I'm obsessed with Qualcomm's circular mini PC, the UFO. Too bad you can't buy it.
At Snapdragon Summit this year, Qualcomm introduced a new generation of its flagship computer processor — the Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. This is a monster powerhouse that can stand up to the likes of even the mighty Apple M4 processor. At the event, Qualcomm brought some reference devices to show what these chips could actually do, and one mini PC immediately caught my attention.
Affectionately called "the UFO," it's a circular mini PC roughly five inches in diameter, and it captured my heart the instant I saw it. I've never seen anything quite like it before.
What's the purpose of reference devices like this? They allowed Qualcomm to show what its new chipsets can do.
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A chip, like the engine of a car, only goes so far on its own. Without the rest of the vehicle — the wheels, doors, and seats — you're not going to get very far. But while the new flagship chips were supposed to be the main event, I was drawn to the UFO's unique design.
The Snapdragon logo on the top even acts as a power button, which is a lovely little touch. Aside from the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor inside, the reference design also has 16 or 32GB RAM, three USB-C ports around the periphery, a power port for a barrel plug (boo for not charging with USB-C), and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There's no word on storage, but 256GB would be a safe assumption.
Mini PCs are great for keeping things minimal on your desk and staying out of the way. And this mini PC definitely qualifies. You could pick this PC up and slip it into a backpack, or even a moderately-sized fanny pack, but that's not really what it's for. Its design lets you keep your desktop almost completely free.
The round plate, for lack of a better word, is very thin. It's shaped like a large coaster or wireless charging puck. Including the feet that keep it from lying flush on the table, it's about 14mm tall, or about the height of eight U.S. quarters, which is fun. You could also say it's about as thick as a folded Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Either way, it's tiny, and I love the form factor.
Of course, this is a reference device that will never see store shelves, but it shows you what's possible with the latest generation of processors. I can only hope that a computer maker will pick up this design concept and run with it.
What I think is even more exciting is the idea of running Snapdragon chips on wired hardware. Up until now, Snapdragon-powered PCs have been exclusively laptops and portables, which have been great. But working with a hard-wired concept like a mini PC will allow Qualcomm and computer makers to push the hardware even further, without having to worry about battery life.
But in the meantime, this "UFO" is the mini PC of my dreams, and I would love to see a company turn it into reality.
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Adam Doud is a freelance journalist, product reviewer, and editor based in Chicago, Illinois. Adam has bylines at a number of different tech publications and hosts the Benefit of the Doud podcast. He uses both iOS and Android (a six-month rotation for each), and he's regularly testing tablets, smartphones, and laptops.
