The Tronsmart Ara X5 is the first Windows mini PC on the market to feature Windows 10 and an Intel Cherry Trail processor, the X5-Z8300. This new chipset brings along some exciting improvements, including HEVC hardware decoding and improved GPU performance.
The Tronsmart Ara X5 also features dual band Wifi, 32GB of eMMC storage and 2GB of RAM.
I’m currently working on the full review but I thought you might be interested in getting a taste of how this exciting new box performs in the meantime.
UPDATE: Read our detailed review
I want to say thanks to GeekBuying for sending me a Tronsmart Ara X5 to review.
Check Price at GeekBuyingTronsmart Ara X5 Technical Specifications
- Chipset: Intel Cherry Trail processor with Intel HD graphics (Z8300)
- RAM: 2 GB DDR3
- Storage: 32GB eMMC + microSD slot
- Video & Audio Output: HDMI, 3.5mm Audio
- Connectivity: dual band 802.1 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 10/100 Ethernet
- USB: 2x USB 2.0 port, 1x USB 3.0 port
- OS: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
What’s in the Box?
Tronsmart’s inclusions are typical for those seen with other Windows PCs:
- 1x Tronsmart Ara X5 Windows PC
- 1x Power adapter
- 1x HDMI cable
- 1x English instruction manual
Tronsmart Ara X5 Impressions and Demo
Tronsmart Ara X5 Initial Impressions
So it’s clear Tronsmart have put some effort into designing the X5. The compact case uses an attractive grey and black two-tone color scheme which looks great. The top of the case features a black mirror-finish with Tronsmart branding and the power LED. It’s looks nice but unfortunately, it’s a fingerprint magnet.
The Tronsmart Ara X5’s design is definitely closer to a typical PC than some of the mini PCs of late, with ports located exclusively on the front and back of the unit.
On the front, we have two fullsize USB 2.0 ports, 3.5mm audio output and the power button.
The rear of the case features DC in, ethernet, HDMI, a USB 3.0 port and a micro SD card slot.
One of the big draws of the Tronsmart Ara X5 is that it comes with Windows 10. The OS is 64-bit and comes activated out of the box.
As anticipated, Tronsmart haven’t added any bloat to Windows 10. The new Intel Z8300 handles the OS brilliantly. Navigating through the menus is smooth and apps launch quickly.
I briefly tested media playback using Kodi 15.1 to play back some 1080p H.264 and H.265 samples. My 1080p30 and 1080p60 H.264 played back perfectly as did my 1080p24 H.265 version of Tears of Steel. It’s great to be able to play back H.265 videos on a Windows PC finally!
In terms of gaming performance, the Z8300 showed off its improved GPU in my brief gaming tests. At 1080p, Jetpack Joyride was silky smooth whilst Beach Buggy Racing on maximum settings didn’t show any signs of slowdown – even when the onscreen action intensified.
Running 3DMark’s Ice Storm Extreme benchmark scored 13210. This is a significant improvement over the ~7500 we see on Intel Z3735F devices such as the MeLE PCG01.
Wifi performance was good during testing. I didn’t experience any buffering when playing 4K and 1080p samples from my NFS share via Kodi. HD YouTube also played back fine.
Verdict So Far
The Tronsmart Ara X5 has certainly made a strong first impression. For a sub-$150 device, you’re getting a stylish PC that performed really well in my (admittedly brief) gaming, video and web browsing tests. The Tronsmart Ara is definitely a device to consider if you’re looking at a new budget PC.
Getting One
The Tronsmart Ara X5 can be purchased from GeekBuying. They’re currently running a promotion to get various discounts on the Tronsmart Ara X5, with some getting the device for free!
Check Price at GeekBuying
