Our Verdict
The Geekom A9 Max is an AMD-powered sibling to the previously tested, Intel-chipped IT15, and it offers similarly refreshing performance for an extremely compact mini-PC. It's decked out in ports, offering great connectivity, and the CPU performance, thanks to 32GB of RAM, belies its sub-£1000 price point. Whether you go for this one or the IT15 ultimately comes down to personal preferences, as it produces almost identical performance across the board, including its iGPU-induced graphics limitations, which isn't entirely surprising for such a compact PC. In all other respects, it's a great value proposition, especially for photo-editors who are tight on space.
For
- Great CPU specs
- 2TB of storage? In this economy?!
- COVERED in ports
Against
- iGPU limits video/3D performance
- Not that different from the IT15
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The Geekom A9 Max squeezes AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 into a truly tiny chassis, promising desktop-class grunt and modern I/O in a package that disappears behind your monitor. It’s compact, well-made, and punchy where it counts (especially for photo editing, as I've found out in my testing), though its integrated GPU and close resemblance to Geekom’s Intel-chipped IT15 mean it won’t astonish everyone.
And with the GT1 Mega offering the same 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, choosing which one should go on our list of the best computers for video editing comes down to personal taste, I guess? I've been using the A9 Max for work and (light) play, and just like the previous two models, I'm mostly impressed. Read on for our full Geekom A9 Max review.
Key specifications
CPU: | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
NPU: | AI Boost, 80 TOPS |
Graphics: | AMD Radeon 890M |
Memory: | 32GB (expandable to 128GB) |
Storage: | 2TB SSD |
Ports: | 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB-C 4.0 w/ DP support, 5x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm headset jack, 1x DC in, 2x 2.5G RJ45, 1x Kensington lock, 1x SD card 4.0 |
Wireless connectivity: | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
Dimensions: | 135 x 132 x 46.9 |
Weight: | ~610g |
Design and build
• Very compact
• Apple-inspired silver design
Geekom has kept the mini-PC formula tightly focused: a sturdy, mostly metal shell with a VESA-friendly footprint that’s small enough to vanish behind a display and robust enough to survive desk life.
When unboxing and during testing, it felt solid and reassuringly engineered; the inner frame and anti-slip feet give the sort of build confidence you want from a machine you’ll tuck away and forget until you need it.
Ports are plentiful and sensibly placed; twin USB4 Type‑C, multiple USB‑A, dual HDMI 2.1 and two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports are the highlights, so setting up multiple monitors, external drives or a network-heavy workflow is painless. The form factor is extremely compact, and it’s genuinely easy to set up out of the box.
My only petty wish: an Office/365 bundle would have sweetened the arrival experience for new buyers.
While the IT15 came in nondescript black, this model is a much more aesthetically pleasing silver, with air outlets on both sides making for a nicely textured feel. Yes, it may, erm, be inspired by the Mac mini, but hey, whatever works...
Design score: 4/5
Features
• Strong AMD internals
• Generous storage
Under the hood, the A9 Max leans into AMD’s latest Strix Point platform, pairing the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU with Radeon 890M graphics and NPU-assisted AI capabilities. Geekom pitches it as a mini-PC built for modern productivity, AI acceleration and light creative work. Memory and storage are flexible: dual-channel DDR5 SODIMMs up to 128GB and dual M.2 slots (2280 + 2230) with PCIe 4.0 support for big, fast drives. My review unit, just like the IT15 and last year's GT Mega, had 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD.
Cooling is described as IceBlast 2.0 with copper heat pipes and a high-speed fan, which stays remarkably quiet, even under heavy load. The chassis also includes business-friendly touches like Kensington lock support and a 3‑year warranty. Ports and networking are a highlight: dual USB4, dual HDMI 2.1 and Wi‑Fi 7 readiness give the A9 Max unusually modern connectivity for its size. It's very unlikely you'll need a USB dock alongside this one, which is another bit of money saved.
As previously mentioned, it comes preloaded with Windows 11, but only includes the cloud-based 365 suite of office software.
