As most of you know, the Intel NUC may have arguably created the whole "mini PC" market. However, recently, Intel has discontinued the NUC. Following Intel's discontinuation of its NUC mini PC line last year, Asus secured a licensing agreement to further develop, market, and support NUC-branded mini PCs. Early this year, Asus introduced its first entries into the NUC market, setting the stage for their release.
Asus has since disclosed pricing for two of its NUC mini PC models, aligning with expectations based on Intel's historical pricing strategies. The entry-level Asus NUC 14 Pro is listed at $394, positioning it above many budget-friendly mini PCs but consistent with Intel's pricing norms.
The Asus NUC 14 Pro is powered by the Intel Core 3 100U processor, a 15-watt, 6-core, 8-thread processor based on Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture, marking a balance between power efficiency and performance. Asus also offers configurations up to the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H chip, which is based on the Meteor Lake architecture, promising enhanced CPU and integrated graphics performance for those willing to invest more.
Key features across all models include dual SODIMM slots supporting DDR5-5600 memory, PCIe Gen 4 storage support, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port, and wireless connectivity through WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
The higher-end Asus NUC 14 Pro+, starting at $869, boasts a standard Intel Meteor Lake processor across configurations, with processor options ranging up to the Core Ultra 9 185H. This model features an aluminum chassis and an advanced cooling system, designed to manage the thermal output of more powerful processors effectively.
While Asus has not specified availability dates for these mini PCs, the disclosed specifications offer a glimpse into the technical advancements and strategic positioning of the Asus NUC 14 Pro and Pro+ models. These systems cater to a range of needs, from basic computing to more demanding applications, reflecting Asus's ambition to provide versatile and powerful mini PCs in the NUC lineup.