The Chromebox Mini CXM1 reviewed here features the aforementioned Celeron N4500, 8GB of LPDDR4X memory, and 64GB of eMMC storage. Acer’s CXM2, featuring updated Intel silicon and Wi-Fi 7, will soon replace the CXM1 at an unspecified price. This, in turn, could make the CXM1 even more affordable in the short term; however, the release date of the updated model has not been made public yet.
In addition to its old age, the Celeron N4500 sports just two processing cores and a 2.8GHz turbo clock, a combination that makes this one of the weakest-performing chips available in a current PC. It suffices for simple web browsing and background tasks, but not for more demanding tasks.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Competition comes from ChromeOS devices like Asus’ Chromebox 5A (starting at $329), CTL’s Chromebox CBx3 (starting at $359), and HP’s Chromebox G4 (starting at $349). Those models include a newer and modestly more powerful Celeron 7305 at a mildly higher price—a difference that can add up for bulk business buyers.
Design-wise, the CXM1’s sturdy black plastic—with minimal branding on top—gives the unit an industrial look. The system also runs silently, since the limited hardware inside doesn’t produce enough heat to warrant active cooling. It became only lukewarm to the touch during our testing.
At 1.3 by 6.3 by 4.7 inches (HWD), this Chromebox is easy to mount out of sight. A bracket and Velcro strips are included, and it also supports VESA mounting. Its power adapter is external, but it too is compact and concealable. The wireless antennas for its Wi-Fi 6E radio are built into the chassis, eliminating the need for external protrusions.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The CXM1 features excellent connectivity, including an audio combo jack and three USB Type-A ports up front, along with an Ethernet jack, two HDMI outputs, a USB-C port, and two additional USB-A ports located at the rear. The USB-C port doubles as a DisplayPort output, allowing the system to support three total monitors. The HDMI ports are only version 1.4b, though, which is limited to a refresh rate of only 30Hz if powering a 4K display.
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Other notables on the rear edge include the tiny barrel-style power jack and a Kensington lock slot. You’ll find no features on the rest of the unit, and none of its components can be upgraded or replaced.
