When I reviewed the PiPO X8, I found it to be an solid oddity. Whilst I had initially had some skepticism regarding the integrated touchscreen, I can thankfully say it’s actually pretty handy. I’ve been able to the my PiPO X8 to good use as a jukebox, allowing guests to pick their own tracks.
Now, PiPO have improved the device. They’ve revealed a 64Gb variant of the PiPO X8 which is now available for purchase. The rest of the technical specifications are the same however.
The much-talked about mini PC has finally arrived. The PiPO X8 is a dual OS mini PC powered by the Intel Z3736F chipset. What makes it unique however, is its built-in 7-inch screen – an odd yet surprisingly useful inclusion. It also features 2GB of RAM and 32GB on onboard storage.
The PiPO X8 is a small form factor Dual OS PC powered by a quadcore Intel processor and featuring a built-in 7-in touchscreen.
PiPO X8 Technical Specifications
Chipset: Intel Baytrail quad core processor with Intel HD graphics (Z3736F)
RAM: 2 GB DDR3
Storage: 32 GB internal storage + micro SD slot
Video & Audio Output: HDMI, 3.5mm Audio
Screen: 1280x800px
Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 10/100 Ethernet
USB: 4x USB 2.0 port
Other Features: Power button, Integrated Speakers, 1 year Office 365 subscription.
OS: Dual-Boot: Windows 8.1 with Bing/Android 4.4
Power Supply: 12v 2.5A
What’s in the box?
PiPO’s inclusions with the PiPO X8 are pretty sparse:
1x PiPO X8
1x Power Adapter
1x Warranty Card
I have to admit I’m a little bit disappointed that a HDMI cable wasn’t included. However, given the emphasis on the internal touchscreen, I’m not too surprised.
PiPO X8 Design
The PiPO X8 is an interesting beast. It’s hard not to take notice of the 7-inch screen which stands out immediately. I was worried that the inclusion of a screen would make the device overly bulky, but thankfully it’s only slightly larger than the PiPO X7.
The screen is positioned at a relatively comfortable angle and is impressive to look at. Thanks to PiPO cramming a 1280×800 resolution into a 7-inch panel, the screen offers crisp text and images. Whilst not the brightest screen I’ve ever seen, it’s bright enough, given the dimly-lit environments it’ll most likely be used in.
Black matte plastic makes up the remainder of the case is predominantly black plastic with a matte finish and some PiPO branding at the front. A metal base with vents finishes it off, helping keep the device cool passively.
The ports are located on the righthand side and rear of the device. On the rear, from left to right, is the USB OTG port, micro SD card slot, 2 full-size USB 2.0 ports, HDMI out, Ethernet and DC In. The PiPO X8 also features an external WiFi antenna.
Looking at the right side, there is the power button, volume rocker, 2 more USB 2.0 ports and the headphone jack. Both sides feature small speakers.
The on-board stereo speakers aren’t the greatest. I’d say they outperform your typical tablet speakers, pumping out more power and bass. However, they still sound hollow and lack depth.
Using It
Booting the PiPO X8 is done by holding down the power button for several seconds. Before booting into an Operating System. you’re shown the OS selection screen with a 10 second countdown. After selecting the OS, Windows takes approximately 16 seconds to boot. An OS switch takes around 44 seconds to go from Windows to Android. You can set the PiPO X8 to always boot into the last used Operating System and I suspect most will avail themselves of the option.
Out of the box, Windows came activated and there was 11.7/15.6GB free on the C drive. Windows felt great during use, much like other devices using the Intel Z3736F. I didn’t see any noticeable lag when navigating the Start menu or applications on the build-in screen or when using HDMI out. Interestingly, it seemed that the in-built screen never turned off when connected via HDMI. It seemed that the backlight remained on and the screen responded to touch, albeit as if it was in portrait mode, which was weird.
Windows was essentially “stock”, with the only inclusion being the “WinToAnd” application used to switch to Android. An equivalent “OS Switch” function appears in the Android notification shade.
