MINISFORUM Launches Elite Mini M2 Air 304 With Intel Wildcat Lake Starting at $263
MINISFORUM has expanded its compact PC lineup with the Elite Mini M2 Air 304, a 0.47 liter system powered by Intel's entry level Wildcat Lake platform. The new mini PC starts at $263 as a barebone configuration and combines a 5 core Intel Core 3 processor 304 with DDR5 memory support, PCIe 4.0 storage, USB4, dual 2.5 GbE networking, and triple 4K display output inside a chassis measuring only 112 × 112 × 37.15 mm.
According to MINISFORUM, the M2 Air 304 uses the Intel Core 3 processor 304 rather than a Core Ultra processor. Intel officially lists the Wildcat Lake chip with 5 cores and 5 threads, consisting of 1 Performance core and 4 Low Power Efficient cores, with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz, 6 MB of Smart Cache, 15 W processor base power, and up to 35 W maximum turbo power. MINISFORUM configures the processor at 28 W in Balanced Mode and 15 W in Silent Mode.
The integrated Intel Graphics solution is aimed primarily at office workloads, media consumption, lightweight content creation, and basic gaming rather than demanding modern titles. The processor also includes an NPU rated at up to 15 TOPS, giving the compact system some local AI acceleration capability without positioning it alongside considerably more powerful Core Ultra Series 3 AI PCs.
Memory support reaches 64 GB of DDR5 SODIMM or CSODIMM memory. MINISFORUM lists support for speeds up to 6400 MT/s, although its configured systems ship memory operating at 5600 MT/s. Storage is handled through a single M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe slot with capacities up to 2 TB, while a TF card reader provides additional removable storage expansion.
| Specification | MINISFORUM Elite Mini M2 Air 304 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 Processor 304 |
| CPU | 5 cores, 5 threads |
| Maximum Frequency | 4.3 GHz |
| NPU | Up to 15 TOPS |
| Memory | Up to 64 GB DDR5 |
| Memory Speed | Up to 6400 MT/s |
| Storage | 1 × M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Maximum SSD Capacity | 2 TB |
| Networking | Dual 2.5 GbE |
| Wireless | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Displays | Up to 3 × 4K |
| Size | 112 × 112 × 37.15 mm |
| Weight | 0.44 kg |
Connectivity is one of the stronger aspects of the system. MINISFORUM includes 2 Intel I226 V 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, 2 HDMI 2.0 outputs capable of 4K at 60 Hz, USB4 with DisplayPort 1.4 and 65 W power delivery input, USB C with DisplayPort support, multiple USB Type A ports, and a 3.5 mm audio connection. Together, the display outputs support as many as 3 simultaneous 4K monitors.
The dual 2.5 GbE configuration also gives the M2 Air 304 potential beyond a basic desktop PC. MINISFORUM specifically positions the system for network separation, lightweight router applications, local data transfer, retail systems, office deployments, and compact network nodes, where low power consumption and multiple Ethernet interfaces can be more valuable than raw CPU performance.
MINISFORUM says the system reaches approximately 32.7 dB under full load in Balanced Mode and 28.1 dB under full load in Silent Mode. Preliminary internal measurements put complete system consumption at approximately 39.4 W under full load, 11.5 W during video playback, and 9.5 W while idle. Full load CPU temperatures are listed at around 72°C to 80°C in Balanced Mode.
The M2 Air 304 also arrives as Intel's Wildcat Lake platform begins moving beyond traditional notebooks. Beelink is preparing 3 Wildcat Lake mini PCs using the same Core 3 304 processor, showing growing interest in Intel's lower cost Series 3 architecture for compact desktops, home servers, media systems, and business deployments.
Pricing begins at $263 for the barebone model, reduced from its listed $329 price. A configuration with 16 GB of DDR5 memory and a 500 GB SSD is currently listed at $559, reduced from $699. MINISFORUM estimates that both configurations will begin shipping in early September 2026.
The Elite Mini M2 Air 304 is not designed to compete with high performance mini PCs powered by Panther Lake, Ryzen AI, or discrete graphics. Its appeal is efficiency, size, connectivity, and flexibility. Dual 2.5 GbE, USB4, DDR5, PCIe 4.0 storage, triple 4K output, and a $263 barebone entry price make it potentially interesting for offices, media centers, lightweight home servers, network appliances, and everyday systems where power consumption matters more than maximum performance.
The $559 configuration is considerably harder to justify when only 16 GB of memory and a 500 GB SSD are included, making the barebone version the more interesting proposition for users comfortable installing their own memory and storage.
Would you use a $263 Wildcat Lake mini PC like the M2 Air 304 as an everyday desktop, media system, or compact home server?
