Published Feb 16, 2026, 6:00 PM EST
Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek, Joe has been writing about technology since starting his career in 2018 at KnowTechie. He's covered everything from Apple to apps and crowdfunding and loves getting to the bottom of complicated topics. In that time, he's also written for SlashGear and numerous corporate clients before finding his home at XDA in the spring of 2023.
He was the kid who took apart every toy to see how it worked, even if it didn't exactly go back together afterward. That's given him a solid background for explaining how complex systems work together, and he promises he's gotten better at the putting things back together stage since then.
The only Chrome OS devices I've seen for a while now are the Chromebooks that my kids' school sends home when it's virtual learning after heavy snowfalls. I don't remember the last time I saw a Chromebox, so I jumped at the chance when Acer offered its latest Chromebox Mini to check out.
And well, I've enjoyed my time with it, for the most part. It won't win any performance awards, and it really should have HDMI 2.0 outputs so it's not limited to 30 FPS at 4K, but for basic browsing and anything else you can do in Chrome, it's all most people will need. The N4500 CPU is sluggish, but I've never understood the need for anything faster to run Chrome OS, it's a waste, and all it does is drive the price to unsustainable levels. So, if you need a basic box for browsing or running a digital display, this affordable Acer is worth a look.
About this review: Acer loaned XDA the Chromebox Mini used for this review, and had no input into its contents.
7/10
CPU Celeron N4500
Graphics Intel UHD Graphics
Memory Up to 16GB LPDDR4X
Storage Up to 128GB eMMC
The Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 is a basic box of brains for web browsing and other light activities, running on Chrome OS. It won't win any performance awards, but it's good enough for anyone who wants an internet-ready device without spending too much.
Pros & Cons
- Affordable
- Chrome OS is snappy and hard to break
- Plenty of ports
- HDMI 1.4b only
- Lacking in performance
Price, specs, and availability
The Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 is available now from Acer or various big-box stores. Pricing starts at $280, which gets you 8GB of RAM, 64GB of eMMC storage, and an open m.2 slot for more SSD storage if you want. I'm not sure anyone should do this given SSD pricing, but it's nice to have an option for more storage without resorting to USB drives.
It's worth noting that the Acer CXM2 will replace this model in the lineup at some point this year, bringing Wi-Fi 7 and updated Intel silicon. You don't need Wi-Fi 7 on a basic device, and really, the best thing to know about the replacement is that it'll make the CXM1 more affordable when the inevitable price cuts occur.
CPU Celeron N4500
Graphics Intel UHD Graphics
Memory Up to 16GB LPDDR4X
Storage Up to 128GB eMMC
Ports 2x HDMI, audio jack
Display No
Operating System ChromeOS
Dimension 6.3 x 4.7 x 1.3 inches
USB Ports 5x USB-A 5 Gbps, 1x USB-C 5 Gbps
Networking Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5
PSU 65 W PSU
RAID No
Speakers No
Camera No
Fans None
What I liked about the Acer Chromebox Mini
I love mini PCs
The Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 is a VESA-mountable mini PC that runs Chrome OS and has a modest set of internals. Having a low-power CPU is a net benefit here, as the CXM1 is passively cooled and therefore silent when used. It comes with a bracket and Velcro strips to mount it out of the way, keeping the external power brick out of the way as well.
Having a low-power CPU is a net benefit here, as the CXM1 is passively cooled and therefore silent when used.
You also get an excellent selection of ports, including five USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, two HDMI 1.4b outputs, USB-C, and an audio combo jack. The USB-C port also supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, bringing the total to three displays. And you'll be able to get by if you limit yourself to a single web app at a time, or maybe a couple of browser tabs for research.
Related
I turned this budget-friendly SBC into a powerful Chromebox
You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to run ChromeOS
What I didn't like about the Acer Chromebox Mini
A lack of performance holds it back
The Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 is not a powerful device. I know I keep saying it, but if I don't, someone will pick one up and be disappointed by what it can't do. Not having 4K60 support due to HDMI 1.4b limitations is the most disappointing thing here, although most browser-based streaming services will be limited to 1080p on Chrome OS anyway.
You also get an excellent selection of ports
Acer intended this device to be used for digital signboards, which explains lots of display outputs and the lackluster CPU. But it's honestly fine for basic use, if that's all you need.
Related
Should you buy the Acer Chromebox Mini?
You should buy the Acer Chromebox Mini if:
- You want a budget device for homework
- You don't need the portability of a laptop
- You do most of your computing inside a browser anyway
You should NOT buy the Acer Chromebox Mini if:
- You want to play games
- You need graphics or video editing suites
- You do literally anything other than browse the web or use web apps
I love mini PCs, and the simplicity of Chrome OS, and the Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 ticks enough boxes on both counts to be a decent device. It's compact, fanless, and has plenty of connectivity options, but struggles with anything more demanding than basic web browsing.
I love mini PCs, and the simplicity of Chrome OS, and the Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 ticks enough boxes on both counts to be a decent device.
If that's all you need, or if you want a low-power, low-maintenance device for a business setting, then the Chromebox Mini CXM1 is worth checking out. Keep an eye out for the CXM2's retail release, and you might be able to score a bigger bargain.
CPU Celeron N4500
Graphics Intel UHD Graphics
Memory Up to 16GB LPDDR4X
Storage Up to 128GB eMMC
English (US) · 
