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| The Minisforum M1 Plus supports eGPU expansion via a rear-mounted USB4 port. |
While the tech world was buzzing about Minisforum's high-end AtomMan G1 Pro last week, the company has quietly unveiled another compelling option for budget-conscious mini-PC enthusiasts. Meet the Minisforum M1 Plus, a new compact desktop that has launched in China, seemingly as a more accessible follow-up to the powerful and pricier MS-02 Ultra.
Currently exclusive to the Chinese market, the M1 Plus offers a glimpse into Minisforum's strategy of catering to diverse performance tiers. While an international release hasn't been confirmed, the company's history suggests the M1 Plus could well make its way to global audiences in the coming months.
A Surprising Nod to Alder Lake Power
In a market increasingly focused on the latest generations, Minisforum has taken an interesting step back with the M1 Plus, opting for Intel's previous-generation Alder Lake architecture. The mini-PC is available with either a Core i5-12600H or a Core i7-12800H processor.
Both chips are from the Alder Lake-P series with a 45W TDP and feature 8 Efficient cores. The key difference lies in the Performance cores: the i5 has 4, while the i7 steps up to 6. This gives the Core i7-12800H a significant thread count advantage (20 vs. 16) and a more potent integrated Iris Xe graphics unit with 96 Execution Units, compared to the i5's 80 EUs.
For those interested in checking the official specifications or making a purchase in China, the M1 Plus is listed on JD.com. You can find the product page here: https://item.jd.com/10203545507316.html.
Performance Expectations: Not a Gaming Powerhouse, But a Capable All-Rounder
Let's be clear: don't buy the M1 Plus expecting to max out Cyberpunk 2077. Even the Core i7 variant with its 96EU iGPU will struggle with modern, graphically intensive AAA titles at acceptable settings. However, that's not the primary goal here.
The integrated graphics are perfectly capable for a vast range of tasks. Less demanding modern titles like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown should be playable at 1080p. Where the M1 Plus will truly shine is with indie games, classic retro gaming via emulation, and everyday productivity. It's poised to be an excellent machine for office work, web browsing, media consumption, and as a home server or network-attached storage (NAS) solution.
Early glimpses and discussions about the device have already begun appearing on Chinese social media, such as this thread on Weibo: https://weibo.com/5394952951/QgzTbdi6U.
Competitive Pricing in the Budget Segment
The most compelling argument for the M1 Plus is its price. Minisforum has positioned it as an entry-level option, reflecting the older—but still very capable—Alder Lake silicon.
- The Core i5-12600H barebones kit (no RAM or storage) starts at an attractive CNY 1,789 (approximately $250).
- The upgrade to the Core i7-12800H barebones model comes in at CNY 2,199 (roughly $310).
This pricing sharply contrasts with the company's more professional-focused offerings, like the MS-02 Ultra (currently $1,499 on Amazon), which is built for expandability and much higher performance tiers. You can see the MS-02 Ultra for comparison here: https://amzn.to/48ujo0b.
The Bottom Line
The Minisforum M1 Plus shapes up to be a strategic, value-oriented play. By utilizing proven Alder Lake processors, Minisforum can offer a solid performance-to-price ratio in the fiercely competitive mini-PC space. It's an ideal candidate for users seeking a small, efficient, and affordable desktop for general computing, light gaming, and hobbyist projects. All eyes will now be on Minisforum to see if and when this budget-friendly box gets a global launch.
