🔥 FIREBAT S1 Intel N100 Review: The most complete Mini PC for under €270?

The FIREBAT S1 is a solid and surprisingly capable option for office applications, multimedia, and retro emulation.

Its compact design with an integrated front screen makes it unique in its price range. However, the single-channel DDR4 memory limits its graphics potential.

✅ Pros:

• Customizable front screen, distinctive design

• Dual HDMI 2.0 + dual Gigabit LAN

• Two M.2 slots for expanding storage

• Windows 11 included, low power consumption (15W under load)

• Average rating of 4.8/5 based on over 321 reviews on AliExpress

❌ Cons:

• Single-channel RAM (penalizes the integrated GPU)

• Without WiFi 6 or BT 5.0 (only WiFi 5 and BT 4.2)

• External power supply

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📦 Unboxing and Box Contents

The FIREBAT S1 comes in a compact box with a nice presentation for its price range.

Inside you will find the mini PC, 30W (12V) external power supply, vertical stand, HDMI cable and basic documentation.

The vertical stand is a practical detail that improves stability and ventilation, especially during long sessions.

The external fountain is the only element that detracts from the elegance of the whole.

📊 Technical Specifications

🎨 Design and Construction Quality

The FIREBAT S1 stands out visually thanks to its integrated front screen, a differentiating element that can display information such as temperature, time, CPU usage or simply a custom logo.

The chassis is made of matte-finish plastic, with dimensions of just 123.8 × 128 × 40.9 mm, more compact than a paperback book.

The in-hand feel is decent for the price; it doesn't have the solid feel of a high-end Beelink or GMKtec, but it doesn't disappoint either. The side panel is removable for easy access to the RAM and SSD, making upgrades a breeze.

🖥️ Screen and Multimedia

The device does not include its own screen beyond the small front information display. For desktop use, it connects up to two monitors simultaneously via HDMI 2.0, supporting 4K resolution at 60fps on each output thanks to Intel UHD Graphics with support for hardware decoding of VP9 and H.265.

Multimedia performance is excellent: 4K video playback is smooth with minimal CPU load, and the 3.5mm jack provides functional, albeit basic, audio output. It does not include built-in speakers.

The small screen on this mini PC isn't a monitor or a display for general use, but rather a small decorative/informational display integrated into the chassis, similar to those found on models like the Beelink GTi or some gaming mini PCs. It functions as a system status indicator.

⚙️ Performance and Software

The Intel N100 is an efficient 10nm processor with 4 cores and 4 threads that reaches 3.4 GHz. In benchmarks, it achieves a PassMark score of approximately 5,333 points in multithreaded tests and 1,888 in single-threaded tests, placing it above a Celeron but clearly below 10th-generation Core i5 processors. It is more than sufficient for:

• 🖊️ Complete office suite (Office, Google Docs, spreadsheets)

• 🌐 Browsing with 10-20 tabs open

• 🎬 Multimedia playback up to 4K (hardware decoding)

• 💻 Lightweight web development, SSH, local servers

• 📊 Analysis tasks using Python, R, or similar tools

Windows 11 Pro comes pre-installed. Some minor bloatware programs have been reported, but these can be easily uninstalled. Windows updates are working normally.

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🔌 Energy Consumption and Cables

The FIREBAT S1 consumes only 15W under CPU load with a TDP configured at that level, and the external power supply is 30W / 12V, which guarantees sufficient margin [manufacturer specifications].

In standby mode, power consumption drops to approximately 5-7W. This translates to an annual electricity cost of less than €10 if used for 8 hours a day—ideal as a home server, media center, or secondary desktop PC.

The only cables you need to connect to get started are the power cable and an HDMI cable.

🌡️ Temperature and Noise (Actual Thermal)

The maximum CPU temperature under sustained load reaches 80°C, with a CPU power of 15W [manufacturer's specifications]. The internal fan is virtually inaudible during everyday tasks; it's only faintly noticeable during prolonged benchmarks or video compression. Reddit users describe the fan noise as a "gentle puff" rather than the high-pitched whine of other, cheaper mini PCs. For use in a living room or bedroom, the acoustic experience is very satisfactory.

🔗 Connectivity and Extras

Connectivity is one of the FIREBAT S1's strong points:

• 📡  Dual-band WiFi 5 (2.4/5 GHz) with internal antenna

• 📶 Bluetooth 4.2

• 🌐 Double Gigabit LAN (ideal for router, firewall or home NAS)

• 🖥️ 2× HDMI 2.0 for dual monitor setup

• 🔌 2× USB 3.0 + 2× USB 2.0

• 🎧 3.5mm jack for headphones or speakers

It lacks WiFi 6, NFC, a fingerprint reader, and IP certification. Dual Gigabit LAN is a notable extra for its price, useful in advanced home networking environments or as a mini-server.

