The Azulle Access 3 PC stick let’s you put a computer in your pocket (Review)

Azulle Access 3

Laptops these days are getting smaller, thinner, and more powerful. On top of that, there are Chromebooks and Smart TVs. So when it comes to PC sticks, they pretty much fizzle into the background. But companies are looking to build PC sticks that are much smaller and also as powerful as laptops. One of those companies is Azulle, and they’re planning to bring PC sticks to the forefront with the Access 3 fanless mini PC stick.

The Access 3 PC stick is an HDMI-enabled PC stick that allows you to turn any TV, display, or projector into a full-fledged PC, which is perfect for business or personal use. The Access 3 is small and lightweight and can be easily stored in your pocket or backpack. And for its size, it packs some pretty impressive specs.

Design

The Access 3 carries a unibody style that you can typically find on most laptops today. The stick measures just about 5.5in x 2in x .5in (including HDMI port) and weighs roughly 5oz. On the top and bottom of the stick, you’ll see that it has ridges throughout which act as the computer’s heat sink. Over time the PC stick does begin to heat up, and I found that the heat sink designed into the body does a great job of dispersing the heat.

On one side you’ll find two USB 3.0 ports, a micro USB port, and the power button. On the other side, you’ll find a microSD slot that has support up to a 256gb SD card. On the back side, you’ll find an ethernet port, a headphone jack, and a k-lock slot for a Kensington security lock. The Access 3 also comes with a rotatable antenna for Wifi and Bluetooth (4.0) connectivity.

Specs

The Access 3 comes in several different versions that you can choose from. When it comes to the processor, you have the option of choosing the Quad-Core Intel Apollo Lake N3450 or the Quad-Core Intel Gemini Lake N4100. For operating system you’ll get a fully activated Windows 10, for storage you can choose between 32 or 64gb, and for RAM you’ll get a choice between 4 or 6gb. For my Access 3, I had the Gemini Lake, 32gb or storage, and 4gb of RAM. Graphics wise you’ll get an onboard Intel HD graphics 600 12EU. For internet connectivity, you’ll get dual band wifi and a 1-gigabit ethernet port.

Performance

Now out of the box the Access 3 was pretty quick when it came to loading, but when I started to install some apps, it started to slow down just a bit. Not a considerable difference but just enough for me to realize. The stick is built to be able to handle 4K resolutions up to 60fps, which I’ll say that the PC handled very well. Video footage looked smooth and didn’t drop any significant frames. When it came to watching 4K videos on YouTube, I didn’t have any problems. Only buffering I ran into was of course when I started to have a connection issue.

When it came to video games, the Azulle 3 will not be your best option. A few of the games I played using Steam didn’t perform very well unless I used the lowest settings and played at 720p. At 720 I was able to squeeze between 24-30fps, but at 1080, that dropped considerably, making the games almost unplayable. The only time I was able to really play a game with great settings was with Nvidia’s GeForce Now. I had my doubts at first, but I was surprised to see that the Azulle 3 was able to handle the cloud gaming system from Nvidia very well, giving me 1080p at 30fps with some games.

When it comes to streaming Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or other video streaming services, you won’t have any problems. I was able to try Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, and all of the streamed without any problems. I wasn’t able to stream any 4K with any of the video streaming services due to the fact I didn’t have the access to stream the content in higher quality. But at 1080 or even 720, the Access 3 ran perfectly.

Final Reaction

For the size, the Azulle 3 is perfect for those who are looking for a computer that they can carry pretty much everywhere with them. With its HDMI port and Bluetooth 4.0 connection, the Azulle 3 is perfect to turn any TV into a media center anywhere you go. The Azulle 3 is also perfect for those who are looking for an inexpensive and portable secondary computer that they can carry with them, maybe to use for a presentation at work or school. But the Azulle 3 is not suitable for people who are looking for an inexpensive way to play video games. Playing games on Steam is not really beneficial and cloud gaming services like GeForce Now will always require a fast and steady internet connection.

Score: 4/5 Atoms

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