Skip to main content

New Sirius A mini PC packs a pocket-sized punch and a built-in touch display

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Backers of the Indiegogo project featuring what was billed as the “world’s most versatile mini PC,” the Sirius A and Sirius A Pro, are now finally receiving their pre-ordered units. Those who joined the list after January 20, 2018, should receive their units soon. For everyone else not involved with the Indiegogo project, the device will be sold through Dutch electronics store BCC and will likely end up listed on Newegg as well. 

Created by Ockel Computers, the Sirius A miniature PC is an amazing achievement in that it expands on your typical pocket-sized PC to include a built-in 6-inch display with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and multitouch support. The screen is backed by Intel’s four-core Atom x7-Z8750 “Cherry Trail” processor, which was released at the beginning of 2016. Overall, it only weighs 11.8 ounces and measures just 0.3 inches at its thinnest point. 

What separates the vanilla and “pro” versions is their amount of memory and storage. The Sirius A packs 4GB of LPDDR3 system memory and 64GB of storage, while the Sirius A Pro ships with 8GB of system memory and 128GB of storage. Both are sold in three color choices: Venus Gold, Mercury Grey, and Moon Silver. 

Despite the size, Ockel’s miniature PC packs plenty of connectivity options. On the 0.8-inch thick back, you’ll find two USB-A ports (5Gbps), one USB-C port (5Gbps), an HDMI 1.4a port, one DisplayPort 1.2 connector, and a Gigabit ethernet port. On the bottom are four slots covering two one-watt speakers, while a headphone jack resides on the right side of the PC. The left side plays host to a Micro SD card slot and a fingerprint scanner. 

That’s still not all. A 5MP 1080p camera, a microphone array, and an ambient light sensor reside in the display area. It also has wireless connectivity, sporting Bluetooth 4.2 and Wireless AC components. All of this compact hardware goodness is powered by a 3500mAh battery promising up to 3.5 hours of video playback. The miniature PC ships with a 12.5-watt power adapter. 

Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to Ockel, there are no fans mounted inside the miniature PC to cool the processor, but the device also can’t rely on your typical passive cooling design. To keep the chip from overheating, Ockel designed the bottom of the device using the pattern of the Canis Major constellation, where the Sirius A star just happens to reside. The bottom serves as a heat sink to dissipate the heat generated by the Intel processor without the need for a noisy fan. 

Ockel bills the Sirius A as a complete desktop in the palm of your hand. It’s based on the 64-bit release of Windows 10 Pro or Home, thus you may be better off using the Sirius A Pro model given it has more storage capacity. You can connect an external display and peripherals to create a workstation, or use the pocket-sized device to stream, transfer, and control your favorite media, services, and smart home devices. 

The Sirius A sells for $699, while the Sirius A Pro sells for $799. 

Editors' Recommendations

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
Intel’s Raptor Lake refresh prices have leaked, and hikes are on the way
An Intel processor over a dark blue background.

We're most likely just a couple of weeks away from the release date for the Intel Raptor Lake refresh, and while Intel itself hasn't said much about it, interesting tidbits of information leak out pretty frequently. Today, we got a good look at what might be the pricing of almost the entire lineup. And it looks like price increases are coming, however minor they may be.

We expected that a price hike was likely for the Raptor Lake refresh, and that's exactly what seems to be happening. As per a tip sent to VideoCardz, the majority of the 14th-Gen lineup appeared briefly at a Canadian retailer known as Canada Computers. While the CPUs weren't listed, they could be found by searching for the product names, and that gives an idea of what to expect. Keep in mind that these prices are in Canadian dollars.

Read more
These are the best mini-ITX motherboards in 2023
A Gigabyte mini-ITX motherboard with graphics at the back.

When it comes to compact, high-performance PCs, mini-ITX motherboards reign supreme. These petite powerhouses offer a compelling blend of performance, versatility, and form factor, making them the preferred choice for enthusiasts and builders who crave small, yet powerful, PC solutions.

Whether you're building a compact gaming rig, a home theater PC, or a portable workstation, selecting the right motherboard can be the cornerstone of your PC project's success. In this article, we take a look at some of the best mini-ITX motherboards on the market.

Read more
This 15-inch HP Chromebook just had its price slashed from $330 to $220
The HP 15.6-Inch Chromebook with a colorful desktop background displayed.

If you take advantage of HP laptop deals. you're sure that you'll be getting great value for money, such as with this offer for the HP Chromebook 15at. Already very affordable at its original price of $330, it's even cheaper following a $110 discount from HP that pulls its price down to just $220. You're going to have to hurry with your purchase if you don't want to miss out on this offer though, as we're not sure if it will still be online if you check back tomorrow.

Why you should buy the HP Chromebook 15at
Instead of Windows, the HP Chromebook 15at runs on Google's Chrome OS, which is essentially the Chrome browser that's reworked to serve as an operating system, as you can see in our explainer on what is a Chromebook. Chrome OS is heavily dependent on web-based apps instead of installed software, resulting in fast performance even with low-end components such as the HP Chromebook 15at's Intel Celeron N4500 processor, integrated Intel UHD Graphics, and 4GB of RAM. It also only comes with minimal storage space in a 64GB eMMC, but since you can save your files on Google Drive, this wouldn't be much of a limitation for most people.

Read more