At $429, the Beelink EQi13 Pro mini PC brings Intel’s 13th-Gen H-series processors into a compact desktop chassis, complete with dual M.2 NVMe slots, dual HDMI 2.0 ports, and an internal 85W power supply—eliminating the external brick cluttering desks. Our hands-on examination confirms that this Windows 11 Pro machine delivers snappy everyday performance and meaningful expandability, but its lack of Thunderbolt, USB4, or multi-gigabit Ethernet forces buyers to weigh tradeoffs carefully.

What’s Inside: Specs at a Glance

Beelink offers the EQi13 Pro in two processor options: the Intel Core i5-13500H (12 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.7 GHz, Intel Iris Xe graphics) or the Core i7-13620H (10 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.9 GHz, Intel UHD Graphics). The review sample arrived with the i5 variant, 32 GB of dual-channel DDR4‑3200 memory, and a 1 TB Phison-based PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD. A second M.2 2280 slot stands ready for an additional drive, supporting up to 4 TB total.

Port selection is generous: two HDMI 2.0 outputs (4K @ 60 Hz), one 10 Gbps USB-C (data only, no DisplayPort Alt Mode), three 10 Gbps USB 3.0 Type-A, one USB 2.0 Type-A (watch out for port labeling—some units have identical-looking connectors but different speeds), a 3.5mm audio jack, and dual Gigabit Ethernet. Wireless connectivity comes via an Intel AX200 module delivering Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The retail box includes the mini PC itself, a US power cord (since the PSU lives inside), an HDMI cable, a quick-start guide, and a mysterious “Hello” card. A protective film covering the unit bears a curious warning about bypassing network setup during Windows OOBE, though our sample handily skipped this step without issue.

Design-wise, the EQi13 Pro is understated—a silver metal shell measuring 128 x 128 x 46 mm and weighing roughly 650 g. Front I/O offers a USB 3.0 port, audio jack, USB-C, power button with white LED, and a CMOS clear pinhole. The rear panel crams in two USB 3.0, two HDMI, one USB 2.0, dual RJ‑45 jacks, and the AC inlet. Passive cooling intakes on the bottom and top vents on the rear hint at the internal cooling solution.

Teardown: Upgradability with a Catch

Popping the bottom cover is straightforward: peel off four sticky rubber feet, remove four screws, and gently lift. Inside, you’ll find two SODIMM slots (occupied by 16 GB modules), two M.2 2280 slots (one occupied), an Intel AX200NGW Wi‑Fi card, and the integrated 85W power supply. Beelink wisely slaps a warning over the power supply—do not open it.

User-serviceable upgrades to RAM and storage are possible, but it’s not entirely tool-free. Removing SSD heatsinks requires loosening several screws and a hexagonal standoff. Still, for most buyers, adding a second NVMe drive or swapping RAM is straightforward enough. The preinstalled SSD carries a Phison PS5021‐21‑48 controller, aligning with modern Gen4 speed expectations.

First Boot and Windows 11 Pro Experience

After connecting a keyboard/mouse dongle and an HDMI monitor, the system booted without drama. Windows 11 Pro 24H2 setup proceeded normally over Wi‑Fi 6, and the desktop appeared with the machine name “EQ.” System Information confirmed the Core i5-13500H (1.9 GHz base, boosting as needed), 32 GB RAM, and the dedicated NVMe drive.

Out-of-box drivers handled networking and display output correctly. Beelink’s preloaded Windows build is clean, with no bloatware beyond the standard Microsoft footprint. Enthusiasts planning a Linux dual-boot can expect solid compatibility from the Intel AX200 and integrated graphics, but we recommend updating kernels and firmware first.

Performance Expectations and Real-World Use

H-series chips from the Raptor Lake family give the EQi13 Pro a decisive edge over Atom-class or U-series mini PCs. For office productivity, multi-tab browsing, 4K video playback, and light content creation, performance feels crisp. The dual NVMe slots are a boon for storage-hungry workflows or scratch disks.

However, sustained heavy loads will push the compact cooling system. Independent testing suggests thermal throttling may occur during long renders or AVX workloads, so professionals relying on continuous compute should temper expectations. The dual gigabit Ethernet ports advertise link aggregation and soft-routing capabilities, but they top out at 1 Gbps—fine for most homes and offices, yet a bottleneck for NAS or virtualization servers craving 2.5/10 GbE.

Strengths and Tradeoffs to Consider

What’s to like
- Competitive $429 price (i5 model) with 13th-gen H-series power
- Dual M.2 Gen4 slots enable large, fast storage expansions
- Internal PSU means no power brick dangling behind the desk
- Dual HDMI and dual Ethernet are handy for multi-monitor setups and simple networking experiments
- Snappy Windows 11 Pro experience right out of the box

Where it falls short
- No Thunderbolt or USB4; the front USB-C is data-only
- USB 2.0 port on the rear can confuse users who plug a fast device there accidentally
- Gigabit Ethernet only—no multi-gigabit option
- Cooling may struggle with prolonged, heavy multi-threaded tasks
- One-year warranty and direct-to-consumer support may not satisfy enterprise buyers

If your daily workload revolves around Office, web apps, media consumption, and light creative tools, the EQi13 Pro delivers excellent value under $500. The dual M.2 slots let you keep a fast OS drive and a secondary project disk without external clutter. It’s also a tidy digital signage or kiosk machine thanks to two HDMI ports.

On the other hand, if you rely on Thunderbolt peripherals, need a USB-C monitor, or demand high-speed local networking for file servers, you’ll want to look at pricier alternatives like Minisforum’s UM series or Intel NUCs with Thunderbolt. For that same audience, the EQi13 Pro’s USB 2.0 port is a minor but real annoyance—be prepared to mark it clearly if you work with fast external SSDs.

What’s Next

Our deep dive confirms that Beelink’s specification claims hold water: the hardware matches the marketing, and Windows 11 runs smoothly. In the next installments of this review series, we plan to benchmark the EQi13 Pro under sustained Windows loads, measure thermals and fan noise, and test Linux compatibility with Ubuntu 24.04. Those results will complete the picture for enthusiasts weighing this machine against the growing field of compact PCs.