Android was a mixed bag. The Android version is more or less stock, with “OS Switch” function appearing to be the only customisation. Using just the integrated screen, the device functioned like your typical Android tablet such as 5-point multi-touch and the gyroscope.Navigating through the menus and launching apps felt nice and fast. However, plugging in the HDMI cable exposed Android’s inability to handle dual screens. There was no option to only output to the TV, so you always ended up with duplicated screens under Android which is frustrating. Even after setting the resolution to 1080p, the PiPO X8 seemed to lock the UI resolution to the screen’s 1280×800 resolution, leaving black bars on the sides.
Under both OS’, the touchscreen was responsive, whether navigating UIs or playing games.
PiPO X8 Media Playback
Media playback was tested using Kodi 14.2 under Windows.
Video Codec
Video Performance (Windows 8 – Kodi 14.2)
1080p 3D SBS H.264
OK
1080p 3D ABL H.264
OK
1080p30 H.264
OK
1080p High Bitrate H.264
OK
1080p60 H.264
OK
720p50 H.264
OK
1080i50 H.264
OK
4K H.264
OK
1080p HEVC
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
4K HEVC
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
1080p VP8
OK (Software Decode)
720p Hi10p
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
1080p Hi10p
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
1080p MPEG2
OK
720P RMVB
OK
1080p VC1
OK
Video performance was pretty solid across the board. I can confirm that automatic framerate switching worked under Windows.
PiPO X8 Gaming Performance
To test gaming performance, I installed 2 games,1 2D and 1 3D under both Windows and Android:
When using the internal screen, with its sub-1080p resolution, both games performed brilliantly under Windows and Android. Outputting 1080p to an external screen in Windows did impact performance. Whilst Jetpack Joyride performed as well as before, Beach Buggy Racing saw an anticipated drop in performance, but it still maintained a fairly solid framerate with the typically slowdown during high-action scenes that we’ve seen on these devices.
Thanks to the PiPO X8’s external antenna, wireless performance was excellent. Signal strength was consistently showing 5 bars under Windows. I was able to stream 4K video from an NFS over WiFi without any signs of buffering under Kodi 14.2.
Antutu returned a respectable score of 36873, although the UI resolution was locked at 1280×800.
PiPO X8 Thermal Performance
I was a little concerned given the PiPO X7’s thermal throttling issues. Using Prime95‘s Small FFTs test on the PiPO X8 when connected to an external screen was the SoC temperature max out at 66°c according to HWiNFO after 30 minutes. Switching over to the internal screen saw the temperatures increase however.
Loading up a test that taxed both the CPU and GPU did see the temperatures climb further however. After 8 minutes of running the PiPO X8 at 100% CPU and rendering 3D images, the device did see some minimal thermal throttling. PiPO could have improved cooling further but the PiPO X8 still outperforms the X7 considerably.
The Rikomagic MK36 is Rikomagic’s first Windows Mini PC. Leveraging the slightly more powerful Intel Z3736F SoC, the Rikomagic MK36 runs both Windows 8.1 with Bing and Android 4.4 and features 2GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.
The Rikomagic MK36 is a small form factor Dual OS Mini PC powered by a quadcore Intel processor. Its low power requirements, fanless design and small form factor make it an ideal HTPC or desktop. Thanks to its Dual OS capabilities, you have a wide ecosystem of games and applications at your disposal.
Rikomagic MK36 Technical Specifications
Chipset: Intel Baytrail quad core processor with Intel HD graphics (Z3736F)
RAM: 2 GB DDR3
Storage: 32GB + microSD slot up to 64GB
Video & Audio Output: HDMI, 3.5mm Audio
Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0
USB: 4x USB 2.0 port
OS: Windows 8.1 with Bing (32-bit) & Android 4.4
What’s in the box?
