Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 review: An Intel NUC challenger approaches
Lenovo offers several Think-branded mini PCs ranging from the ThinkCentre to the ThinkStation all aimed at offices and professional environments. To contrast these business-centric models, Lenovo has made available this year the consumer-centric 1 liter IdeaCentre Mini Gen 8 complete with the latest Intel 13th gen Raptor Lake-H CPUs to complement the larger IdeaCentre 5i.
Our review unit is the higher-end configuration with the Core i7-13700H for approximately $688 USD while the lower-end Core i5-13500H option starts at just $522. All SKUs ship with 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB to 1 TB of storage, and Windows 11 meaning there are no barebone options.
The IdeaCentre Mini competes with other small mini PCs with integrated graphics such as most Intel NUC models, Beelink GTR7, Geekom Mini IT11, or Trigkey Speed S.
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Potential Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
81 % | 09/2023 | Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 i7-13700H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 1.8 kg | 39 mm | x | ||
82.5 % | 08/2023 | Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 558 g | 37 mm | x | ||
03/2023 | Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 i5-1240P, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 549 g | 45.6 mm | x | |||
86.3 % | 07/2023 | Beelink GTR7 7840HS R7 7840HS, Radeon 780M | 890 g | 48.8 mm | x | ||
80.6 % | 07/2023 | Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H i7-11390H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 536 g | 48 mm | x | ||
03/2023 | Trigkey Speed S i5-11320H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 415 g | 40.7 mm | x |
Case — Dense And Well-Built
The IdeaCentre may not be a ThinkCentre, but it's almost built like one. The metal sides, internal rollcage, and integrated PSU contribute to a dense mini PC especially for a consumer product. Pushing down on the center of the outer lid results in almost no warping, though a bit of creaking is audible.
The unit can be positioned vertically such as on a bookshelf without blocking any vents. A notable omission, however, is support for VESA mounting likely due to how heavy the unit is. Many consumer mini PCs like those from Beelink and even some office-centric ones can be mounted behind monitors to save on desk space.
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The IdeaCentre Mini is much larger and heavier than many other mini PCs with no discrete GPUs. The Intel NUC 13 Pro, for example, is almost 3x lighter and has a much smaller footprint. Instead, the key advantage of the IdeaCentre Mini is its fully integrated PSU which trades away the annoyances of an unsightly power brick commonly found with most mini PCs and laptops in favor of a larger but more convenient chassis. We personally prefer the advantages of an integrated PSU as it means there is no proprietary power brick to accidentally lose.
Connectivity
Port options are excellent especially since the model integrates full-size DisplayPort, 2.5 Gbps RJ-45, and multiple USB-C ports for a total of three different video-out options. Note that only the rear USB-C port supports video as the front USB-C port is for data and charging only.
There is no Kensington Lock port as the IdeaCentre Mini is designed for homes and not public office spaces.
Communication
The model ships with a Realtek RTL8852BE for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. It does not include Wi-Fi 6E to save on costs which is a bit of a shame as Wi-Fi 6E is most beneficial for HTPC game streaming purposes. Performance is nevertheless steady and reliable when paired to our Asus AXE11000 test router.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit |
Maintenance
Servicing requires a bit more work than an Intel NUC or Beelink GTR/GTI series due to the integrated PSU. To begin, users must first remove the top cover of the unit by pushing a button near the rear HDMI port. Once the top panel is off, users must then remove four Phillips screws that hold the bottom panel in place. Next, two more buttons must be pushed in order to remove the bottom cover of the chassis to expose the fan and integrated PSU.
To access the 2x SODIMM slots, 2x M.2 SSD slots and WLAN module, however, the fan and PSU must be removed as shown by the images below. This part is thankfully quite simple as the fan and PSU are secured by latches and not screws.
Thankfully, the online Lenovo manual here details the disassembly.
Accessories And Warranty
The standard retail box includes the paperwork, standardized 2-prong AC power cord, and a removable vertical stand. The usual one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies.
Performance
Testing Conditions
We set the system to its default "Lenovo Balanced" mode prior to running the benchmarks below. There is no specific Performance mode via Windows or the Lenovo Vantage software. Users should still become familiar with Vantage nonetheless as it is the hub for Lenovo-specific updates and security settings.
