For years, the formula for entry-level desktop Mini PCs was predictable to a fault: take a low-power laptop chip, slap it inside a plastic square, ship it with a massive external power brick, and hope the tiny fan doesn’t sound like a jet engine under load.
Intel eventually elevated the segment with its NUC lineup, paving the way for brand partners like GEEKOM, Minix, Gigabyte, Beelink, and Asus to step up their game. These manufacturers began shifting away from budget plastic, adopting premium aluminum chassis, improved thermal designs, and higher-quality internal components.
Now, with the unannounced listing of the Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake, the mini PC maker appears to be breaking the mold once again—dropping a massive hint about Intel’s low-power architecture roadmap in the process.
Hidden away in the product catalog is a small gray box housing Intel’s 18A-based Core 3 304 “Wildcat Lake” processor. It is a surprisingly quirky piece of hardware that blends next-gen silicon with unconventional engineering decisions. Intel has repeatedly confirmed that the Core Series 3 stack is designed to bring its flagship Intel 18A node to mainstream and entry-level markets, delivering strong efficiency at an accessible price point. Wildcat Lake and the Mini PC form factor look like a natural match.
The centerpiece of the new EQi is the Intel Core 3 304 CPU. Built on Intel’s 18A process node, the chip features an asymmetrical 5-core, 5-thread configuration pushing up to a 4.3 GHz boost clock. Intel claims a 36% single-core jump in Geekbench 6 over the older 12th Gen Core i3-1215U—a modest but meaningful bump for low-power, daily productivity tasks.
The graphics and AI stack are equally notable. Wildcat Lake marks one of the earliest integrations of Intel’s Xe3 architecture in an ultra-low-power form factor with Xe3-LPG Graphics, promising efficient hardware acceleration for light workloads and display output. Meanwhile, its 24 TOPS local NPU capability gives this compact system enough headroom to handle light local AI inferencing, background blurs, and localized speech processing on-device without relying heavily on cloud processing.
Perhaps the most surprising detail in the spec sheet is how Beelink handles system storage. Out of the box, the base model relies on 512GB of soldered UFS 3.1 flash storage rather than a traditional NVMe SSD. While UFS 3.1 is ubiquitous in smartphones and handhelds for its low power draw and tiny footprint, seeing it as the primary boot drive on a Windows 11 Pro desktop is a rare sight.
This controversial decision to go with a slower baseline storage option was likely dictated by rising memory and storage market costs, but Beelink softening the blow with internal expansion options is a welcome sight. For power users needing faster speeds or expanded capacity, the system includes two full-sized M.2 2280 slots inside—one PCIe 4.0 x2 and one PCIe 4.0 x1—supporting up to 4TB per slot.
System memory follows a similar split personality. Buyers looking for an out-of-the-box configuration can stick with the base soldered 16GB LPDDR5 5600MT/s setup, while those wanting headroom for heavy multitasking can opt for models with dual DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB.
Where the EQi really pushes into prosumer territory is its IO panel and internal layout.
Despite measuring a compact 126 x 126 x 44.2mm, Beelink managed to squeeze a built-in 85W power supply unit directly inside the chassis. That means no bulky external power brick dangling off the wall—just a standard AC power cord straight into the back of the unit.
Around the back, networking and display options are unusually stacked for an entry-level box. High-speed networking is led by a heavy-duty 10GbE RJ45 port paired alongside a standard 2.5GbE port, making the machine an immediate candidate for local homelabs, private NAS routing, or home firewalls. Expansion is equally robust thanks to dual Thunderbolt 4 ports offering 40Gbps bandwidth for external storage or docks, alongside native triple-display support when paired with the built-in HDMI port.
Beelink is positioning the EQi as a near-silent desktop box. Thanks to the thermal efficiency of the 18A process node and a bottom-to-top airflow intake system, the chassis fan is rated at an ultra-quiet 32dB under load.
Pre-order shipping times are estimated at around 35 days, with Beelink confirming that orders shipped to the US, UK, and EU will not incur additional import fees. Pricing starts at an attractive $509 for the base 16GB LPDDR5 and 512GB UFS model. For European buyers, that $509 price tag includes VAT, translating to roughly €445 and making the barrier to entry for an 18A machine quite compelling.
For those requiring standard DDR5 memory expansion, stepping up to the 24GB DDR5 / 512GB storage version will set you back $659, while the top-tier 32GB DDR5 / 512GB configuration increases the price to $739.
Overall, the Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake offers a fascinating look at where low-power desktop hardware is headed: zero desk clutter, ultra-quiet operation, high-speed 10G networking, and next-gen silicon packed into a box barely larger than a stack of coasters.
