14 DAY TRIAL // The world of mini-PCs already includes several high-profile names, such as the Mac Mini, but when it comes to Linux, customers have very limited choices here.
Purism, a company that has already impressed with its Librem lineup of devices, is ready to enter the mini-PC fight with a new device called Librem Mini and supposed to offer all the benefits of its other products but packed in a smaller form factor.
So today, we’ll be providing you with a closer look at Librem Mini in a way that could help you decide whether it’s worth the money or not.
Dimensions
First of all, just how mini is this mini PC? According to Purism, the device measures 12.8cm (5.0 inches) x 12.8cm (5.0 inches) x 3.8cm (1.5 inches) and tips the scales at 1 kg (2.2 pounds).
While we don’t have a banana for scale, the Librem Mini is a little bit smaller than an Apple Mac Mini and slightly bigger than a Raspberry Pi.
So technically, despite being developed as a desktop computer, it’s really not that hard to carry it around, although it goes without saying it’s not built for such a purpose. But what it can do very well, however, is play the role of a media center, and given its dimensions and design, it’d look really good in a living room.
Technical specs
The technical specifications are without a doubt the most interesting part.
What you need to know from the very beginning is that the Librem Mini aligns with the other Purism devices, so it’s highly configurable. You can customize pretty much everything about it, aside from the processor, as all versions are powered by an Intel Core i7-8565U (Whiskey Lake) with active cooling.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-8565U (Whiskey Lake) Active (fan) Cooling |
| Graphics | Intel UHD 620 |
| Memory | DDR4 2400MHz 1.2V, 2 SO-DIMM slots Max 64GB Support |
| Storage | 1 SATA III 6GB/s SSD/HDD (7mm) 1 M.2 SSD (SATA III/NVMe x4) |
| Video | 1 HDMI 2.0 4K @ 60Hz 1 DisplayPort 1.2 4K @ 60Hz |
| USB Ports | 4 USB 3.0 2 USB 2.0 1 Type-C 3.1 |
| Audio | 3.5mm AudioJack (Mic-in & headphone out combo) |
| Networking | 1 RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN optional WiFi 802.11n (2.4/5.0 GHz) via Atheros ATH9k module |
| Bluetooth | optional Bluetooth 4.0 included in WiFi module |
| Power | 1 Powerbutton, DC-IN Jack |
| Dimensions | Width 12.8cm (5.0 in) Height 3.8cm (1.5 in) Depth 12.8cm (5 in) |
| Weight | 1 kg (2.2 lbs) |
Software
Unsurprisingly, the Librem Mini Linux PC runs PureOS, but customers can choose from four different configurations, as it follows:
- PureOS
- PureOS + USB flash drive with PureOS OEM
- PureOS + USB flash drive with PureOS Live
- PureOS + USB flash drive with Qubes OS
As far as the firmware is concerned, there are several configurations here too:
- Default (coreboot + SeaBIOS)
- PureBoot Bundle (PureBoot + Librem Key + Vault USB Drive)
- PureBoot Bundle Plus (PureBoot + Librem Key Shipped Separately + Vault USB Drive)
- PureBoot Bundle Anti-Interdiction (PureBoot Bundle Plus + Anti-Interdiction services)
Pricing
The Purism Librem Mini is available from $699, but what you need to know is that the more you upgrade the spec, the more the price itself increases.
Purism says it’d only start shipping the device when it reaches the $50,000 target goal, but given how popular its devices have become, there’s no doubt that exceeding this milestone is just a matter of days.