Processor
CPU performance is in line with the average PC in our database equipped with the same Core i7-13700H if not slightly lower by a few percentage points due to the limited Turbo Boost of the Lenovo mini PC. When running CineBench R15 xT in a loop, for example, the initial score of 2240 points would drop by 16 percent over time whereas the 14-inch Acer Predator Triton can maintain faster clock rates over time with the same processor. Even so, the IdeaCentre Mini is still faster than most other mini PCs running on older 12th gen Core-H or AMD Zen 3+ CPUs. Users would have to consider mini PCs with Zen 4 options like the Beelink GTR7 or other Core-HX options for something appreciably faster than our Lenovo.
Downgrading to the Core i5-13500H configuration is expected to entail a performance deficit of up to 10 percent based on our time with the Minisforum Venus Series NPB5.
Cinebench R15 Multi Loop
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
Performance Rating | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H |
AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 |
AIDA64 / FPU Julia | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H |
AIDA64 / CPU SHA3 | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H |
AIDA64 / CPU Queen | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Trigkey Speed S |
AIDA64 / FPU SinJulia | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H |
AIDA64 / FPU Mandel | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 |
AIDA64 / CPU AES | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit |
AIDA64 / CPU ZLib | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Trigkey Speed S |
AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 |
AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 |
System Performance
PCMark scores are higher than many other mini PCs powered by 12th gen Intel CPUs or Core-P series CPUs like the Intel NUC 13 Pro or Beelink GTi11. Mini PCs with newer AMD CPUs like the Beelink GTR7 can handily outperform our Lenovo in the Productivity and Digital Content Creation subtests due to the slower multi-thread CPU performance and graphics performance of our IdeaCentre Mini.
CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
PCMark 10 Score | 6247 points | |
Help |
* ... smaller is better
DPC Latency
LatencyMon reveals DPC issues when opening multiple browser tabs of our homepage. Additionally, we're able to record 2 dropped frames during a 60-second playback of a 4K video at 60 FPS. Though 2 frames is hardly noticeable, 0 dropped frames is ideal and more common on other PCs.
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H |
* ... smaller is better
Storage Devices
The system ships with a Samsung PM9B1 PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSD which is the budget version of the faster Samsung PM9A1 commonly found on higher-end mini PCs or gaming laptops. Maximum transfer rates are steady and sustainable at 3600 MB/s compared to 5500 MB/s on the Intel NUC 13 Pro sporting the Samsung PM9A1. The PM9B1 is nonetheless more than sufficient for consumer multimedia purposes and it balances well with the Core i7-13700H.
Up to two PCIe4 x4 2280 SSDs can be installed.
Drive Performance Rating - Percent | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
Trigkey Speed S | |
Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H | |
Intel NUC 12 Pro Kit NUC12WSBi5 |
* ... smaller is better
Disk Throttling: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
GPU Performance
The integrated Iris Xe 96 EUs is starting to show its age when compared to the latest options from AMD. The Radeon 680M, for example, can be up to 50 to 60 percent faster and the newer Radeon 780M is even faster still. Nonetheless, performance is reliable for non-gaming applications such as 4K playback and streaming.
For gaming purposes, it's recommended to attach an eGPU or opt for another mini PC equipped with more powerful AMD Radeon 780M graphics instead like the Beelink GTR7 or Minisforum Venus Series UM790 Pro. If not, the Iris Xe 96 EUs is only powerful enough for cloud streaming or running local games on very low settings and resolutions save for undemanding ones like DOTA 2 Reborn.