Rikomagic have included all the key items to connect up the MK36:
1x Rikomagic MK36
1x HDMI Cable
1x Power Adapter
1x English Instruction Manual
Rikomagic MK36 Unboxing and Demo
Rikomagic MK36 Design
Military. That’s how I’d describe the Rikomagic MK36’s design. With clean lines and angled faces, this looks almost sporty. I have to admit I’m a fan of its design. A dual material approach was taken for the case. The bulk of the case is plastic, with a top plate that features Rikomagic branding and a nice brushed metal texture. A metal bottom plate completes the case and is clearly used to help dissipate heat. The device feels durable, but not as solid compared to the PiPO X7’s all-metal build.
The ports are located along one side and the rear of the device. Along the side, we have the power button, 2 USB 2.0 ports and 3.5mm audio output.
The rear of the device has a Kensington lock port, micro SD card slot, 2 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI Out, Ethernet and DC In. The Kensington lock is definitely a plus and I’m actually surprised it hasn’t appeared on more of these mini PCs.
It’s great to have so many USB ports, as you can never have too many. I did have a small issue with the lower rear USB port being close to the HDMI cable. As such, bulkier USB drives didn’t fit. Switching around my (smaller) wireless Keyboard/Mouse dongle to the bottom position did the trick however.
Using It
Holding down the power button for several seconds causes the device to boot. On booting, the OS selection screen is displayed with a 10 second countdown. A handy check-box in the top left,lets you always choose the OS or just boot into the last one used.
It took around 13 seconds to boot into Windows after selecting the OS from the OS selection screen. Android takes slightly longer to boot but resuming from standby in both OS’s is essentially instant.
Windows performance was excellent. I didn’t notice any lag when navigating the Start menu and desktop. Windows is activated for those concerned.
Switching to Android is handled via the “WinToAnd” shortcut on the desktop. A full OS switch takes around a minute.
Those wanting to return to Windows can use the OS Switch icon in the Android Notifications shade.
Rikomagic’s Android build is essentially stock. The only hints of customization is the inclusion of MXPlayer and the inclusion of the OS Switch function.
The MK36’s Z3736F chipset blazes through Android. All animations were fast and incredibly smooth. I suspect the reduced OS overhead helped.
Rikomagic MK36 Media Playback
Media playback was tested using Kodi 14.2 under Windows 8 and MXPlayer under Android. I had to install the “Custom X86 Codec” for MXPlayer as some audio codecs were appearing as not supported.
Getting Kodi up and running was simple in Windows. However, Kodi on Android refused to read my USB until I actually added it as a media source. I’m not sure whether this is an issue with Kodi itself or the MK36’s Android ROM.
Video Codec
Video Performance (Windows 8 – Kodi 14.2)
Video Performance (Android – MX Player w/ Custom Codec)
Video Performance (Android – Kodi 14.2)
1080p 3D SBS H.264
OK
OK
OK
1080p 3D ABL H.264
OK
OK
OK
1080p30 H.264
OK
OK
OK
1080p High Bitrate H.264
OK
OK
OK
1080p60 H.264
OK
OK
OK
720p50 H.264
OK
OK
OK
1080i50 H.264
OK
OK
OK
4K H.264
OK
OK
OK
1080p HEVC
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames)
4K HEVC
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
1080p VP8
OK (Software Decode)
OK
OK
720p Hi10p
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
OK
Unwatchable (No Video)
1080p Hi10p
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames)
Unwatchable (No Video)
1080p MPEG2
OK
OK
OK
720P RMVB
OK
OK
OK
1080p VC1
OK
No Audio
OK
I didn’t have any issues playing the Sintel Bluray ISO under Kodi under either OS. Interestingly, whilst Kodi 14.2 under Windows and MXPlayer under Android couldn’t handle my 1080p HEVC sample, it was watchable under Kodi 14.2 on Android.
Automatic framerate switching worked under Windows. However, I was surprised when it also appeared to work under Android, with some video samples in MXPlayer causing the HDMI output to switch to the correct refresh rate.
Rikomagic MK36 Gaming Performance
To test gaming performance, I installed 3 games,1 2D and 2 3D titles, under both Windows and Android:
Jetpack Joyride performed well under both Windows and Android. Beach Buggy Racing was also great, with only small framerate drops during busy scenes.
