Acemagic Retro X5 mini PC looks like an NES but sports AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX and gaming optimizations

The Retro X5 is a new mini PC with a retro design and focus on emulation (Image source: Acemagic)

The Retro X5 is a new mini PC with a very obvious design inspiration. It will certainly deliver significantly higher performance than an NES, and it might be particularly well suited for emulating older games.

Silvio Werner (translated by Enrico Frahn), Published 01/02/2026 🇩🇪

Mini PC Gaming Retro

The Acemagic Retro X5 is a new mini PC that pretty obviously resembles the Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as the NES. That said, it should deliver much more performance thanks to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. While the NES is clocked at a mere 1.8 MHz, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 comes with a clock speed of up to 5.1 GHz, 12 CPU cores and an NPU.

The Acemagic Retro X5 is also intended for playing retro games. According to the manufacturer, RetroPlay Box provides an all-in-one software solution, which probably sports a dedicated user interface with emulators, similar to what is known from gaming handhelds. In practice, users only need to load ROMs onto this mini PC.

According to Acemagic, RetroPlay Box will be continuously developed further and is set to receive AI features, which are not just limited to gaming recommendations. Comparable AI features are offered by Anbernic, and some more or less intriguing possibilities involve AI based translations, which could be particularly useful for games without localizations for Western markets. Gameplay assistance would also be possible. These features should use the aforementioned NPU that’s integrated into the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, meaning gamers would not have to rely on cloud services.

Either way, Acemagic has not revealed a release date, pricing or the full technical specifications of this upcoming mini PC. The released images only show two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port and a headphone jack on the front of the device.

For a possible retro gaming alternative that’s already available, check out the Ayaneo AM01 on Amazon.

Source(s)

Acemagic

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Editor of the original article: Silvio Werner - Senior Tech Writer - 16184 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2017

I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.

contact me via: silvio39191, LinkedIn

Translator: Enrico Frahn - Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer - 6009 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021

My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.

contact me via: LinkedIn

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