BMAX B6 with Core i3-8109U

The BMAX B6 with the Core i3-8109U is a palm-sized office and media box that BMAX announced in August 2026. It runs a dual-core Intel chip from 2018, so it suits documents, web apps, and video, and it trails the four-core Intel N100 and N150 in multi-core benchmarks. The memory is soldered at 12GB, but a free M.2 slot takes a second SSD. BMAX also sells a different 10th-generation build under the B6 name, which has its own page. This B6 is the 8th-generation model in the dark green case.

Pros and Cons

BMAX B6 with Core i3-8109U Comparison Chart

	BMAX B6 with Core i3-8109U
Price	List Price: $249.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Version	12GB/256GB/Intel Core i3-8109U
Performance Rating	2.6
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	Dual-core 3.00 Ghz (max 3.60 Ghz) Intel Core i3-8109U
GPU	Integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics
RAM	12 GB LPDDR3 (Soldered, 1600MHz)
Internal Storage	256 GB M.2 SATA SSD
Dimensions width x length x thickness	4.4 x 4.9 x 1.3 inches (111.76 x 124.46 x 33.02 mm)
Weight	0.68 lbs (0.31 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0
Ethernet	1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps
HDMI	1 Full-Size HDMI Port
DisplayPort	1 DisplayPort (DP 1.2, 4K at 60Hz)
VGA	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3 Front: 2x USB 3.2. Rear: 2x USB 2.0
Thunderbolt Ports	No
OCuLink	No
Internal SATA Ports	No SATA ports
Card Reader	No Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo
Fanless	No
VESA Mount	Yes
In the Box	Power adapter (12V 3A), HDMI cable, VESA bracket with screws, user guide
Expandability	Memory soldered. One free M.2 2280 slot for a second SSD; BMAX quotes up to 4TB total.

Case, ports, and the free M.2 slot

The case is about 4.9 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches and weighs about 0.7 pounds, according to BMAX’s product page. The lid has a radial brushed texture in dark green with the BMAX logo, and the sides carry vent slots over a hatched grille. The front holds a reset hole, a 3.5mm headset jack, two USB 3.2 ports, and the power button. The rear has HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, two USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 12V barrel power input. A VESA bracket ships in the box, so the B6 can hang behind a monitor.

Intel rates the chip’s HDMI output at 4096 x 2304 at 30Hz and its DisplayPort output at 60Hz, so a 4K 60Hz monitor belongs on the DisplayPort and a second 4K screen on HDMI runs at 30Hz. Wireless is dual-band WiFi 5 with Bluetooth 5.0.

The 12GB of LPDDR3 memory is soldered to the board, and BMAX says it cannot be upgraded. The included 256GB drive is an M.2 2280 SATA SSD. The board has two M.2 2280 positions, one for NVMe and one that accepts SATA or NVMe, and BMAX rates them for up to 4TB in total. A fan and two copper heat pipes cool the chip, and BMAX rates the fan at 35dB.

PassMark scores against the N100 and N150

The Intel Core i3-8109U is an 8th-generation Coffee Lake chip that Intel launched in the second quarter of 2018. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, runs at 3.0GHz base and 3.6GHz boost, and is rated at 28W. Intel lists it as discontinued, and its servicing updates ended on June 30, 2025. Its graphics are Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 with 128MB of eDRAM, which decodes 4K video in hardware.

The chip scores 4,176 in PassMark’s CPU Mark. The Intel N100 scores 5,305 and the N150 scores 5,343, so the four-core N-series chips in many budget mini PCs come out ahead in multi-core work. BMAX markets the i3-8109U as faster than the N95 and N100; the PassMark figures do not support that. The i3-8109U has two cores at higher clock speeds and Iris Plus graphics with eDRAM, where the N100 and N150 have four slower cores. N150 boxes are listed in Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart.

Green Apple Online’s hands-on review

Green Apple Online, a Thai-language channel, reviewed the 12GB/256GB B6 and confirmed the Core i3-8109U in Windows. The reviewer opened the case to show the 256GB M.2 2280 drive and the empty slot for a second drive, and said the RAM cannot be changed. The box held a VESA bracket with screws, a 36W 12V 3A adapter, and one HDMI cable.

The reviewer played 4K YouTube at 60fps comfortably and also ran a 1080p 60fps clip. Facebook and Netflix ran smoothly on a single screen. The reviewer did not have two monitors or Microsoft Office on hand, so neither was tested. They said the B6 is not meant for gaming, did not recommend it for game streaming, and noted that a graphics card cannot be added. They liked BMAX Smart Recovery most. Pressing F9 at startup opens a factory reset that restores Windows to its original state, and they said many mini PCs they had reviewed do not have it.

Frequently Asked Questions