Asus has just officially revealed the NUC 14 Pro AIa powerful mini PC to stand up to competitors in this new era of compact devices, bringing the power of recent processors Intel Core Ultra 9 in a design reminiscent of the renewed Mac Mini.
The launch is part of a growing trend in the market, which gained new momentum with the recent redesign of the Mac Mini, generating numerous responses from the industry.
In the coming weeks, during CES 2025, we should see a multitude of similar devices announced by various manufacturers
Power and compactness
The NUC 14 Pro AI is already an old acquaintance, as it was first introduced in IFA 2024but now it has finally received more detailed specifications.
The device will be available in five CPU configurations, ranging from Core Ultra 5 226V with 16 GB of RAM memory at the Core Ultra 9 288V with 32 GB of RAM memory. It will also support NVMe M.2 SSDs from 256GB to 2TB.
With dimensions of just 130 mm by 34 mm high, it is slightly larger than the Mac Mini in depth and width, but considerably thinner, standing out as one of the most compact mini PCs on the market so far.
O ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI Has the integrated GPU Intel Arc™ 140/130Vbuilt on the Xe2 architecture. The GPU will provide up to 67 TOPS e 48 TOPS the NPU for use with artificial intelligence, which should deliver an exceptional experience for intensive tasks such as gaming and content creation.
Thanks to upscaling technology Xe Super Scaling (XeSS) and AI engines Intel Xe Matrix Extensions (XMX)the device will be suitable in applications that require high-quality graphics and robust computing capabilities.
With advanced performance and built-in artificial intelligence support, the ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI is a practical and compact solution to meet both productivity and entertainment demands.
Another highlight of the NUC 14 Pro AI is its memory LPDDR5x-8533 MT/s integradaa pioneer in offering superior performance compared to traditional DDR5 memories.
The technology has a bandwidth of up to 1.5 times biggerensuring great speed and efficiency in multitasking, data processing and artificial intelligence applications.
High connectivity and advanced functions
The design includes a fingerprint sensor at the top and a dedicated button for voice commands with the Microsoft assistant.
On the front, there are two USB-A ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, headphone jack and the on/off button.
The rear offers more connectivity with another Thunderbolt 4 port, two additional USB-A ports, HDMI, and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. The device also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
O NUC 14 Pro AI positions itself as a true PC Copilot+bringing a dedicated button for quick access to Microsoft Copilot’s artificial intelligence features.
Therefore, equipped with a built-in microphone and speaker, the device allows the execution of AI instructions in an agile and intuitive way. With the Windows 11Copilot acts as a virtual assistant, providing immediate responses and creative and technical support, whether through local or web sources.
Asus NUC 14 Pro AI technical specifications
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor (CPU) | – Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor 288V (32GB RAM, cTDP 30W) – Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 Processor 258V (32GB RAM, cTDP 30W) – Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 Processor 256V (16GB RAM, cTDP 30W) – Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 Processor 228V (32GB RAM, cTDP 30W) – Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 Processor 226V (16GB RAM, cTDP 30W) |
| Chipset | Integrated |
| Graphics | Intel® Arc™ Graphics (Integrado) |
| Memory | Integrated LPDDR5x-8533 (16/32GB, depending on model) |
| Storage | 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe® Gen4x4, suporta SSD NVMe® de 256GB a 2TB |
| Wireless connection | Intel® Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth® 5.4, 2×2 |
| LAN | 1 x Intel® 2.5G LAN |
| Audio and Microphone | – 1 x Internal mono speaker with external smart amplifier – 1 x Internal digital microphone |
| TPM | fTPM 2.0 or TPM 2.0 chip (optional) |
| Interfaces | Topo: – 1 x Fingerprint Module Frontal: – 1 x On/Off button – 1 x Copilot Button – 1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 (DisplayPort™ 2.1) – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A (5Gbps) – 1 x Audio input (Line Out/Mic In/Headphone) Rear: – 1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 (DisplayPort™ 2.1) – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10Gbps) – 1 x Porta HDMI® – 1 x RJ45 LAN 2.5G – 1 x DC Input |
| Dimensions | 130 x 130 x 34mm (0.5746 liters) |
| Weight | 0,53kg |
| Food | 120W Power Adapter (20V DC / 19V DC, 6.0A / 6.32A) |
High Mini PCs
As we commented at the beginning of the text, the reformulation of the Mac Mini in fact boosted the compact PC market. Devices like the Geekom Mini IT13announced yesterday with the Core Ultra 9, or the MS-A1 da Miniforumwhich now includes an option with Ryzen 9, reinforces the trend.
It is worth remembering that lesser-known brands such as Aoostar Gem12 Pro Maxwhich bets on innovations such as small integrated displays, and the arrival of mini PCs like the OnLogicthe first to combine Ryzen 7 with a fanless design in the NUC form factor.
Already CES 2025which takes place from the second week of January, the expectation is for an even more competitive scenario, with several brands taking advantage of the occasion to present new mini PCs equipped with the latest hardware advances, such as Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra processors .
Price and availability
Although Asus has not yet revealed the price or launch date of the NUC 14 Pro AI, the expectation is that the device will hit the market in the first half of 2025, with a competitive positioning compared to solutions from AMD and Intel that have been gaining space.
The mini PC market remains strong and new developments tend to take this category to a level of greater acceptance, offering power and versatility in increasingly compact and innovative formats.
Font: Asus
Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/asus/asus-nuc-14-pro-ai-mini-pc-anunciado-core-ultra-9/