🔧 Expansion and Upgrades

The FIREBAT S1 is one of the most upgradeable mini PCs in its segment:

• 🧠 RAM: SO-DIMM DDR4 slot, currently with 16 GB. The maximum supported is 16 GB (single channel). Dual channel is not supported.

• 💾 Main SSD: M.2 2280 NVMe/PCIe, expandable up to 2 TB.

• 💾 Second M.2 slot: Includes a second free M.2 2280 (NGFF/NVMe) slot, also up to 2 TB. This allows you to double your storage without external adapters.

• ❌ No 2.5" bay for conventional SATA hard drive.

To open the device, simply remove the side cover; the process is easy even for inexperienced users.

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🆚 Comparison with Direct Competitors

💡 Note: The updated N150 version is currently cheaper. If price isn't a concern, the FIREBAT S1 N100 justifies its premium thanks to dual LAN and a front-facing screen.

💬 Reviews on Well-Known Pages

The FIREBAT S1 has received very positive reviews across major purchasing channels and technology communities:

• AliExpress: Over 321 reviews with an average rating of 4.8/5 stars and more than 1,000 units sold. Buyers highlight the value for money, the screen design, and the ease of opening the device and upgrading components.

• Bargains / Forums: Spanish-speaking users highlight that "it's incredible that it's this quality at this price" and especially value the customizable front screen.

• Reddit (r/MiniPCs): Community users praise the low noise level: "Ultra quiet, and when the fan does ramp up from benchmarks, it is a whooshing noise instead of high pitched whine".

• Androidpc.es: It describes it as a mini PC with "very complete connectivity for its size" and highlights the second free M.2 slot as a differentiating advantage over competitors such as Beelink or GMKtec.

• ComputerHoy / 20minutos: They present it as "an alternative to the Raspberry Pi with capabilities for a wider range of applications, from light gaming to productivity and multimedia tasks."

🧪 Technical Tests

Intel N100 benchmarks are widely documented and consistent across different models using the same chip:

In actual use:

• Open 20 Chrome tabs with YouTube running in the background: no noticeable problems.

• Compiling small PHP/Laravel projects: smooth.

• Photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop: it works, although with some waiting time for large exports.

• 1080p video editing (DaVinci Resolve): possible in simple projects, without heavy effects.

• 3D rendering or 4K editing: not recommended.

The main bottleneck is single-channel memory, which limits the bandwidth available to the integrated GPU and reduces graphics performance by up to 20-30% compared to dual-channel configurations.

🎮 Gaming and Emulation

N100 Mini PC Gaming Console 

The N100 is a retro emulation beast for its price. Here's what you can expect:

Native PC games: Older or indie titles run well. Games like Minecraft (Java, medium settings), League of Legends, or CS:GO at 720p are possible. No modern AAA titles.

🕹️ Recommendation: Install Batocera Linux or RetroBat from a second M.2 slot to turn the FIREBAT S1 into a dedicated retro console without touching Windows.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does it come with Windows 11 activated?
Yes, it includes Windows 11 Pro activated from the factory.

Can the RAM be upgraded to 32 GB?
No. The maximum is 16 GB in single channel with a DDR4 SO-DIMM.

Does it have an optical audio output or DisplayPort?
No, it only has a 3.5mm jack and two HDMI 2.0 ports. It does not include DisplayPort.

Can I add a 2.5" drive?
There's no 2.5" SATA drive bay. Only two M.2 2280 slots.

Does it work as a home server or lightweight NAS?
Yes, and it's ideal for that thanks to dual Gigabit LAN and low power consumption of ~5-7W in standby mode.

Is the front screen customizable?
Yes, using the included software you can change what it displays: temperature, time, logo, system usage, etc.

What's the difference with the N150 version?
The N150 version has a slightly faster processor (up to 3.6 GHz) and currently has a lower price (~€189), although it maintains the same design and features.

🏁 Final Conclusion

The FIREBAT S1 with Intel N100 is the ideal mini PC for:

• 👨‍💼 Office users looking for a compact and quiet desktop computer

• 🎬 Multimedia enthusiasts who want to set up a dual-screen 4K entertainment center

• 🕹️ Retro gaming enthusiasts looking to smoothly emulate games from NES to PS2/GameCube

• 🌐 Home techies who want a mini server or router taking advantage of dual LAN

• 💰 Buyers with a tight budget who don't need to edit video or play AAA games

Is it worth it at €265? If the customizable front display, dual LAN, and second M.2 slot are important to you, then yes. If you're only looking for pure performance at the lowest possible price, the Beelink EQ12 or the GMKtec G3 with N100 offer dual-channel DDR5 for less money—with better graphics performance at the cost of those differentiating features.

🛒 Where to buy it?

💥 Best price guaranteed on AliExpress — shipping from Europe available, no long waits or extra fees.

👉 Buy FIREBAT S1 N100 16GB+512GB on AliExpress for €265.71