Compared to the previous generation, the LIVA Q3 Plus from ECS is definitely a massive step up in terms of performance. The quad-core AMD Embedded Ryzen V1605B provides a noticeable improvement in all tasks, while the Radeon Vega 8 IGP proves more than adequate for driving displays and handling everyday tasks. Compared directly to the LIVA Q2, temperatures are down, and noise levels are similar. In fact, the AMD processor peaked at just 68 °C, and the Vega 8 IGP at 63 °C during extreme testing. Compare that to the Intel-based LIVA Q2, which easily hit 78 °C. Less heat should mean a longer lifespan as well. Regardless of temperatures, as noted previously, performance is greatly improved across the board. But is the performance improvement enough to justify nearly double the price? For many consumers, I would say no. This is based entirely on the system being used for web browsing and streaming. That said, if it is being used for productivity tasks, such as spreadsheets, data entry. etc., the improved performance is easily noticeable.

Either way, the upgrade from 4 GB of DDR4 to 8 GB is nice to see and likely a large contributor to the increase in performance. However, with no option to expand or improve it, it remains a significant limiting factor, especially since it is a single channel setup. Dual-channel would improve overall memory bandwidth and would likely boost the Radeon Vega 8 IGP's performance even with the limited TDP of the processor. When it came to emulating older games from the N64 and PS1 era, it proved more than capable and was even good enough to emulate PS2 titles at 720p. However, not for all titles. Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater ran poorly, but it is a challenging game to emulate regardless. Meanwhile, titles like Suikoden 4 ran just fine, meaning it will depend heavily on the PS2 title being emulated.

Storage also sees a boost to 128 GB on the consumer model, which should give users some breathing room. While I am not a fan of using an SD card for expanded storage, the fact that the LIVA Q3 can support up to a 1 TB SD card should be plenty considering this system's target markets. Still, considering Chuwi managed to squeeze an M.2 SATA slot into their mini-PC, it leaves me feeling ECS could have done a bit more here.

As for the build quality, it is reasonably good overall with no glaring problems. ECS even opted for a solid copper heatsink, which shows that they kept thermal performance in mind. This makes sense considering the system is tailored more towards digital signage, industrial applications, and kiosks than general consumers. It doesn't hurt that the system is also extremely power efficient, using just 6 watts at Idle vs. 15 watts under typical loads. Pushing it to the limit, the unit pulled 26 watts. Either way, it offers two display outputs and three USB ports, which is enough for a keyboard, mouse, and external storage device. It also has Gigabit Ethernet as well as WiFi. Suffice it to say, it's a reasonably versatile system depending on your needs even if the I/O is limited compared to a proper desktop or some laptops. Still, ECS has some refining to do. I would still like to see an M.2 slot added in future versions for improved and faster storage. I can accept that its small size means there is no real option to expand system memory, but a competitor sometime ago managed to get an M.2 slot into a system this size. That means it's time to step up and meet that challenge.

Ever since its first incarnation, the LIVA Q series remains stuck in the same pocket-sized rut. It's the perfect PC for grandma to check Facebook and look up recipes, and in fact, my grandmother absolutely loved it. It's also more than enough for the kids to do their homework while giving parents the option to take it away if necessary. That said, its current price means a laptop still makes more sense. The LIVA Q3, like its predecessors, is, as you might have guessed, use-case specific. It is tailored more for digital signage, industrial applications, or even as a client system for the office where more and more work is done via the cloud. But for most consumers, a laptop will make more sense. While I do like it as a home theater system as it easily handled 4K streams and allowed me to bypass the built-in apps on my smart TV, which are moving towards adding advertisements and other annoying features, I wouldn't spend $550 to do that. Even going with the no-OS option at $420 still feels a bit steep.

Overall, the ECS LIVA Q3 Plus is quite the performer for its size, but its size is also its most significant limiting factor. With limited appeal and a price increase from $189 on the LIVA Q2 I previously reviewed to $550 or $420 (without Windows 10) for the LIVA Q3 Plus, it's a hefty price for the performance offered, placing the unit in direct competition with more configurable Mini-PCs and laptops. With that said, ECS does offer a dual-core model with 128 GB of eMMC storage and 4 GB of RAM and Windows 10 for $452. Opting to install the OS yourself drops that down to $322, which is a bit more palatable but still quite costly considering performance will likely suffer considerably due to the lack of system memory. Recommending the ECS LIVA Q3 for average consumers is thus quite difficult unless they specifically need something this tiny.