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Aujourd’hui — 19 avril 2026Flux principal

Smart pensait grandir avec ses SUV électriques, le résultat est brutal

19 avril 2026 à 08:44

Smart voulait grandir. Smart se retrouve à surnager. Et le plus ironique, c’est que son salut pourrait venir de la voiture que ses dirigeants ont eux-mêmes coulée. Parmi les mauvaises décisions stratégiques, le cas de Smart est certainement l'un des plus emblématiques, assez pour être au coeur de l'édito Watt Else du 16 avril 2026.

À partir d’avant-hierFlux principal

À peine sortie, cette enceinte incontournable pour l’été est déjà bradée

16 avril 2026 à 10:46

[Deal du jour] Vous cherchez une petite enceinte compacte et pratique pour les beaux jours ? JBL revient avec une nouvelle itération de sa fameuse enceinte Go. Et elle se trouve déjà à un meilleur prix sur Boulanger.

Quel iPad choisir en 2026 ? Le comparatif complet des tablettes Apple

16 avril 2026 à 10:28

iPad classique, Air, mini ou Pro ? Avec 6 modèles disponibles en 2025 et des tarifs qui vont du simple au triple, l'achat d'une tablette Apple exige que l'on s'y attarde. Quel modèle offre le meilleur rapport qualité-prix pour votre usage ? Découvrez notre comparatif complet pour identifier l’iPad idéal selon vos besoins.

Abonnés PlayStation Plus, les jeux du mois d’avril réservent une belle exclusivité

16 avril 2026 à 09:51

Les jeux qui intégreront les catalogues PlayStation Plus Extra et Premium ce mois d’avril 2026 viennent d’être dévoilés. Les abonnés à ces deux formules pourront découvrir d’excellents titres, et il y en aura pour tous les goûts ce mois-ci.

Microsoft 365 Copilot security: Purview DLP, oversharing controls, and dashboard analytics

Par : IT Experts
15 avril 2026 à 16:00
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention for web queries
Microsoft released new security and governance controls for Microsoft 365 Copilot, introducing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies that inspect prompts before Copilot processes them, protecting web searches from leaking sensitive data, and enabling bulk remediation of overshared SharePoint files. The Copilot Dashboard gained expanded access, user satisfaction tracking, and CSV export. This article explains what each feature does technically, how to configure the relevant policies, and where the current limitations are.

Source

Le guide ultime pour bien choisir son iPhone en 2026, sans se tromper

15 avril 2026 à 10:29

On a beau aimer iOS et son interface fluide, complète et terriblement intuitive… mais cela ressemble parfois à une prison dorée. En effet, choisir un iPhone reste un sport puisqu'Apple multiplie les modèles et conserve des générations plus anciennes.

Quelles sont les meilleures montres connectées en 2026 ? Voici 8 modèles incontournables

14 avril 2026 à 10:47

Jadis, on regardait son poignet uniquement pour ne pas être en retard. Aujourd'hui, on peut y lire son rythme cardiaque, ses messages ou son niveau de stress. La montre connectée est désormais de plus en plus répandue, que ce soit pour le sport ou même pour le quotidien. Reste à savoir quelles sont les références incontournables en 2026. Voici nos recommandations.

Attendez avant d’acheter Starfield sur PlayStation 5

13 avril 2026 à 14:29

Il semblerait que Starfield sur PlayStation 5 et PS5 Pro souffre de nombreux bugs et de problèmes de plantage. Le lancement du jeu de Bethesda sur la console de Sony est vivement critiqué par les joueuses et les joueurs qui l’attendaient pourtant avec impatience.

Ces 6 meilleurs smartphones à moins de 300 € méritent chaque euro dépensé

13 avril 2026 à 09:35

Faut-il nécessairement se ruiner pour s'offrir un smartphone récent qui tient la route ? La réponse est non. Que vous cherchiez le meilleur rapport qualité-prix, un photophone efficace ou un monstre d'autonomie, nous avons passé au crible les nouveautés pour vous. Voici les meilleurs smartphones récents à moins de 300 €.

