Lenovo's Chromebox Micro is finally available for pre-order! The miniature ChromeOS-powered mini-PC, first unveiled at the end of last year, has been spotted recently at B&H Photo Video. Reservations are presumably now on the way, with shipping expected in the coming months shortly.
Kiosk-Level Convenience
For those who need a refresher, the Lenovo Chromebox Micro is a mini-PC using a slimmer form factor than most set-top units. Think of power banks, but slightly larger, rather than the familiar NUC-style boxes. That diminutive size, combined with the typical fanless design (for these types of units) and its very lightweight ChromeOS, makes it a somewhat intriguing option for simpler office-like applications. For instance, digital signage and other commercial applications, where simplicity and ease of deployment are key.
During its unveiling, Lenovo also highlighted the Chromebox Micro's optional Instorescreen touchscreen display compatibility, which allows the device to be integrated directly into a screen for an ultra-clean installation. Ports will include two USB Type-C, two USB Type-A, one HDMI, one Ethernet (RJ45), and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Office Task Compatibility
Mini-PCs like the Chromebox Micro certainly can be considered complete desktop units given what their specs are theoretically made of. But, it is important to distinguish its true practicality. Since, at best, you will be getting a 2014 mid-range office setup with its specs, even with ChromeOS. Snappy enough for simple signage applications, but can be a stretch for more demanding uses in 2024.
The Intel Celeron N4500, after all, is a basic chip designed for very light computing tasks. Regular (cloud-based) office work while having a lot of tabs open would still be very viable. ChromeOS would remain fairly lightweight for the CPU to work on compared to Windows or even Linux. But it isn’t going to be as super smooth as, let’s say, a more robust (but still very entry-level) Core i3-12100 setup plus 16GB of RAM.
Especially when you consider that this unit uses 32GB of eMMC storage. Yes, good old eMMC. The bane of older phones when UFS storage was still not a thing. To be fair, it is not completely useless. If your workload only requires around 50 MB/s of data transfer speeds, then eMMC should be okay. Again, just like the kiosk-level applications that this product is heavily marketed for.
Updated Availability
Ultimately, the appeal of the Chromebox Micro will be its simplicity and ease of management thanks to ChromeOS, plus its near-invisible form factor. If you've been waiting for your chance to snag a Chromebox Micro, your wait is over. Head over to B&H, drop $389, and wait for your power bank-sized mini-PC to arrive. Just remember to keep your performance expectations in check; its convenience is for simplicity, not responsiveness.
