The current generation of mini PCs has become increasingly powerful, but few are memorable. Acemagic takes a different approach with the Retro X5, a compact desktop that borrows heavily from the visual language of the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Finished in two-tone gray with subtle red accents, the machine channels a familiar 1980s silhouette while hiding hardware that belongs firmly in 2026.

Beneath the retro-inspired exterior sits AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, a 12-core, 24-thread chip designed to handle everything from productivity workloads to local AI applications. Standard configurations include 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD, while support for up to 128GB of RAM and 4TB of storage gives the Retro X5 room to grow beyond its compact footprint.

Connectivity is equally ambitious. The rear panel houses HDMI, DisplayPort, USB4 Type-C, dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, and multiple USB 3.2 connections, allowing the Retro X5 to function as a workstation, media hub, or compact gaming rig. A front-mounted flip-down panel conceals additional ports, an SD card slot, and a microphone input, preserving the clean appearance when not in use.

Perhaps the most interesting detail is the inclusion of USB4 support for external graphics. While the system relies on integrated Radeon graphics out of the box, users can connect an external GPU for significantly greater gaming or creative performance. Combined with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the result is a platform that feels considerably more versatile than its nostalgic styling initially suggests.

The Retro X5 succeeds because it avoids becoming a novelty. Rather than treating retro design as a gimmick, Acemagic uses it as a distinctive wrapper for genuinely modern hardware. In a category crowded with anonymous black boxes, that alone gives the Retro X5 a measure of character.