Under Windows, Asphalt 8 was playable but the framerate was sub-30 FPS. Switching to Android saw the framerate improve dramatically and was a far better experience. I suspect Android’s reduced overhead helped here. Keep in mind that Gameloft’s recent update did appear to hurt Asphalt 8 performance on a number of my devices.
Iperf (iperf –t 60 -c SERVER_IP -r) was used test networking bandwidth over both WiFi and Ethernet. The device was located approximately 5 meters from the router through a single wall. WiFi performance varies heavily depending on your equipment and environment so results may vary.
WiFi performance was good, with upload and download speeds of 17.2 Mbps and 48.5Mbps respectively. Streaming 4K video from an NFS share was no issue, with no buffering in sight.
Switching over to Ethernet saw upload and download speeds improve as expected, reaching 90.5 Mbps and 90.1 Mbps respectively.
The Rikomagic MK36 scored 39.7 FPS at Ultra High Quality
Rikomagic MK36 Temperatures
To stress test the Rikomagic MK36, I used Prime95‘s Small FFTs test. This test is designed to generate maximum heat. Temperatures seemed to stabilize at 61°c without any thermal throttling according to HWiNFO. Ambient temperature was 19.7°c. I didn’t experience any thermal throttling during testing.
The Beelink Pocket P1 is pocket-sized Windows PC powered by the quadcore Intel Z3735F SoC. Also featuring 2GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, the Beelink Pocket P1 crams an impressive amount of functionality into a truly pocketable form factor.
The Beelink Pocket P1 is a pocket-sized Windows mini PC powered by a quadcore Intel processor.It’s great for a tiny HTPC or desktop thanks to its fanless design, impressively small form factor and low power requirements.
[GB-BP1-Deal]
Beelink Pocket P1 Technical Specifications
Chipset: Intel Baytrail quad core processor with Intel HD graphics (Z3735F)
RAM: 2 GB DDR3
Storage: 32GB eMMC + microSD slot up to 64GB
Video & Audio Output: HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm Audio
Connectivity: Dual Band 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
USB: 2x USB 2.0 port
OS: Windows 8.1 with Bing (32-bit)
Dimensions: 15.23 x 8.3 x 1.14 cm
Weight: 223g
What’s in the box?
Beelink have provided a solid set of inclusions. Inside the box, you get:
1x Beelink Pocket P1
1x HDMI Cable
1x Power Adapter
1x English Instruction Manual
It’s great to see that Beelink have included the micro HDMI to HDMI cable in the box. We’ve had a few products neglect to include one which is always frustrating.
Beelink Pocket P1 Unboxing and Demo
Beelink Pocket P1 Design
I’ll admit I was skeptical when Beelink called this device the Pocket P1. Few devices that have claimed to fit in your pocket have come remotely close. Compared to its closest competitor, the Ainol Mini PC, the Beelink Pocket P1 makes it look like the former look huge in comparison. It really is impressive just how small and thin the Beelink Pocket P1 actually is. At just 15.23×8.3cm and an impressive 1.14 cm thick, it’s definitely pocketable.
The device feels well-made, with an all metal case and hefty weight which makes the Beelink Pocket P1 feel solid. I’d be comfortable chucking it into a bag as a portable HTPC.
Using a stylish charcoal and black color scheme, the case is predominately Most of the device is blank, except for the Beelink branding on the top and the ports at the back. This minimalism makes the device look incredibly modern. I had many people struggle to believe there was a Windows PC hidden inside.
All the ports are located on the back of the device. From left to right, we have 2 full size USB, micro USB for power, Micro HDMI, 3.5mm audio and the power button. A small red power LED is hidden between the 2 USB ports.
As impressed as I am, I would have still liked to see an extra USB port or so, as two feels so limiting these days. A cheap USB hub will solve the problem however.