On a testé le MacBook Pro M5 Pro avec 48 Go de RAM : la config parfaite pour de l’IA locale ?

12 avril 2026 à 16:31

À 3 199 euros ou plus, le MacBook Pro d'Apple avec une puce M5 Pro et 48 Go de RAM n'est pas un ordinateur conçu pour le grand public. Mais à l'heure de l'IA locale et des modèles open source, cette machine pourrait bien être le produit idéal pour faire tourner des LLM Google, Mistral, Alibaba ou DeepSeek en local. L'équivalent M5 Max, avec une option 128 Go de RAM, peut grimper jusqu'à 6 429 euros (sans augmentation du stockage).

COOL M.2 & USB4 ADAPTERS IN 2026 (Who Are IOCREST and LEKUO?)

Par : Rob Andrews
10 avril 2026 à 18:00

New Cost-Effective USB4, M.2 and PCIe Adapters from IOCREST/Lekuo for 2026 Revealed

IOCREST, also marketed under the Lekuo name for consumer channels, is preparing a broader range of USB4, M.2, and PCIe expansion products aimed at users who need higher speed networking, storage expansion, or more flexible external PCIe connectivity. Based on the product information provided and the accompanying interview material, the current lineup combines shipping devices with several products still in development or not yet formally listed on the company’s official product pages, reflecting a portfolio that spans compact 10GbE adapters, SFP+ connectivity, multi-drive enclosures, and USB4 based PCIe breakout designs.

Lekuo USB4 to 10GbE Hub

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The Lekuo DTB3R61 is a compact USB4 hub that combines 10GbE networking with basic peripheral and removable media expansion in a single enclosure. It is built around a USB4 upstream connection and is intended for hosts that support USB4 or Thunderbolt 3/4/5, rather than older USB 3.x only systems. In practical terms, this positions it as a multi function dock for users who need wired 10GbE, a small number of USB ports, and SD or TF card access without moving to a larger desktop class dock.

The port layout is relatively simple, consisting of 1x 10GbE RJ45 port, 3x 5Gbps USB Type A ports, and a TF/SD 3.0 card reader. The supplied specifications list a 40Gbps host link, support for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and a compact metal chassis. Although your transcript refers to a fanless design, the specification sheet provided here states an aluminum alloy casing with fan assisted cooling, so that distinction should be treated carefully in the article unless you want to frame it as pre release versus final spec variation.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo 6 in 1 USB4 Hub
Model DTB3R61
Host Interface USB4
Host Compatibility USB4 / Thunderbolt 5 / Thunderbolt 4 / Thunderbolt 3
Legacy USB Support Does not support USB 3.2 / 3.1 / 3.0 / 2.0 hosts
Network Port 1x RJ45 10GbE
Network Speeds 10 / 100 / 1000 / 2500 / 5000 / 10000Mbps
USB Ports 3x USB A
USB Data Rate 5Gbps
Card Reader 1x TF/SD 3.0
Card Reader Speed Up to 104MB/s
Upstream Bandwidth 40Gbps
Cooling Aluminum alloy casing + fan
OS Support Windows / Mac OS / Linux
Included Accessories 40Gbps cable, user manual
Product Size 90.2 × 92.2 × 28.4mm

Lekuo USB4 to 2x25GbE Adapter

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This unreleased Lekuo adapter is one of the more bandwidth focused products discussed in the interview material, built around a USB4 host connection and 2x 25GbE network ports. Based on the information provided, the design uses an SFP based approach rather than RJ45, which is consistent with the higher thermal and signal demands of 25GbE. It is positioned as a compact external network adapter for systems that need significantly more throughput than 10GbE, while still relying on USB4 as the host side connection.

