TechRadar review: Khadas Mind Pro mini PC is fast for creative work but stingy on ports

The configuration TechRadar tested pairs an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor (16 cores, 16 threads) with 64GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 8533MT/s, a 2TB SSD and integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics, and sells direct from Khadas for $2,599. The review's price section lists a starting figure of $2,559. Optional components — the Mind Dock, Mind xPlay and Mind Graphics 2 external GPU — are sold separately and, in TechRadar's assessment, add considerably to the overall cost.

The reviewer reported that the machine handled Microsoft Office, Photoshop and Lightroom "extremely well," and that Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve proved "more usable than I had anticipated" with 4K footage shot on a GoPro Mission 1 ILS. Cyberpunk 2077 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle both ran at medium-quality settings; longer sessions brought occasional frame drops that the reviewer said did not much affect gameplay. Fans became audible under load but stayed relatively quiet.

A 7.98Wh standby battery allows the PC to hold a Windows session while it is unplugged and carried between locations. During testing the reviewer left applications open, disconnected the unit, put it in a backpack, then reconnected a monitor, mouse and keyboard at home and resumed work without reopening anything — behaviour normally associated with laptops rather than mini PCs. The design also supports the plug-in dock and eGPU modules that Khadas sells separately.

On AI workloads, the chip's Intel AI Boost NPU 5 is rated at up to 50 TOPS and draws on the 64GB of shared memory. Initial CPU-based tests with Lemonade AI handled practical local tasks, though switching between models was not always straightforward. Running the NPU with suitable models produced what the reviewer called impressive results, but choosing the right LLM manager and model took time and led the reviewer to move from Lemonade to LM Studio. TechRadar also listed "midweight local LLM" performance without the accessories among its reasons to avoid the machine.

Connectivity was the main complaint. With only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, the reviewer frequently ran out of high-speed connections when using a USB-C monitor, the power supply and external storage at the same time. For anyone using the Mind Pro as a primary desktop, TechRadar said the optional Mind Dock starts to look less like an extra and more like an essential purchase.

The review concluded that the Mind Pro is an impressive piece of engineering and shows how far mini PCs have come, while judging that it will not be the best mini PC for most users. It is not cheap, and reaching the full potential of the modular design requires further spending, but the processing power, portability and add-on options make it, in the reviewer's words, expensive but very desirable. TechRadar gave value a score of 4 out of 5.

Editor's Summary

TechRadar's review of the $2,599 Khadas Mind Pro found strong performance in Office, Adobe creative apps and medium-setting games, plus a standby battery that preserves a Windows session while the machine is carried between locations. The main drawbacks are two Thunderbolt 4 ports and add-on modules that push up the total cost, while local AI work runs better with the NPU and the right model manager than on CPU alone. The review positions the machine as a capable but costly option rather than a default choice for most mini PC buyers.