3DMark 11 Performance | 7371 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 4511 points | |
3DMark Time Spy Score | 1724 points | |
Help |
* ... smaller is better
Cyberpunk 2077 1.6 | |
1280x720 Low Preset | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Beelink SER6 Pro Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (20.6 - 44.7, n=15) | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
1920x1080 Low Preset | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Beelink SER6 Pro Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (13 - 25.9, n=40) | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
1920x1080 Medium Preset | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Beelink SER6 Pro Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (10.8 - 21.7, n=37) | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
1920x1080 High Preset | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Beelink SER6 Pro Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (9.8 - 16.9, n=34) | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 | |
1920x1080 Ultra Preset | |
Beelink GTR7 7840HS | |
Beelink SER6 Pro Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (7.4 - 16.8, n=32) | |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 |
Witcher 3 FPS Chart
low | med. | high | ultra | |
GTA V (2015) | 103.8 | 84 | 15.9 | 6.8 |
The Witcher 3 (2015) | 85.8 | 54.3 | 26.8 | 12.4 |
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 110.5 | 82.8 | 56.9 | 52 |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 37.4 | 20 | 14.6 | |
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 43.4 | 32.9 | 28.5 | |
Far Cry 5 (2018) | 45 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
Strange Brigade (2018) | 89.2 | 34.7 | 29.2 | 22.9 |
Cyberpunk 2077 1.6 (2022) | 16.4 | 13.3 | 10.9 | 10.3 |
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022) | 27.5 | 20.9 | 13.5 | 10.6 |
F1 22 (2022) | 39.2 | 36.7 | 27 | 20.7 |
Emissions
System Noise
The internal fans are always active no matter the load at about 30 dB(A) against a silent background of 24 dB(A). This is loud enough to be an audible hum in a very quiet room, but it's thankfully not loud enough to be distracting when gaming or watching movies. The fans also rarely pulse to higher RPMs when running low to low-medium loads and so the 30 dB(A) floor is fairly constant.
We're able to record a maximum fan noise of 41 dB(A) when running more demanding loads like games or Prime95 for extended periods which is comparable to the Beelink GTR7 or NUC 13 Pro under similar conditions.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 30.4 / 30.4 / 30.4 dB(A) |
Load |
| 30.7 / 41 dB(A) |
| ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min: , med: , max: Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 23.4 dB(A) |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-13700H, Samsung PM9B1 512GB MZVL4512HBLU | Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1360P, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ | Beelink SEi12 Core i5-1235U Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1235U, Kingston NV1 SNVS/500GCN | Beelink GTR7 7840HS Radeon 780M, R7 7840HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8 | Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-11390H, Lexar 1024GB LNM6A1X001T-HNNNG | Trigkey Speed S Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i5-11320H, Intel SSD 670p SSDPEKNU512GZ | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | -4% | 4% | -1% | -0% | 10% | |
off / environment * | 23.4 | 25.2 -8% | 23.3 -0% | 25.6 -9% | 29.7 -27% | 23.5 -0% |
Idle Minimum * | 30.4 | 28.1 8% | 27.8 9% | 28.1 8% | 30.2 1% | 24.1 21% |
Idle Average * | 30.4 | 28.2 7% | 27.8 9% | 28.1 8% | 30.2 1% | 24.1 21% |
Idle Maximum * | 30.4 | 28.3 7% | 27.8 9% | 28.1 8% | 30.2 1% | 26.6 12% |
Load Average * | 30.7 | 42 -37% | 32 -4% | 34.9 -14% | 30.6 -0% | 30.4 1% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 33.9 | 34.1 -1% | 36.4 -7% | 30.5 10% | 30.4 10% | |
Load Maximum * | 41 | 42.1 -3% | 39.2 4% | 42.4 -3% | 36.4 11% | 38.1 7% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The hot spot on top of the unit can reach 40 C when running demanding loads for long periods which is much warmer than what we recorded on the Beelink GTR7 by almost 12 degrees. The generally higher surface temperatures may be due to two factors: the integrated PSU and lack of upper ventilation grilles which contribute to higher temperatures overall. Cool air instead enters from the bottom of the unit unlike on most other mini PCs.
Stress Test
When running Prime95 to stress the CPU, clock rates and package power draw would spike to 3.3 GHz and 80 W, respectively, lasting for only a couple of minutes at a core temperature of 95 C. Thereafter, clock rates and package power draw would drop to around 2.5 GHz and 44 W in order to maintain a cooler core temperature of 81 C. High Turbo Boost is thus not sustainable for long periods which is in line with what we observed during our CineBench R15 loop test above.
Repeating the above Prime95 test on the Ryzen 7 7840HS-powered Beelink GTR7 and Core i5-1235U-powered Beelink SEi12 would result in cooler core temperatures of 76 C and 67 C, respectively, even though the IdeaCentre Mini is much larger and heavier.