Lastly, it does get a little cramped in the back. With everything plugged in, it can be a challenge to plug/unplug USB devices and I couldn’t use my HDMI to micro HDMI adapter was useless as it would hit the power cable. It’s clear portability required some sacrifices, but when you’re packing a quadcore Windows PC in your pocket, I think the tight fit can be forgiven.
Beelink Pocket P1 Initial Impressions
To boot the device, you need to hold the Power button for several seconds until the power LED turns on.Boot times are reasonably fast, taking 14 seconds to boot into Windows from a cold start. Resuming from standby is more-or-less instant.
The Beelink Pocket P1 runs Windows 8.1 with Bing Operating System and comes activated. Navigating through Windows felt great and everything ran well, even during multitasking. I had no issues browsing the web and watching a video for example.
Beelink Pocket P1 Media Playback
Video playback was tested using Kodi 14.2 due to its excellent codec support and HTPC frontend:
Video Codec
Video Performance (Kodi 14.2)
1080p 3D SBS H.264
OK
1080p 3D ABL H.264
OK
1080p30 H.264
OK
1080p High Bitrate H.264
OK
1080p60 H.264
OK
720p50 H.264
OK
1080i50 H.264
OK
4K H.264
OK
1080p HEVC
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
4K HEVC
Unwatchable (Too many skipped frames)
1080p VP8
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
720p Hi10p
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
1080p Hi10p
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
1080p MPEG2
OK
720P RMVB
Watchable (Some Dropped Frames) (Software Decode)
1080p VC1
OK
The Beelink Pocket P1 did an excellent job during the video tests. As experienced on other Windows mini PCs powered by the Intel Z3735F, only the more demanding codecs caused issues – often due to their need to use software decoding. Automatic framerate switching worked as expected.
Beelink Pocket P1 Gaming Performance
To test gaming performance, I installed 3 games from the Windows store – 1 2D and 2 3D titles:
Gaming performance was fairly good. The Beelink Pocket didn’t break a sweat when running Jetpack Joyride, with gameplay remaining smooth throughout. Beach Buggy Blitz maintained an solid framerate on maximum settings with only the occasional hitch and Asphalt 8 was playable, albiet at sub-30fps. However, I blame Gameloft’s recent update for the reduced performance I’ve seen with Asphalt 8 on Windows.
Gaming Controllers and Bluetooth
I connected my iPazzPort Bluetooth Keyboard over Bluetooth without any issue. My Tronsmart Mars G01 was recognized as a Xbox 360 controller and I was able to use it in both Beach Buggy Racing and Asphalt 8.
Beelink Pocket P1 Networking Performance
The Beelink Pocket P1 is Wifi only, as its tiny case can’t fit an Ethernet port. Those looking to add Ethernet should consider purchasing a USB to Ethernet dongle.
WiFi Performance
To test out WiFi performance, I used iperf (iperf –t 60 -c SERVER_IP -r) to test networking bandwidth in both directions.
WiFi performance was good, with upload and download speeds of 30.2 Mbps and 32.0Mbps respectively. Web browsing and watching YouTube videos over WiFi was fast and I didn’t experience any buffering when streaming 1080p and 4K H.264 video from an NFS share via WiFi.
At approximately 5m from the router and through one wall, WiFi reception was registering 3-4 bars in Windows.
Thermal performance of the Beelink Pocket P1 was excellent, keeping up with the excellent Ainol Mini PC despite its smaller case thanks to a design which effectively uses the metal case as a heatsink.
Thermal performance was tested by using Prime95‘s Small FFT’s test which is designed to generate maximum heat. After running for approximately 30 minutes, the Beelink Pocket P1’s SoC temperatures maxed out at 55°C and there was no thermal throttling according to HWiNFO.
At this temperature, there is plenty more thermal headroom before thermal throttling will take over and limit performance, which is excellent.
Case temperatures were measured using an IR thermometer, with temperatures of 39.5°C and 40.1°C recorded on the top and bottom respectively. Ambient temperature was 21.3°C.
I often get asked how to factory reset Windows 8 so I’ve put together this step-by-step guide. Windows 8’s new Factory Reset option allows you to easily reset Windows and get your PC running like new.
