Radxa Palmshell SLiM X4L is a low-cost, ultrathin mini PC powered by an Intel N100 Alder Lake-N SoC, equipped with 8GB to 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and a 128GB to 1TB NVMe SSD, and with a design that somewhat reminds me of the MeLE Quieter4C fanless mini PC.
It’s also an update of the Palmshell SLiM X2L based on the Radxa X2L SBC powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core Gemini Lake Refresh processor and the X4L features the exact same port layout with two USB ports on the side, a USB-C port for power, a low-profile Ethernet RJ45 port, two more USB 3.2 Type-A ports on the rear panel, two HDMI outputs, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock.
Palmshell SLiM X4L specifications:
- SoC – Intel Processor N100
- CPU – Quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo)
- GPU – 24EU Intel HD Graphics @ up to 750 MHz
- 6W TDP
- System Memory – 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR5 (4,800 MT/s)
- Storage
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB 2280 NVMe SSD via M.2 M-Key socket
- 32GB eMMC flash with Roobi OS
- Video Output – 2x HDMI 2.0 ports up to 4K @ 60 Hz
- Audio – 3.5mm headphone jack with microphone input; digital audio via HDMI
- Connectivity
- 2.5Gbps Ethernet (RJ45) port
- WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 via
Intel AX210 M.2 moduleAW-XB547NF (RTL8852) M.2 module.
- USB – 3x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 2x USB 2.0 Type-A ports
- Misc
- Power and Recovery buttons
- Status LED
- Kensington lock
- 7000 RPM PWM fan for cooling
- Power Supply – 12V/3A via USB-C port (USB PD support)
- Dimensions – TBD; Note: the SBC should be 155 x 80 x 10 mm (same dimensions as X2L)
Besides the more recent N100 CPU, the Palmshell SLiM X4L features higher-bandwidth and higher-capacity memory (LPDDR5-4800 vs LPDDR4-2400), 2.5GbE and WiFi 6 connectivity instead of GbE and WiFi 5, and the HDMI ports support up to 4Kp60 resolution. Some X2L features like a Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU controlling a 40-pinGPIO header are not shown in the X4L specifications, but the photo above implies those might still be there. Maybe it will be promoted in the future if Radxa sells the X4L as an SBC instead of a mini PC.
The Palmshell SLiM X4L ships in four RAM/storage configurations namely 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB, and 32GB/1TB. The package includes a VESA mount bracket, but apparently no power adapter, so you’d have to bring your own 12V/3A or USB PD adapter since the company probably wanted to lower the computer price that way.
Since it’s an x86 platform a wide range of operating systems will be supported out of the box, and Radxa lists Windows 11, Ubuntu 22.04/24.04, OpenWrt, Debian, pfSense, Arch Linux, etc… Bret Weber also got an early sample which he quickly tested it with a few operating systems and early benchmarks reveal the performance may be slightly better than for the Radxa X4 Raspberry Pi-size SBC based on the same N100 SoC.
The Palmshell SLiM X4L can be purchased on Arace and AliExpress starting at $135 for the 8GB/128GB model. I understand it does not come with any licensed software, but you can install your favorite OS by yourself or through Roobi OS. It’s an advantage if you’re not using Windows 11 and already have a USB-C power adapter supply, since for instance, the SLiM X4L 8GB/256GB goes for $136.86 on AliExpress, but if you need a complete solution with Windows 11 and all accessories, then a device like the GEEKOM Mini Air12 Lite is not much more expensive at $179.10. Additional details may also be found on the product page.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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The price is indeed quite good for the specs. It could be sufficient for most office PCs or to turn a screen into a browser. Even for small infrastructure servers (proxies etc) it can make sense. However I think you can’t stack them due to the fan opening.
@TomCubie WTF is this garbage?
Mele Quiter 4C rip-off.
With a fan to make noise and collect dust.
Without a fan you are probably leaving a lot of performance on the table with the N100. It could use 20 Watts.
“Some X2L features like a Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU controlling a 40-pinGPIO header are not shown in the X4L specifications, but the photo above implies those might still be there.”
It is not a photo, but rather a very bad CADimage, which can be seen from the ‘SSD’ and how it is not installed, but rather just an image pasted onto another image.
The RP2040 is on the X4L, just the GPIO header is not installed inside the case.
Hi Jean-Luc,
I can’t tell from the pictures or their website whether the case is made of metal or plastic. The fin design and color suggests metal but you can’t be sure at these prices.
My vague impression was that MeLe Quieter case was made of plastic, which seems like a missed opportunity and probably hobbling performance.
The top part of the case is plastic and the bottom piece is metal.
The tech spec on the product page says: 2x HDMI 2.0 up to dual 4Kp30 support
But in the article it’s written 4Kp60. What is it now?
I talked to Radxa about that one, and they told me it was 4Kp60. The 4Kp30 is a mistake in the specs, and they will be updating it.
Radxa told me they switched from the Intel AX210 to the AW-XB547NF (RTL8852) wireless module because the lead time for the AX210 was too long.
@Tom Cubie WTF is this garbage rip-off of Mele Quiter 4C ?
Putting a fan on Intel N100..
I assume the wifi is upgradeable to wifi 7?