CPU Clock (GHz) | GPU Clock (MHz) | Average CPU Temperature (°C) | |
System Idle | -- | -- | 38 |
Prime95 Stress | 2.4 - 2.7 | -- | 81 |
Prime95 + FurMark Stress | 2.0 - 2.3 | 1197 | 80 |
Witcher 3 Stress | 0.7 | 1493 | 84 |
Energy Management
Power Consumption
The Lenovo mini PC is quite power-hungry even when compared to full-fledged laptops with the same Core i7-13700H CPU. The Schenker Vision 16, for example, demands 15 percent less power when running Witcher 3. The Intel NUC 13 Pro and Beelink SEi12 are also more power efficient, but they come with slower Core-P and Core-U CPUs, respectively.
We're able to record a temporary maximum draw of 105 W when the CPU is at 100 percent utilization. This rate would quickly fall since Turbo Boost potential is limited as mentioned in the Stress Test section above.
It's worth noting that while the model doesn't need an external power brick, the included power cable is nonetheless very short at just over 3 feet long.
Off / Standby | 0.68 / 1.1 Watt |
Idle | 6.7 / 6.7 / 7.1 Watt |
Load |
68.5 / 104.3 Watt |
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8 i7-13700H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Samsung PM9B1 512GB MZVL4512HBLU, , x, | Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ, , x, | Beelink SEi12 Core i5-1235U i5-1235U, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Kingston NV1 SNVS/500GCN, , x, | Beelink GTR7 7840HS R7 7840HS, Radeon 780M, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8, , x, | Trigkey Speed S i5-11320H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Intel SSD 670p SSDPEKNU512GZ, , x, | SCHENKER Vision 16 PH6PRX1 i7-13700H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB, IPS, 2560x1600, 16.00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -13% | -68% | -4% | 11% | -29% | |
Idle Minimum * | 6.7 | 7 -4% | 15.8 -136% | 5.5 18% | 6.7 -0% | 6.3 6% |
Idle Average * | 6.7 | 9.2 -37% | 16.8 -151% | 5.8 13% | 8 -19% | 14.4 -115% |
Idle Maximum * | 7.1 | 11.8 -66% | 17 -139% | 7.7 -8% | 8.1 -14% | 16.2 -128% |
Load Average * | 68.5 | 45 34% | 54.4 21% | 70.6 -3% | 47.6 31% | 46.2 33% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 58.3 | 50.7 13% | 79.8 -37% | 47.5 19% | 49.4 15% | |
Load Maximum * | 104.3 | 97.2 7% | 119.1 -14% | 111.8 -7% | 56.3 46% | 85.2 18% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption Witcher 3 / Stresstest
Power Consumption external Monitor
Pros
Cons
Verdict — Designed For Home Multimedia Multitaskers
Main reasons for choosing the IdeaCentre Mini over other mini PCs are for its integrated PSU and fast Core H-series CPU. If you like to run CPU-intensive tasks and hate dealing with power bricks, then this Lenovo solution will be considerably faster than the sea of smaller alternatives running on Core U CPUs.
The most notable drawback to the IdeaCentre Mini is that it's big and heavy relative to the performance you're getting. Smaller and lighter alternatives like the Geekom Mini IT13 or Beelink SER7 come with the exact same processor or comparable AMD options while still offering upgradeable RAM and storage. The lack of VESA mounting also limits where you can position the Lenovo mini PC. Of course, if you plan on placing the unit flat on a home desk or table anyway, then the heavy weight, large footprint, and lack of VESA mounting or Kenginton lock likely aren't going to be deal breakers.
The IdeaCentre Mini is sturdier than it looks and it has the Core H performance for when higher processing power is needed. There are a couple of minor annoyances, but they are relatively easy to overcome.
A minor inconvenience worth mentioning is the 3-foot power cord which is one of the shortest cords we've seen on any laptop or mini PC. When considering that most desks are about 30 inches from the floor, the system must essentially be placed directly above a power outlet or else its power cord won't reach. You might need to invest in a longer cord depending on your setup.
For future models, we'd love to see Wi-Fi 6E, faster RAM, and tool-free servicing to maximize game streaming potential and make upgrades a bit easier. Its current price of under $700 USD is competitive against other mini PCs especially since the Lenovo solution includes Windows 11, RAM, storage, and a Core H-series CPU instead of slower Core U or Core P.
Price and Availability
Lenovo is now shipping its IdeaCentre Mini Gen 8 for $688 USD for the Core i7 configuration as reviewed or just $560 for the base Core i5 option. Alternatively, Best Buy is also shipping the Core i7 option for a higher price of $850.
Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 01IRH8
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09/01/2023 v7
Allen Ngo
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.