Nov 13, 2025

AYANEO AM01S Retro Mini PC Merges Vintage Design with Modern Power

Introduction

The AYANEO AM01S arrives as a fresh take on the compact PC market, marrying a nostalgic, Mac‑inspired chassis with cutting‑edge AMD hardware. Beyond its eye‑catching aesthetics, the device differentiates itself with a built‑in flip‑up secondary display that functions as a true Windows screen rather than a proprietary panel. This article explores the AM01S’s design, connectivity, hardware configurations, software integration, and real‑world performance.

Design and Build

AYANEO embraced a retro theme for the AM01S, opting for a sleek, minimalist enclosure reminiscent of classic desktop computers. The front panel features a removable cover that conceals:

A 3.5 mm audio jack
Four USB‑type‑A 3.2 ports

The flip‑up screen sits atop the unit, acting as an independent monitor. Magnetic attachments allow users to personalize the top edge, while the overall footprint remains small enough to sit comfortably beside a primary monitor.

Connectivity and I/O

The AM01S offers an impressive array of ports for a device of its size:

Power input (120 W SFF PSU included)
Two full‑size HDMI 2.1 ports
USB‑4 (40 Gbps) port
USB‑C 3.2 port
Dual 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports
Additional USB‑2.0 and USB‑3.2 ports on the rear

This extensive I/O suite ensures compatibility with a wide range of peripherals, from high‑resolution displays to fast external storage.

Hardware Options

AYANEO plans to ship the AM01S with several AMD APU configurations:

Ryzen 7 8845HS – a mid‑range option for everyday tasks.
Ryzen AI 9 HX370 – the top‑tier model featured in our review.

The HX370 variant boasts:

12 Zen 5 cores / 24 threads
Base clock: 2 GHz, Boost clock: up to 5.1 GHz
Integrated Radeon 890MIG GPU (16 compute units, RDNA 3.5 architecture) with a boost up to 2.9 GHz
Support for up to 64 GB DDR5 RAM (32 GB installed in our test unit)
One M.2 2280 slot (up to 8 TB) and one M.2 2230 slot for additional storage
Built‑in Wi‑Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3

The system ships with Windows 11 and AYANEO’s custom Space software pre‑installed.

Software and Dual‑Screen Functionality

Space transforms the secondary display into a fully functional Windows monitor. Users can:

Run any application (e.g., Spotify, productivity tools) on the flip‑up screen.
Enable a performance monitor that shows CPU/GPU usage, temperatures, and other telemetry.
Display a weather widget or custom wallpapers via Wallpaper Engine.
Adjust screen brightness independently from the primary display.
Launch games directly from Space’s built‑in game launcher, which automatically pulls box art and metadata.

Because the secondary screen is a standard Windows display, there is no need for proprietary drivers or limited software ecosystems.

Benchmark Performance

Synthetic testing places the HX370‑powered AM01S squarely among other high‑end Ryzen 9 mobile chips:

Geekbench 6 – Single‑core: 2,896, Multi‑core: 14,915
3DMark Time Spy – Overall score: 3,753 (Graphics: 3,367, CPU: ~10,000)

These results confirm that the APU delivers solid compute and graphics performance for a compact form factor.

Gaming Tests

Real‑world gaming benchmarks demonstrate the AM01S’s capabilities at 1080p:

Cyberpunk 2077 – High settings with FSR Frame Generation, average 80 fps; power draw around 54 W.
Forza Horizon 5 – Medium settings, >100 fps without FSR.
Marvel Rivals – Medium settings, FSR balanced, occasional dips below 60 fps (acceptable for casual play).
Borderlands 4 – Low 1080p with FSR, average 70 fps; the game pushes the GPU to its limits, showing occasional ghosting when frame generation is active.

Overall, the device handles modern titles well when paired with AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution, though the most demanding AAA games may require settings adjustments.

Power Consumption

Efficiency is a key selling point:

Idle (screen on, Space UI disabled): ~10 W
Performance mode (gaming, screen active): 65 W max, typical gaming draw 54–72 W
Peak load during stress testing: 97 W from the wall (well within the capacity of the included 120 W PSU)

These figures make the AM01S suitable for environments with high electricity costs or for users seeking a low‑power desktop solution.

Verdict

The AYANEO AM01S stands out in the crowded mini‑PC arena thanks to its retro-inspired design, functional secondary display, and robust AMD Ryzen 9 HX370 hardware. The extensive I/O, solid benchmark scores, and respectable gaming performance at modest power levels demonstrate that the AM01S is more than a novelty—it is a capable compact workstation.

For users who value aesthetics, flexibility, and a desktop‑class experience in a space‑saving package, the AM01S is a compelling choice. Future firmware updates and broader software support (e.g., SteamOS compatibility) could further expand its appeal.

For detailed specifications and purchase information, visit AYANEO’s official website.