ECS showed up to CES 2026 with a clear message: small desktops don’t have to be one-size-fits-all. The company expanded its Liva Z mini PC family with three new models designed around different needs, from ultra-compact, low-power everyday machines to a more capable option built for users who want stronger multi-core performance in a tiny footprint.
The new lineup includes the Liva Z4, Liva Z4F, and Liva Z6 Plus. Across these models, ECS is mixing Intel’s efficient Twin Lake-based processors with an AMD Ryzen option based on Zen 4 “Hawk Point,” aiming to cover home users, office deployments, and business scenarios like kiosks and point-of-sale systems.
Liva Z4 focuses on compact size and essential performance
The ECS Liva Z4 is the smallest and most budget-friendly style of mini PC in the announcement, built around the Intel Processor N150. It’s a quad-core, four-thread chip intended for lightweight workloads such as web browsing, document work, and simple business tasks.
Despite its tiny size, the Z4 still offers a practical internal setup. It includes one SO-DIMM memory slot supporting up to 16 GB of DDR4-2666, plus an M.2 2280 slot for SSD storage. Connectivity is also aimed at everyday convenience, with a mix of modern and legacy ports: two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi‑Fi 5, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort, and a standard audio jack. That combination makes it easy to use with dual monitors and common peripherals without resorting to dongles.
Liva Z4F upgrades CPU options and jumps to DDR5
For buyers who want more performance while staying in a small mini PC form factor, ECS is also introducing the Liva Z4F. This model is still compact, but it’s physically larger than the Z4 (around 0.7 liters versus 0.33 liters). The reason for the size increase is simple: it’s designed to support notably stronger Intel processors, going up to the Intel Core 3 N355, an octa-core chip.
The Z4F also moves to newer memory technology, featuring a single DDR5 SO-DIMM slot, along with an M.2 2280 slot for storage. Wireless connectivity is also improved with support for Wi‑Fi 6E. ECS hasn’t finalized the full product listing details yet, so the complete port selection hasn’t been confirmed.
Liva Z6 Plus targets higher performance with AMD Ryzen 7
At the top of the newly revealed group is the Liva Z6 Plus, a mini PC built around AMD’s Ryzen 7 H 255 APU from the Hawk Point family. With eight Zen 4 CPU cores and 16 threads, it’s positioned for users who want more headroom for heavier multitasking and moderately demanding workloads, while still keeping the footprint small enough for tight desks, media setups, or business installations.
Even though the official product details are still incomplete, the revealed hardware configuration points to a more expandable and capable design than the entry-level models. The Z6 Plus is expected to include two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 slot for fast SSDs, an M.2 2230 slot for Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth cards, plus faster networking via 2.5GbE Ethernet. The chassis volume is listed at about 0.6 liters, keeping it firmly in the compact mini PC category.
Price and release timing still pending
ECS hasn’t shared pricing or availability for the Liva Z4, Z4F, or Z6 Plus yet. With CES announcements, it’s common for full retail details to arrive later, especially as configurations and regional launches are finalized. If you’re shopping for a mini PC in this category, it may be worth keeping an eye on official updates soon, since these models cover a wide range of performance levels—from efficient, low-watt daily computing to a higher-powered Ryzen-based option for users who want extra speed in a small box.
