Beelink EQi 304 Mini PC Review: Compact Design, Modest Gaming, and a Tough Price Tag
The Beelink EQi 304 is a compact mini PC built around Intel’s Core 3 304 processor, aiming to offer everyday desktop performance in a small and power-efficient package. While its tiny footprint and low power draw may appeal to users looking for a simple home office or media PC, its $659 price makes it harder to recommend when stronger alternatives are available for less.
In benchmark testing, the Intel Core 3 304 produced respectable entry-level results. In one Geekbench 7 run, the chip scored 2,150 points in single-core performance and 5,685 points in multi-core performance. Internal testing using Geekbench 6.7 showed higher numbers, with the processor reaching around 2,472 points in single-core and 6,708 points in multi-core performance.
These results suggest that the Beelink EQi 304 should handle basic productivity tasks well. Web browsing, office work, video streaming, light multitasking, and general Windows use should feel smooth enough for most casual users. However, the processor is not aimed at heavy content creation, demanding workloads, or serious gaming.
Gaming performance is where the Beelink EQi 304 starts to show its limits. In real-world gameplay testing, the mini PC struggled to deliver a consistent 60 FPS in Skyrim at 900p with medium graphics settings. Cyberpunk 2077, a far more demanding title, ran at roughly 30 FPS at 720p using low settings.
That makes the EQi 304 better suited for older games, lightweight indie titles, emulation, or cloud gaming rather than modern AAA releases. Users hoping for a compact gaming PC may find the performance underwhelming, especially at this price point.
One positive aspect is efficiency. Even under its heaviest gaming load, the CPU reportedly consumed only around 25W. That makes the Beelink EQi 304 a quiet and energy-conscious option for users who prioritize low power use over raw performance.
The biggest issue is value. At $659, the Beelink EQi 304 faces strong competition from other mini PCs with more powerful hardware. For example, the GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra is available for around $549 in the US and comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 7640HS processor, 32 GB of DDR5 memory, and a 512 GB PCIe Gen 3 SSD. On paper, that configuration offers significantly better performance potential for less money.
For buyers who simply want a small, efficient PC for everyday tasks, the Beelink EQi 304 may still be appealing. Its compact size, low power consumption, and capable basic performance make it suitable for home offices, classrooms, digital signage, media playback, and light computing setups.
However, for users focused on performance per dollar, the Beelink EQi 304 is difficult to justify at its current price. Unless its price drops meaningfully, shoppers may be better off considering more powerful mini PCs that offer faster processors, more memory, and stronger all-around performance for less money.
