GMK NucBox2 Intel Core i5 4K Mini PC Reviews--Likes and Dislikes

GMK NucBox2 Intel Core i5 4K Mini PC Reviews--Likes and Dislikes

 

We, GMK, first presented our Mini PC--the Intel Cerelon J4125-powered NucBox through Indiegogo on August 2020, and in April 2021, we released an upgraded version of Intel Core i5 8259u NucBox 2, then in around June, the chip has been upgraded to i5 8279u.

 So how's this NucBox2 4K Mini PC performing in the tests? Let's find out.

Editor RICH EDMONDS fromWindowscentral addressed it Small and mighty, Impressive desktop performance in a small package and gave it a 4.5 stars rating. 

Pros

  • Compact design
  • Good-performing 8th Gen Intel CPU
  • Strong port selection
  • Upgradable internals

You should buy this if ...

  • You're on a tighter budget
  • You want a small form factor PC
  • You need a small PC for general productivity
  • You want to create your own router

 Editor Desire Athow from techradar also rated it 4.5 stars and said it's a very affordable, yet capable personal computer with few surprises. And their final verdict is 

OUR VERDICT

The GMK NucBox 2 is a different beast to the original NucBox but while it is significantly more expensive, it focuses on a different audience that wants a far more powerful solution. GMK succeeds in delivering a capable allrounder.

Editor Allen Ngo from notebookcheck.net sees our NucBox 2 4K mini pc as the Intel NUC alternative and it's Reasonably Priced with Good Upgradeability. 

 

Verdict

In review: GMK NucBox 2 KB2. Test unit provided by GMK
In review: GMK NucBox 2 KB2. Test unit provided by GMK

The NucBox 2 isn't trying to be the smallest mini PC or even the fastest. Instead, it's a no-frills mid-range offering with a decent Core i5 CPU, Iris Plus GPU for dual 4K60 support, and just enough RAM and storage to get by for HTPC purposes. Fan noise is quieter than the Intel NUC as well especially when running higher loads.

Unlike barebone kits that cost about the same, the NucBox 2 comes with everything you need to get started and with room for easy expansion should the need ever arise.

The reliance on a proprietary AC adapter plug instead of a more standard USB-C solution makes the NucBox 2 less universal. We would love to see more USB-C ports on future models or even an integrated PSU to avoid an external AC adapter altogether. Such a move would really one-up the competition where external adapters can sometimes be just as large as the mini PCs themselves.

 

Reviewer Eileen Brown from ZDNet has also taken a look at the NucBox2 4K mini PC and says that it has More powerful, more ports, more performance. And she rated this mini pc 8 out of 10 excellent.

PROS

  • Two HDMI ports
  • Extra USB ports at front
  • Quiet fan

"All in all, the GMK NucBox2 is a superb mini PC with a host of potential use cases at home or work. Use it to download box sets to watch offline (it's really portable), as an image storage system, or to give extra oomph to your favorite games."

If you are interested in reading the full review, just click through the website. Or if you prefer the video review, check out the review from ETA PRIME, Techtablets.

Price and Availability

 NucBox2 Intel Core i5 8279u 4K Mini PC is now available at our official webiste with $80 off discount, use the code $80OFF-KB2BTS at checkout, and price would come down to $379.99.

Besides our website, you can also purchase this mini pc throught Amazon.com, Amazon.co.jp, Banggood, Aliexpress etc.