New Lenovo ThinkCentre mini PC launches with 16GB RAM and Intel Lunar Lake, starting at $1,179

Lenovo has quietly refreshed its ThinkCentre Neo 50q Tiny PC in the US with Intel Lunar Lake. Previously available with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X1-26-100 processor, the 1-liter mini PC now offers an Intel alternative in the same ultra-compact form factor. Pricing starts at $1,179 in the US, and it's available in two configurations, both with 16GB of soldered LPDDR5X-8533 RAM.

To that end, the base configuration comes with the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, an efficient 8-core processor with clock speeds of 3.5 GHz to 4.5 GHz, a 40 TOPS NPU for local AI tasks, and Intel Arc 130V integrated graphics. Granted, it's a lower-end option, but it should still outperform the Snapdragon variant due to its higher clock speeds.

Those needing more performance can step up to the Core Ultra 7 256V configuration. It retains the same 8-core design but offers higher clock speeds, a faster NPU, and more capable Arc 140V graphics. It also doubles the onboard SSD from 512GB to 1TB.

Aside from the processor, the rest of the specifications remain unchanged. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, a 10Gbps USB-C port, a 10Gbps USB-A port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack on the front. Around the back are four additional USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and Gigabit Ethernet. The mini PC measures 1.44 × 7.05 × 7.2 inches (36.5 × 179 × 182.9 mm) and weighs 5.27 lbs.

As for pricing, buyers in the US can purchase the ThinkCentre Neo 50q Gen 6 (Intel) directly from Lenovo for $1,179 for the Core Ultra 5 226V model and $1,619 for the Core Ultra 7 256V configuration.