Windows 11 Power in Your Palm: Beelink GTR9 Pro Review That Redefines Mini PCs

Have you ever imagined holding the power of a full desktop workstation in your hand? That’s exactly what the Beelink GTR9 Pro tries to do. It’s compact, beautifully engineered, and built around AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, which makes it one of the most advanced mini PCs you can buy in 2025.

When I first heard about it, I thought it was another tiny box with big promises and small results. But after using it for a week, I can confidently say the GTR9 Pro is a different breed. It’s not just about power; it’s about balance, design, and intelligence packed into a machine small enough to disappear behind your monitor.

Let’s dive into everything it offers and see if it truly deserves its growing reputation as the best compact AI-powered mini PC of 2025.

Design and Build Quality

The first thing you notice about the Beelink GTR9 Pro is its sleek metallic body. Crafted from a solid aluminum alloy, the chassis feels premium and sturdy. It looks almost like a downsized version of Apple’s Mac Studio, but with sharper edges and a more industrial touch.

The matte silver finish resists fingerprints, and the perforated air vents around the sides give it a functional yet elegant appearance. Beelink clearly wanted it to look professional enough for an office but stylish enough for a gaming desk.

On the front, you get neatly placed USB ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a subtle power button with a circular blue glow. The back side hosts a sea of connectivity ports, cooling vents, and dual 10GbE LAN ports that hint this device means serious business.

What’s most impressive is how quiet it stays. The dual-fan vapor chamber cooling system does an excellent job keeping thermals under control. During light tasks, it remains almost silent, and under heavy loads like 3D rendering or AI inference, it produces only a soft airflow sound instead of a distracting whine.

This design isn’t flashy. It’s functional, mature, and built to last.

Specifications and Hardware Overview

The GTR9 Pro’s hardware reads like a desktop enthusiast’s dream list. Here’s what’s under the hood:

Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16 cores, 32 threads, Zen 5 architecture)
Graphics: Integrated Radeon 8060S GPU
AI Engine: Dedicated NPU capable of up to 120 TOPS performance
Memory: Up to 128GB LPDDR5X-8000 RAM (soldered)
Storage: Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots supporting up to 4TB SSD
Network: Dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports
Wireless: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
Display Support: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and USB4 for up to 4 monitors
Cooling System: Dual-fan vapor chamber with smart thermal management

That’s a serious lineup for a device that’s barely bigger than a sandwich. It’s hard to believe such performance lives inside a compact shell weighing less than two kilograms.

Real-World Performance

Numbers are fine, but what matters is how it performs in daily use. I tested the GTR9 Pro across three different categories: general productivity, creative workloads, and AI applications.

1. Productivity and Multitasking

In everyday tasks like web browsing, coding, and video calls, the system felt incredibly smooth. I opened over 30 browser tabs, ran Visual Studio Code, played 4K YouTube videos, and still had resources to spare. The 16-core processor chews through multitasking without effort.

The boot speed is almost instant, thanks to PCIe 4.0 SSD support, and switching between applications feels instantaneous. If you use tools like Photoshop, Excel, or Notion, this PC handles them as easily as a full tower build.

2. Creative and Media Workloads

I edited a 4K short film in DaVinci Resolve to test how well the integrated GPU could handle creative workloads. The playback was smooth, rendering was quick, and color grading didn’t stutter. Of course, it’s not a replacement for a workstation with a dedicated RTX or Radeon GPU, but it’s surprisingly close considering the size and power draw.

The GTR9 Pro can comfortably handle photo editing, 3D modeling, and even game development projects. If you’re a content creator or filmmaker who travels often, this mini PC could become your best friend.

3. AI and Machine Learning Tasks

This is where the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 really flexes its muscles. The dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) allows it to handle AI-based tasks locally without cloud dependence.

I ran small and medium AI models for image recognition, speech transcription, and text generation using ONNX Runtime and local inference frameworks. The results were remarkable. Processing was fast, and power consumption stayed well within limits.

For developers, this opens up possibilities for testing AI models, running local LLMs, or building AI-powered apps on a compact workstation.

Gaming and Graphics Experience

Now, can you game on this thing? The answer is yes, but with some expectations.

The integrated Radeon 8060S GPU is capable enough to run esports and mid-tier titles at 1080p with good frame rates. Games like Valorant, Apex Legends, and Forza Horizon 4 ran smoothly between 70 and 100 FPS at medium settings.

More demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2 will need lower settings, but they’re still playable.

You can also connect an external GPU via the USB4 port if you ever want to transform this mini PC into a full gaming beast. That’s another layer of flexibility many compact systems simply don’t offer.

Connectivity and Expansion

Beelink deserves serious credit for not cutting corners on connectivity. The GTR9 Pro offers every modern port you could hope for in 2025.

Two 10GbE LAN ports for ultra-fast data transfer
USB4 for display, charging, and high-speed data
HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 for multi-monitor setups
SD 4.0 card reader for photographers and creators
WiFi 7 for low-latency wireless performance
Multiple USB 3.2 ports for peripherals

You can connect up to four monitors simultaneously, making it a dream setup for developers and traders. File transfers over 10GbE LAN are lightning fast — perfect for professionals handling huge video files or server backups.

Thermals, Noise, and Power Efficiency

One of the biggest challenges with compact PCs is heat management, but Beelink’s engineers pulled it off brilliantly.

Even under full stress tests, CPU temperatures remained below 85°C. The vapor chamber cooling spreads heat evenly, preventing hot spots. The fans are smartly tuned; they only ramp up when necessary.

In idle mode, the GTR9 Pro sips just 25 watts of power, and during heavy workloads it peaks around 130 to 140 watts. That’s a fraction of what traditional desktops consume for similar performance.

This balance between performance and efficiency makes it perfect for home labs, 24/7 servers, or AI test environments where reliability matters more than brute force.

Who Should Buy the Beelink GTR9 Pro

Let’s be real — this mini PC is not for everyone. If your usage is limited to web browsing, Netflix, or typing documents, you’ll never need this much horsepower. But for specific users, it’s a game changer.

You should buy the GTR9 Pro if you are:

A software developer or AI engineer running simulations or model training
A video editor or content creator who needs a portable workstation
A trader or analyst using multiple monitors and real-time data streams
A server enthusiast setting up NAS or self-hosted projects
A tech professional who values power, portability, and silence

For anyone who works with data, automation, or creative workflows, this is an ideal all-round machine that saves space without sacrificing strength.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Massive performance in a compact body
Ryzen AI Max+ chip handles both productivity and AI workloads
Excellent cooling and low noise
Dual 10GbE LAN and USB4 connectivity
Premium metal design
Power efficient and quiet even under load

Cons:

RAM is soldered and not upgradeable
Integrated GPU limits heavy gaming potential
Fan noise is noticeable under long heavy sessions
Slightly premium pricing for the top configuration

Final Verdict

The Beelink GTR9 Pro isn’t just another mini PC. It’s a signal that desktop performance no longer has to live inside a bulky tower.

It manages to deliver workstation-level power, AI readiness, and quiet operation in a form factor smaller than a lunchbox. Whether you are developing AI models, editing 4K videos, or running multiple virtual machines, this tiny device will surprise you with how much it can handle.

I’ve used dozens of compact PCs, but very few have impressed me the way the GTR9 Pro did. It’s fast, reliable, intelligently designed, and feels built for the future.

If you’re looking for a small form factor PC that doesn’t compromise, the Beelink GTR9 Pro is one of the best you can buy in 2025.