The transcript also indicates several design details that help distinguish this unit from more common USB or Thunderbolt network adapters. It is described as a silent design with no active fan, includes an external barrel power input, and features a physical power button on the enclosure. The company indicated that the product was expected around Q2 and priced below $200 at the time of filming, but as it is not yet listed on the official product page, those details should be treated as pre release guidance rather than final retail specification.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo USB4 to 2x25GbE Adapter
Model Not provided in supplied materials
Host Interface USB4
Host Compatibility USB4 / Thunderbolt host systems
Network Interface 2x 25GbE
Port Type SFP based 25GbE connectivity
Cooling Passive / no fan, based on interview statements
Power Input Barrel power input present
Power Control Physical on/off button present
Availability Status Not yet listed on official product page
Reported Launch Window Q2, as stated in interview
Reported Price Guidance Below $200, as stated in interview

Lekuo DTB3F21 USB4 to 2x10GbE Adapter

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The Lekuo DTB3F21 is a dual port USB4 network adapter designed around 2x 10GbE SFP+ connections. Unlike simpler USB to Ethernet devices that target single port RJ45 connectivity, this model is positioned for users who need higher density fibre or DAC based networking from a single external enclosure. The supplied specifications identify the Intel 82599 controller, placing it closer to a traditional server class 10GbE design than a lower cost USB NIC.

From the product information and transcript, this adapter is part of Lekuo’s broader push into USB4 based external networking, especially for systems that lack internal expansion but still need multi port high speed network access. The enclosure is described as compact and externally connected over USB Type C, with support across Windows, Windows Server, Linux distributions, and several enterprise networking features such as VLAN support, jumbo frames, interrupt moderation, and virtual machine queue support. In the transcript, a dual 10GbE version is also discussed alongside the dual 25GbE model as part of the same general product family.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo USB4 to Dual 10Gb Fiber SFP+ Ports Network Adapter
Model DTB3F21
Host Interface USB
Output Interface 2x SFP+
Motherboard Slot USB
Network Speed 10Gbps per port
Controller Intel 82599
Host Cable Type C to Type C
Product Size 142.5 x 69.5 x 25.6mm
USB Standard Universal Serial Bus 3.2 Revision 1.0 compliant
Ethernet Standards 10Gb/s and 1Gb/s Ethernet / 802.3ap, 10Gb/s Ethernet / 802.3ae, 1000BASE-BX
Jumbo Frames Up to 15.5KB
VLAN Support 802.1q
Offload Features TCP segmentation offload up to 256KB, IPv6 checksum offload, fragmented UDP checksum offload
Interrupt Support MSI, MSI-X, interrupt throttling
Virtualization Support Up to 64 virtual machines per port
Additional Features Flow control, multiple receive queues, dynamic interrupt moderation, DCB support
Operating Temperature 0°C to +55°C
Storage Temperature -40°C to +70°C
OS Support Windows 10/11, Server 2022, RHEL/CentOS 7.3/7.6/7.9/8.2/8.3, Deepin 15.11/20/20.6, Ubuntu 16.04.3/18.04.5 and later
Package Contents Adapter, user manual, Type C to Type C cable

Lekuo M.2 to 10G SFP+ Adapter

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Lekuo is also developing an M.2 to 10G SFP+ adapter, extending the same general idea seen in its M.2 to 10GbE RJ45 products toward fibre based networking. In the transcript, this product is described as a refined version of an existing concept rather than a completely new direction, aimed at compact systems that only have an M.2 slot available for expansion. That makes it relevant for small servers, mini PCs, and embedded platforms where a full PCIe slot is not available but higher speed network connectivity is still required.

The main distinction here is the move from copper 10GbE to SFP+, which allows use of fibre modules or DAC cabling depending on deployment requirements. That gives the adapter a different role from the RJ45 version, particularly in longer distance links or environments already using SFP+ switching infrastructure. Based on your notes, this product is not yet available on the official product page, so the current information is limited to what was shown and discussed during the visit rather than a finalized retail specification sheet.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo M.2 to 10G SFP+ Adapter
Model Not provided in supplied materials
Host Interface M.2
Network Interface 1x 10G SFP+
Port Type SFP+
Intended Use Adds 10GbE fibre connectivity to systems with available M.2 slot
Deployment Focus Compact systems, mini PCs, small servers
Design Status Shown during visit / discussed in transcript
Official Product Page Status Not yet listed
Cooling Not specified in supplied materials
Controller Not specified in supplied materials
OS Support Not specified in supplied materials
Included Accessories Not specified in supplied materials

