Introduction

The GEEKOM A9 Max returns for 2026 with an updated version of one of the best Mini-PCs we tested last year. The 2025 model delivered an impressive mix of AMD mobile performance, compact sizing, modern connectivity, and enough flexibility to work very well as a high-end everyday desktop. For 2026, GEEKOM moves the system to AMD's refreshed Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 platform while keeping the chassis, port layout, and overall design identical to the previous A9 Max.

The 2026 A9 Max is built around the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor with Radeon 890M graphics and a 54 W TDP. It supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory and includes dual M.2 PCIe Gen 4 storage, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, dual 2.5 GbE, two HDMI 2.1 FRL ports, two USB4 ports, several USB-A ports, and an SD Card 4.0 reader.

The biggest difference with our 2026 unit is the memory configuration. The 2025 A9 Max shipped with dual-channel DDR5-5600, while our 2026 sample came in single-channel mode. That has a direct impact on graphics performance because the Radeon 890M is an integrated GPU and uses system memory for bandwidth. Even though the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 is the newer processor, the single-channel setup limits the iGPU, which helps explain why the 2026 model falls behind the 2025 version in our SPECviewperf and GPU-heavy/gaming benchmarks.

Users can address this by installing their own memory and running the system in dual-channel mode, assuming both SO-DIMM slots are populated with compatible modules. That should give the Radeon 890M much better access to system memory bandwidth and improve GPU-focused workloads. The trade-off is cost, since buyers who want the best graphics performance from the A9 Max may need to budget for additional RAM. That weakens the value of the 2026 model compared with a system that ships with dual-channel memory out of the box.

As always, I tested the A9 Max 2026 exactly as it was shipped, with no hardware modifications, so the results reflect the performance buyers can expect out of the box before adding RAM or taking on any extra upgrade costs. This is an impressively specced Mini-PC nonetheless, so let's take a look under the hood and see what it can do in this configuration.