I completed this process on my Ainol Mini PC, however, it should be identical for any PC running Windows 8.
I’ve highlighted important areas in Red in the screenshots.
1. Navigate to “Update and recovery” under Settings
2. Choose “Recovery” and “Get Started”
3. Complete the Recovery Process
Make sure you select “Just remove my files”! Otherwise, you’ll need to do a full re-installation of Windows 8 using your install media.
Clicking “Reset” will start to factory reset Windows 8:After a while (the process usually takes around 10-15 minutes for me), Windows will complete the factory reset process and reboot. When Windows 8 loads, it will guide you through the setup process.
Conclusion
So now you know how to factory reset Windows 8 and your PC should be running exactly as it did when you first got it.
The Beelink Pocket P1 is tiny Windows PC from Beelink. Armed with an Intel Z3735F SoC, 2GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, the Beelink Pocket P1 shares many specs with devices such as the excellent MINIX NEO Z64. However, that’s to its tiny size, its perfectly portable.
The Beelink Pocket P1 is a pocketable Windows mini PC powered by a quadcore Intel processor. Its low power requirements, fanless design and small form factor make it an ideal HTPC or desktop.
Beelink Pocket P1 Technical Specifications
Chipset: Intel Baytrail quad core processor with Intel HD graphics (Z3735F)
RAM: 2 GB DDR3
Storage: 32GB eMMC + microSD slot up to 64GB
Video & Audio Output: HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm Audio
Connectivity: Dual Band 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
USB: 2x USB 2.0 port
OS: Windows 8.1 with Bing (32-bit)
Dimensions: 15.23 x 8.3 x 1.14 cm
Weight: 223g
What’s in the box?
Beelink have provided everything you need to connect up the device:
1x Beelink Pocket P1
1x HDMI Cable
1x Power Adapter
1x English Instruction Manual
Beelink Pocket P1 Unboxing and Demo
Beelink Pocket P1 Impressions
It’s impressive just how small and thin the Beelink Pocket P1 actually is. It’s definitely pocketable at just 15.23×8.3cm and an impressive 1.14 cm thick.
Build quality feels exceptional. An all metal case and hefty weight makes the device feel premium and sturdy enough that it could transported safely.
The device uses an attractive charcoal and black color scheme. Most of the device is blank, except for the Beelink logo on the top and the ports at the back.
Moving from left to right, we have 2 full size USB, micro USB for power, Micro HDMI, 3.5mm audio and the power button.
Holding down the Power button for several seconds turns the device on. Boot times are fast, taking 14 seconds to boot into Windows from a cold start. Resuming from standby is effectively instant.
As with other devices on the Intel Z3735F, Windows was smooth and I didn’t see any lag during use. The device runs Windows 8.1 with Bing and comes activated.
Gaming performance was tested using Asphalt 8 and Jetpack Joyride. Jetpack Joyride was nice and smooth at all times. Asphalt 8 was playable but the framerate was sub-30 FPS. However, Gameloft’s recent update did seem to negatively impact Asphalt 8 performance on a number of my devices so keep that in mind. Gaming performance is shown in the above video.
Some mini PCs overheat due to their tiny, fanless designs so I thought I’d test out thermal performance. In a brief test, I ran Prime95‘s Small FFT test for 20 minutes. Temperatures didn’t exceed 50°c and there was no thermal throttling according to HWiNFO, so thermal performance has been very impressive so far.
Beelink Pocket P1 Power Consumption
Powered Off
Charging
Standby
Idle
Load
0 W
10 W
3.3 W
4.8 W
8.5 W
Verdict So Far
The Beelink Pocket P1 seems like an impressive mini PC so far. Build quality feels excellent, performance was good and SoC temperatures remaining low during stress testing.
The Ainol Mini PC is the first Windows PC from the tablet maker Ainol. Despite similar specifications to rivals like the VOYO Mini PC and MINIX Z64, it brings unique features such as a 7000mAh battery pack, letting you charge your gadgets on the go.