Lekuo USB4 to 2x PCIe Gen4 x1 Slots Box

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This unreleased Lekuo USB4 expansion box is designed to expose 2x PCIe slots from a single external USB4 connection, using the same basic enclosure approach shown on the company’s 8x 1GbE adapter. In the transcript, the unit is described as a small PCIe dock originally used internally for testing, with the USB4 connection bridging to 2 separate PCIe paths inside the enclosure. The concept is straightforward: rather than delivering fixed networking or storage, it provides a more flexible external PCIe breakout for users who want to install their own cards.

That flexibility is the main point of interest here. The transcript suggests use cases such as network cards, SATA cards, and other compact PCIe devices, with bus power available over USB4 and a barrel power input included for cards that need more power than the host connection can provide on its own. Since this product is not yet listed on the official product page, the available information is still limited and some details remain unconfirmed. The requested naming of this section as a PCIe Gen4 x1 slot box reflects the intended lane configuration you provided, but that specific wording was not fully documented in the supplied official specification text, so it should be treated as based on your product notes.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo USB4 to 2x PCIe Gen4 x1 Slots Box
Model Not provided in supplied materials
Host Interface USB4
Host Compatibility USB4 / Thunderbolt host systems
PCIe Expansion 2x PCIe slots
PCIe Lane Configuration 2x PCIe Gen4 x1 slots
Enclosure Basis Uses casing shown on Lekuo 8x 1GbE adapter
Power Source USB bus power supported
Supplemental Power Barrel power input present
Intended Use External PCIe expansion for add in cards
Example Use Cases NICs, SATA cards, other low power PCIe devices
Cooling Not specified in supplied materials
Official Product Page Status Not yet listed
Retail Status Development / internal test derived design

Lekuo USB4 to 4 HDD and 1x Gen4 M.2 Box

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Lekuo is also preparing a multi drive USB4 enclosure that combines 4 HDD bays with a single PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe slot in the same chassis. Based on the transcript, this is a DAS rather than a NAS, so it is intended to provide direct attached storage expansion over USB4 instead of functioning as a self contained network appliance. The inclusion of the M.2 slot adds a layer of flexibility beyond a standard 4 bay enclosure, allowing for SSD caching, a dedicated fast volume, or a separate high speed workspace alongside the hard drive array.

The product is described as relying on software RAID rather than including a hardware RAID controller, and the transcript also notes a dual port TB4 style design for daisy chaining. At the same time, the core concept is clear: this is an external storage enclosure aimed at users who want a mix of larger capacity HDD storage and faster NVMe storage within a single USB4 connected device. As with several of the other products shown during the visit, this unit does not yet appear on the official product page, so the available details should be treated as pre release rather than final retail specifications.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo USB4 to 4 HDD and 1x Gen4 M.2 Box
Model Not provided in supplied materials
Host Interface USB4
Drive Bays 4x HDD bays
SSD Slot 1x PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe slot
Product Type DAS
RAID Software RAID
Hardware RAID Controller No
Daisy Chain Support Dual port TB4 style connectivity mentioned in transcript
Intended Use Direct attached storage expansion with mixed HDD and NVMe storage
Official Product Page Status Not yet listed
Retail Status In development / shown during visit
Cooling Not specified in supplied materials
OS Support Not specified in supplied materials
Included Accessories Not specified in supplied materials

Lekuo USB Expansion PCIe Card

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Lekuo is also developing a PCIe expansion card that combines USB and storage connectivity on a single board, aimed at systems where slot space is limited and adding multiple separate controller cards is not practical. In the transcript, the card is shown with 2x USB Type C ports, 1x USB Type A port, 4x SATA ports, and an integrated 2.5GbE network connection. Rather than focusing on a single function, it is intended as a compact multi purpose expansion card for small form factor systems, embedded builds, or storage focused PCs that still need additional external connectivity.

