise without significant throttling.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by GEEKOM.