Mini-PCs have become significantly more mainstream compared to where they were a few years ago, driven by advancements in the APU segment from companies like AMD and Intel. We have reviewed several devices on the website, featuring vendors like ACEMAGIC, GMKtec, and others, but today, we have our hands on a newer manufacturer, PELADN. PELADN has been a dominant vendor in the Chinese market, featuring a broad portfolio that includes custom GPUs, mini-PCs, docking stations, and more. However, today, we are reviewing their budget-friendly WO4 mini-PC, which appears to be a solid offering.

The WO4 mini-PC is touted as a low-to-mid-range option for gamers seeking a compact machine. On paper, the specifications indicate that across multiple workloads, including gaming, media consumption, and professional tasks, you would achieve subpar performance, yet still suitable for getting the job done. Here is a quick rundown of the specifications of the PELADN WO4 mini-PC:

The above specifications indicate that the WO4 is a solid, all-around option, making it the optimal choice for modern-day usage. We'll dive more into performance ahead, but in terms of the unboxing experience, well, the PELADN WO4 surely features impressive packaging. Out of the box, you receive the standard mini-PC, along with a 19V power adapter, manual instructions, and a wall mount bracket. Considering the pricing of this model, the packaging wasn't lacking in any area, which made this observation particularly interesting.

In terms of the WO4 itself, the build quality isn't the best, as it features an aluminium frame with a plastic housing at the front, which gives the mini-PC an unusual appearance. However, it certainly gets the job done. The device features airflow cutouts on both sides and the bottom, which should be ample, considering that the 5600H is already a power-efficient platform. However, the most interesting part of the WO4 mini-PC is yet to come.

This is one of the first devices I have reviewed that features a detachable magnetic top, and the intention behind it is to make upgrades and repairs easier. Upon opening it, you gain access to the PCIe slot, as well as RAM channels, making it easier for an average consumer to upgrade their device's specifications. For me, this was a great surprise from PELADN, considering that in the past, I had faced a lot of trouble opening up mini-PCs, as some of them are really difficult to access.

The overall look of the WO4 does resemble the 'traditional' office look, with no RGB elements apart from a standard blue light on the power button, but this isn't a downside of a device; it's just my personal preference. We'll take a look at performance next, which is the more interesting element of this review.

We'll start with synthetic benchmarks, covering software like Geekbench, Cinebench, and CPU-Z, to analyze how the mini-PC performs in traditional workloads.

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Synthetic and gaming benchmarks clearly indicate that the PELDAN W04, despite being based on an architecture several years old, manages to hold up reasonably well against its counterparts. Across AAA titles, it provides sub-par performance. Of course, with the Vega 7 iGPU, you cannot expect high-end gaming performance, but for a minimal experience, the 5600H does stack up pretty well. More importantly, across these benchmarks, the mini-PC temperatures were maintained within the 70- to 80-degree range, which means that the thermal design of the PELADN WO4 is effective.

The Cezanne APU platform has been a great success of its time, as it brought a significant boost in capabilities to a mobile platform. However, when you factor in today's performance requirements, the 5600H can only do the job with subpar quality. The PELADN WO4 is a great option if you are looking for a portable device that allows for easy upgradability and has sufficient performance for light workloads. However, if you intend to use it for more demanding tasks, the WO4 may not be the best choice.

The PELADN WO4 mini-PC is for $349.99 with a 32GB/1TB configuration, while the 16GB/512GB option retails for $299.00. This is decent pricing for this particular device, considering the performance and product quality you are getting onboard.

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8.5

WCCFTECH RATING