The card is described as operating over a PCIe Gen4 x1 connection, giving it a total host side bandwidth of 20Gbps to allocate across its various controllers. That does not mean every port can run at maximum speed simultaneously, but it does make the board suitable for mixed duty use where SATA connectivity, modest USB expansion, and basic 2.5GbE networking need to be consolidated into one slot. Based on the material you provided, this product was shown during the visit rather than backed by a full standalone specification sheet, so some lower level details remain unspecified.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo USB Expansion PCIe Card
Model Not provided in supplied materials
Host Interface PCIe
PCIe Link PCIe Gen4 x1
Total Host Bandwidth 20Gbps
USB Ports 2x USB Type C, 1x USB Type A
Storage Ports 4x SATA
Network Port 1x 2.5GbE
Intended Use Multi function expansion for compact systems
Example Deployments Small servers, small form factor PCs, embedded systems
Additional Connectivity Extra output cable mentioned for further USB expansion depending on case layout
Official Product Page Status Not specified in supplied materials
Retail Status Shown in transcript / development status not fully confirmed
Cooling Not specified in supplied materials
OS Support Not specified in supplied materials
Included Accessories Additional output cable referenced in transcript

Lekuo USB4 to 10G SFP+ Adapter

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Lekuo is also expanding its external 10GbE range with a USB4 to 10G SFP+ adapter, offering an alternative to the more common RJ45 based 10GbE designs already associated with the brand. In the transcript, this model is presented as a silent SFP based version of the company’s existing copper 10GbE adapter, intended for users who want fibre or DAC connectivity instead of 10GBASE T. That makes it more relevant for rackmount environments, structured fibre deployments, and users already working with SFP+ switching infrastructure.

The product appears to share the same broader design language as the other newer USB4 network adapters shown during the visit, including a compact metal enclosure, ventilation at each end, and an external power option. The transcript also notes a physical power button on this family of devices, which is relatively uncommon on compact external network adapters. As this specific single port USB4 to 10G SFP+ model is not included in the supplied formal product specification sheets, the current information is based on what was shown and described in the video rather than a final retail listing.

Specification Details
Product Name Lekuo USB4 to 10G SFP+ Adapter
Model Not provided in supplied materials
Host Interface USB4
Host Compatibility USB4 / Thunderbolt host systems
Network Interface 1x 10G SFP+
Port Type SFP+
Cooling Passive / silent design, based on transcript
Chassis Metal enclosure with ventilation at each end
Power Input Barrel power input mentioned in transcript
Power Control Physical on/off button mentioned in transcript
Intended Use External 10GbE fibre or DAC connectivity over USB4
Official Product Page Status Not yet listed in supplied materials
Retail Status Shown during visit / pre release context

Who Are IOCREST/Lekuo?

IOCREST and Lekuo are effectively 2 market facing identities used by the same company. Based on the interview material, the business was founded in 2000 and has operated for more than 20 years in adapter, connectivity, and expansion hardware design. IOCREST appears more closely associated with the company’s long standing OEM and B2B activity, while Lekuo is the branding now being pushed more directly toward end users and consumer retail channels.

A key point from the interview is that the company states that most of its products are designed in house, including the internal engineering and development work behind its USB, USB4, M.2, and PCIe based solutions. It also describes its product planning as being driven by practical gaps in the market, particularly in compact systems where users need to add networking, storage, or expansion features that are not available on the base hardware. That helps explain why many of its products focus on niche but increasingly relevant use cases such as M.2 to 10GbE, USB4 to multi port networking, and external PCIe breakout designs.

The other defining part of the company’s position is that much of its historical business has been behind the scenes. In the interview, Lekuo states that before its more recent consumer push, most of its sales were B2B, with products often sold through partners, distributors, or other companies without prominent IOCREST or Lekuo branding on the product listing itself. The current shift appears to be less about changing what it makes and more about putting its own name in front of products that were previously sold in a more anonymous OEM style model.

