Every now and then, a newcomer to the minicomputer world emerges who tries to further disrupt an ever-changing market. Unlike their desktop siblings and thanks to economies of scale, the overwhelming majority of mini PCs now have standardized laptop parts, so mini PCs are closer to laptops. Aerofara is the latest to test with its Aero 3 thin client that sets itself apart from the usual brick design of its rivals by offering an all-metal model with rounded sides.
Prices and availability
The Aerofara Aero 3 mini PC is available on Amazon for € 479 in the US and other territories as well.
(Image credit: future)
Integrated
Aerofara's biggest statement of intent is its design, an almost futuristic design that aims to be bold and different and to some extent succeeds in this endeavor by using metal throughout to give it an aura of color. Having a metal chassis also improves heat dissipation to keep the system cool while ensuring that it can withstand some bumps and scratches. There are still some air vents on the sides.
(Image credit: Future) In terms of ports, there are two HDMI outputs plus a Type-C connector which should theoretically allow you to connect three monitors.
(Image credit: Future) Four USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an audio jack, a Gigabit LAN port, a barrel-style power inlet, and a microSD card slot are also on the list. The design of the connectors strongly reminded us of another competitor, the GMK NucBox2, which leads us to believe that they might be from the same production/ODM/OEM line. Its base contains two exposed VESA screws and four rubber feet on four screws. Removing them will allow easy access to the innards of the Aero 3.
Team
Datasheet Here are the full specifications of the Aerofara Aero 3: Processor: Intel Core i5-10210U Graphics: Intel UHD RAM: 8 GB DDR4 Storage: 256 GB SATA SSD Ports: 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB-C, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x audio jack, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity: Intel AX201, 802.11ac Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Weight: 500g Dimensions: 126 x 112 x 42mm (H x W x D) The Aerofara Aero 3 has the same processor as the Minisforum U850 we recently reviewed. It is run by an Intel Core i5-10210U with an Intel UHD graphics processor. This is a Comet Lake processor, still at 14nm, with four cores and eight threads. It's paired with 8GB of DDR4 RAM (one memory module), a 256GB SATA SSD (unfortunately there's no faster PCIe option, which is a real shame), an Intel AX201 WiFi6 wireless network card that also offers Bluetooth 5.0. You can also insert a 2,5-inch storage device if you want to increase the capacity of the Aero 3. Note the presence of a 57W (19V3A) power supply built like a socket (instead of the usual brick).
(Image credit: future)
There's something fishy about the Aero 3's performance. Even compared to the U850 that has the same processor, Aerofara's candidate falls short in pure computing performance, falling behind the 10210U within the U850 by a small but significant margin. Deviations greater than 10% are not uncommon, and apart from worse firmware and an additional limitation, we cannot identify the cause. Benchmarks Here's how the Aerofara Aero 3 performed on our set of benchmark tests: CPU-Z: 459 (single thread); 1906 (multithreaded) Geekbench: 1045 (single core); 3004 (multicore); 4886 (calculate) CrystalDiskMark: 545 MB / s (read); 426 MB/s (write) Processor Cinebench: 1406 Novabench: 1415 PCMark: 3845 3DMark: 415 (Timespy); 1065 (Fire strike); 4188 (Nightraid); 3825 (paratrooper) Passing grade: 3157 (general); 8633 (CPU); 947 (3D GPU) Atto: 530 MB/s (read, 256 MB); 440 MB/s (Write, 256 MB) Windows Experience Index: 6.2 You want to go for a processor with a higher power envelope because (a) there's no battery to worry about (b) it offers much higher performance and (c) they are generally cheaper. As expected, storage performance was poor due to the adoption of the outdated SATA protocol. The lack of a PCIe SSD at this price is still a pain in the ass and a poor choice; this results in read/write numbers that are roughly 80% slower than the PCIe SSD used by the Minisforum U850. Note that the Aero 3 runs Windows 10 Pro, cementing its status as a workstation PC.
Law
As for the competition, it depends on your flexibility. The best thing at the time of writing is a Gateway laptop that happens to be a Walmart exclusive selling for just $439. The GWTN156-1BL comes in four colors and comes with a faster processor, Full HD display, battery , fingerprint reader and 16 GB of RAM. But it won't be able to drive three monitors, and it's also much bigger thanks to its 15.6-inch form factor. The Pavilion Desktop TP01-1055m is powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 4300G APU, which is almost twice as fast as the Core i5-10210U. At just under $450, it comes with an additional 1TB hard drive and offers the kind of backup and peace of mind only the big name brands can offer. On the other hand, its microtower chassis is significantly larger and lacks a second HDMI connector. Last but not least is the GMX NucBox 2 which retails for just under €400 and which we just recently reviewed. It is powered by the older but faster Intel Core i5-8259U with a superior Iris graphics subsystem. The Aero 3 lacks the premium look though, but we'd still prefer substance over style.
Final verdict
Basically, while the Aero 3 isn't a bad mini PC on its own, it's way too expensive compared to the rest of the competition. It also has a number of major flaws; it underperforms in compute benchmarks compared to other 10210U devices, has a SATA SSD, and is configured in single channel memory mode. There's no saving grace here, even the sleekly designed all-metal chassis can't distract us from the poor value for money. Only a significant price drop could change our minds; For now, it's best to upgrade to the Aero 4, which Aerofara promises will feature the 8259U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe SSD. If it's under €500, it'll be a keeper and push the Aero 3 into oblivion. Otherwise we will pass.