Obviously, you'll need a monitor as none is provided with it, as well as a keyboard and mouse, just like most other mini-PCs on the market.
Feature score: 4/5
Benchmark scores
We test every one of our computers using the same benchmarking software suite to give you a thorough overview of its suitability for creatives of all disciplines and levels. This includes:
• Geekbench: Tests the CPU for single-core and multi-core power, and the GPU for the system's potential for gaming, image processing, or video editing.
• Cinebench: Tests the CPU and GPU's ability to run Cinema 4D and Redshift.
• UL Procyon: Uses UL Solutions' Procyon software suite to test the system's ability for AI image generation in Stable Diffusion, and its Microsoft Office performance.
• Topaz Video AI: We use Topaz Video AI to test the system's ability to upscale video and convert video to slow-motion.
• PugetBench for Creators: We use the PugetBench for Creators benchmarking suite to test the system's ability to run several key tasks in Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve Studio, as well as its performance when encoding/transcoding video.
• ON1 Resize AI: Tests the system's ability to resize 5 photos to 200% in a batch process.
Performance
• Fantastic CPU performance
• iGPU limits 3D upside
The headline here is CPU performance: the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 delivers awe-inspiring multi-core numbers for a mini-PC at this price point, and in real-world use, the A9 Max feels especially sprightly when editing photos and running single-threaded creative tasks, as those are workloads where CPU responsiveness makes the biggest difference.
The integrated Radeon 890M does a decent job for non‑challenging games and GPU‑assisted tasks, but it’s still an iGPU, so heavy 3D work or sustained GPU rendering will hit limits you’d avoid with a discrete card. Benchmarks in broader comparisons position the A9 Max close to the enthusiast laptop class in CPU metrics, underlining how competitive the platform is versus similarly sized machines.
Thermals and sustained performance are handled well by Geekom’s cooling system: I saw stable clocks under prolonged editing sessions with no sudden throttling, though the fan can be slightly audible at high load. In short: blistering CPU for the money, sensible GPU for compact‑PC expectations, and real-world photo‑editing snappiness that will please creators on a budget.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Price
• Competitive price vs mini-PC rivals
• 10% off with code CREATIVEIT15
At the time of writing, the Geekom A9 Max costs £999 in the UK and $949.90 in the US (down from an RRP of $1,199.99).
Geekom prices the A9 Max extremely competitively for the level of silicon and I/O on offer, undercutting many small-form-factor rivals while packing in modern connectivity and a beefy CPU. For anyone who values CPU headroom and a full set of ports without paying a premium for an ultraportable, the A9 Max represents strong value.
Yes, you will need to factor in a monitor purchase too, if you don't already have a screen, but this is very much on par with or better than equivalent CPU power from a Mac mini would cost you.
Value score: 4.5/5
Who is it for?
• Creators and power users who want a tiny, well-built Windows desktop with exceptional CPU performance for photo editing and productivity
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design: | Apple-inspired looks, solid build quality, lots of ports. | 4/5 |
Features: | Strong AMD component line-up, iGPU only, but generous RAM and storage. | 4/5 |
Performance: | Great CPU, graphics limited by the form factor. | 4.5/5 |
Value: | Strong value for money. | 4/5 |
Buy it if...
- You are a photo editor looking for a compact PC
- You need a strong, future-proof productivity machine
- You already have a screen
Don't buy it if...
- You work with a lot of moving images
- You really just want a Mac mini
out of 10
The Geekom A9 Max is an AMD-powered sibling to the previously tested, Intel-chipped IT15, and it offers similarly refreshing performance for an extremely compact mini-PC. It's decked out in ports, offering great connectivity, and the CPU performance, thanks to 32GB of RAM, belies its sub-£1000 price point. Whether you go for this one or the IT15 ultimately comes down to personal preferences, as it produces almost identical performance across the board, including its iGPU-induced graphics limitations, which isn't entirely surprising for such a compact PC. In all other respects, it's a great value proposition, especially for photo-editors who are tight on space.
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