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Windows 365 Cloud PC monitoring in Intune: health, performance, and configuration

Par : IT Experts
10 avril 2026 à 17:50
Windows 365 monitoring and reporting (image Microsoft)
Microsoft has released a new unified monitoring and reporting platform for Windows 365 Cloud PCs into public preview in April 2026. It is built into the Microsoft Intune admin center and consolidates health, performance, and configuration data that was previously scattered across multiple locations. This article explains what the platform monitors, how you access it, and where its current limitations lie.

Source

La meilleure gamme de TV LG se retrouve bradée avant l’arrivée des nouveaux modèles

11 avril 2026 à 12:11

[Deal du jour] Comme à chaque printemps, l'heure est venue pour LG de remplacer ses gammes de téléviseurs. Parmi les modèles en fin de série, on retrouve l'excellente référence G5 qui se trouve actuellement en promotion avant l'arrivée des G6.

Le seul rival de Mario sur PS5 est enfin bradé sur Amazon

11 avril 2026 à 10:28

[Deal du jour] Que faisiez-vous en 2024 ? Eh bien, pendant ce temps, Team Asobi, le studio de développement japonais, sortait ce qui est aujourd'hui considéré comme le « Mario de la PS5 ». Sacré GOTY 2024, le jeu se trouve rarement en promotion, sauf aujourd'hui sur Amazon.

Minisforum N5 Max – UPDATE & NEW INFORMATION

Par : Rob Andrews
8 avril 2026 à 18:00

Minisforum N5 Max NAS UPDATE

The Minisforum N5 Max was originally shown in January 2026 during CES 2026 as the next step in the company’s 5 bay NAS series, following the N5 Pro that arrived in summer 2025 and later sitting above the N5 Air that was introduced in February 2026. At that stage, most of the information around the system came from early hands on coverage, reveal material, and first wave specification details, which meant some elements were still provisional or inconsistent depending on source. Now, in April 2026, the picture around the N5 Max is much clearer. Minisforum has provided a more defined specification set, a clearer description of the hardware layout, and a much stronger explanation of how the system is intended to be positioned, not just as another compact 5 bay NAS, but as a higher tier platform that combines local AI capability, multi tier storage, and more advanced infrastructure features. This update is therefore intended to bring the original January reveal into line with what is currently known, clarify where earlier CES details have since been refined, and set out the N5 Max as it stands now based on the latest available information.

Where to Buy the Minisforum N5 NAS Series:
  • Minisforum N5 AIR NAS ($519) – HERE
  • Minisforum N5 PRO NAS ($959) – HERE
  • Minisforum N5 NAS ($529) – HERE
  • Minisforum N5 MAX ($TBC) – HERE

Minisforum N5 Max NAS Design and Storage

The N5 Max keeps the same broad chassis direction first seen in the earlier N5 systems, using a compact 5 bay enclosure that supports both 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch SATA drives. Physically, it remains very close to the N5 Pro and N5 Air in footprint, with the April 2026 dimensions now listed at 199 × 202.4 × 252.3 mm and a base unit weight of 5 kg. That means Minisforum has not redesigned the platform into a larger desktop tower, but instead chosen to scale capability within the same general enclosure class that defined the rest of the series.

One of the more visible design changes carried over from the original January reveal is the inclusion of lockable drive trays. That may seem like a small revision, but it directly addresses one of the practical complaints raised around the earlier N5 generation. Minisforum is also still using the pull out internal layout, where the main board and flash storage area can be accessed through a more service friendly internal assembly rather than a completely fixed internal frame.

In structural terms, the N5 Max remains very much part of the same family, but it has been revised in several small ways that make it look more mature than the first N5 design.

On the hard drive side, the N5 Max is now specified with 5 SATA 3.0 bays supporting up to 30 TB per bay, giving the system a stated raw HDD ceiling of 150 TB before any NVMe storage is counted. Minisforum also lists the platform as supporting up to 190 TB total storage overall. Compared with the 22 TB per drive guidance attached to earlier N5 series documentation, this higher ceiling does not change the number of bays, but it does position the Max for a higher total capacity target within the same physical format. As with most NAS vendors, real world drive compatibility will still depend on validation over time, but the intent is clearly to place the N5 Max above the earlier models in maximum raw storage potential.

Flash storage is where the N5 Max diverges most clearly from the N5 Pro and N5 Air. Instead of the mixed M.2 and U.2 style arrangement used on those systems, the N5 Max is now described as having 5 M.2 NVMe positions in total. The current April 2026 specification lists 1 × M.2 2280 NVMe slot running at PCIe 4.0 x4 with support up to 8 TB, plus 4 × M.2 2280 NVMe slots running at PCIe 4.0 x1 with support up to 8 TB each. Minisforum also states that the system disk is a preinstalled 64 GB module occupying 1 of those SSD positions, which is relevant because it affects how many slots are immediately free to the user out of the box.

That layout gives the N5 Max a storage structure that is more layered than the earlier N5 models, with large capacity HDDs handling primary bulk storage while multiple NVMe slots can be used for cache, active project data, containers, VM storage, model files, or application workloads. It also fits the broader April 2026 positioning of the unit as a system meant to keep more data in an active state rather than simply acting as a passive archive box. The tradeoff is that the Max no longer appears to prioritize the same U.2 flexibility seen on the N5 Pro and N5 Air, instead leaning harder into a denser onboard M.2 arrangement within the same 5 bay chassis.

Minisforum N5 Max NAS Internal Hardware

The N5 Max is built around the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, a 16 core, 32 thread processor with a 3 GHz base frequency and boost up to 5.1 GHz. Minisforum lists the chip with Radeon 8060S integrated graphics featuring 40 graphics cores, alongside AMD Ryzen AI support rated at up to 126 TOPS overall and up to 50 TOPS on the NPU. In simple terms, this places the N5 Max in a very different compute class to the original N5 and above the N5 Pro as well, making it much closer to a compact workstation platform than a conventional 5 bay NAS in processor terms.

Memory is also handled very differently from the rest of the series. Rather than using upgradeable SO-DIMM slots, the N5 Max is listed with 128 GB of LPDDR5x memory on a 256 bit interface, with support references of 7500 to 8000 MT/s depending on source. That fixed memory design should provide substantially more bandwidth than the socketed DDR5 approach in the N5 Pro and N5 Air, which matters for integrated graphics and local AI workloads, but it also removes user upgrade flexibility. This is one of the clearest examples of Minisforum prioritizing performance density over long term modularity in the Max model.

Cooling and power delivery have also been scaled up to match that higher tier hardware. Minisforum lists a cooling system built around 5 heat pipes with PCM, dual 80 × 15 mm turbo fans for the CPU area, dual 92 × 25 mm axial fans for the HDD section, and a separate 60 × 12 mm turbo fan for the SSD and PSU area. Power is now handled by an internal 250 W supply with AC input built directly into the chassis, replacing the external brick used on the earlier N5 systems. Taken together, these changes suggest that the N5 Max is not simply using a faster CPU in the same shell, but has been reworked internally to support higher sustained load, denser flash storage, and a more integrated overall design.

Minisforum N5 Max NAS Connectivity

The N5 Max keeps the same broad I/O philosophy as the rest of the N5 family, but with a more aggressive top end specification. On the front, Minisforum lists 1 × USB4 port with DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 support and 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. On the rear, the system is listed with 2 × USB4 v2, 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 × USB 2.0, 1 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, and 1 × AC input. There is also still an internal PCIe x16 slot operating at PCIe 4.0 x4, which means the N5 Max continues to support internal expansion in the same general way as the earlier N5 systems.

Networking is one of the areas where the April 2026 information has become more specific, but it is also where earlier coverage created some confusion. The latest specification material lists 2 × 10GbE LAN ports using Realtek RTL8127 controllers. That differs from some earlier CES era references that described 1 × 10GbE plus 1 × 5GbE, and it also differs from the N5 Pro and N5 Air, which were generally presented as 10GbE plus 5GbE systems. Based on the most recent material now available, the safest reading is that the N5 Max is currently positioned as a dual 10GbE model, though that was not consistently communicated in the earliest reveal phase.

Display and high speed external bandwidth are also stronger on the N5 Max than on the other N5 variants. Minisforum lists video output support through HDMI and USB4, with the current specification stating up to 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 144 Hz. More notably, the USB configuration now includes 2 × USB4 v2 connections, which is a substantial increase in external bandwidth compared with standard USB4 implementations. In practical terms, that gives the N5 Max a better fit for high speed external storage, direct attach workflows, fast ingest tasks, and display connectivity, while reinforcing that this system is being pitched as more than just a standard network storage appliance.

What Can You Do with the Minisforum N5 Max NAS

At the most basic level, the N5 Max can still be understood as a compact 5 bay NAS for centralised storage, backup, and multi user file access. With support for up to 150 TB of raw HDD capacity across its SATA bays, plus additional NVMe storage for faster tiers, it can be used for the same core roles as more traditional NAS systems, including shared folders, media libraries, workstation backups, and project archives. The difference is that Minisforum is not presenting it as a storage box first and everything else second. Instead, the current messaging places storage alongside compute and local services as equal parts of the platform.

The second role is as a higher performance working data system for users who need more than simple network storage. The combination of 5 HDD bays, multiple NVMe slots, dual 10GbE, PCIe expansion, and high speed USB4 v2 means the N5 Max is better suited to active workloads than a typical 5 bay desktop NAS. That can include media production, large photo libraries, virtual machine storage, container workloads, active project caching, and heavier multi user access. In that sense, the N5 Max sits closer to a compact storage server or workstation adjacent appliance than to an entry level NAS.

The third and most distinctive role is local AI processing. Minisforum’s March 2026 positioning pushes the N5 Max as a platform for private AI workloads running directly on the device rather than through cloud services. The company has specifically highlighted OpenClaw deployment on local LLMs, semantic photo search, voice to text, summarisation, smart organisation, and a more unified AI assistant style interface inside its software environment. Whether all of those functions arrive in the same form and at the same maturity level at launch remains something that still needs real world validation, but the intended direction is clearly toward keeping both data and AI interactions local.

For more advanced users, the N5 Max is also being framed as a private infrastructure platform rather than only an appliance. Minisforum has attached features such as ZFS, snapshots, virtualization, Docker, UPS support, and stronger permission control to the product direction, which broadens its appeal beyond simple home storage. That means the N5 Max could be used not just for storing files or running AI assisted search, but also for self hosting services, managing recoverable local data pools, running isolated applications, or building a more controlled homelab environment around the same hardware.

Minisforum N5 Max Price & Release Date

As of April 6, 2026, Minisforum still does not appear to have published an official retail price or a confirmed shipping date for the N5 Max. The company’s March 11 announcement described the system as “to-be-launched,” and contemporaneous reporting also noted that pricing and release timing had not yet been announced. That means the N5 Max remains in a pre-release stage from a commercial point of view, even though the hardware platform, software direction, and much of the specification set are now clearer than they were during the original January CES reveal.

What can be said with more confidence is where the N5 Max is likely to sit within the existing Minisforum NAS range. On Minisforum’s current store listings, the N5 Air is shown at $519 sale price on the official store home page, the base N5 is shown at $599, and the N5 Pro is shown at $959, while no live product listing or price is currently visible there for the N5 Max. Given the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 platform, fixed 128 GB LPDDR5x memory, internal 250 W PSU, and broader AI focused positioning, it is reasonable to expect the N5 Max to land above the N5 Pro rather than alongside it, but until Minisforum formally opens orders or publishes a listing, that remains an informed expectation rather than a confirmed launch price.

Where to Buy the Minisforum N5 NAS Series:
  • Minisforum N5 AIR NAS ($519) – HERE
  • Minisforum N5 PRO NAS ($959) – HERE
  • Minisforum N5 NAS ($529) – HERE
  • Minisforum N5 MAX ($TBC) – HERE

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