Asus has introduced new mini-PCs in the NUC series. The Asus NUC 14 Pro AI+ series models are equipped with Intel Lunar Lake chips with built-in Battlemage graphics and E-Ink color displays built into the lid. Asus NUC 15 Pro computers mark the debut of Arrow Lake-H processors in the mini PC segment.
Image source: asus.com
Asus NUC 14 Pro AI+ is a continuation of models based on Intel Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) chips, presented last fall and going on sale at the end of December. The updated NUCs feature processor-integrated AI accelerators (NPUs) with performance of 40-48 TOPS, which meets the requirements of Copilot+ for Windows 11 24H2. The case has two Thunderbolt 4 ports with USB Type-C connectors that can operate in DisplayPort mode, there is one HDMI 2.1 – all of them allow you to connect up to three UHD displays. There are four USB Type-A ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2), a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port.
A distinctive feature of the Asus NUC 14 Pro AI+ is the lid with a built-in E-Ink display – it allows the owner to stay up to date with incoming messages even when the main monitor is turned off. Asus has not yet specified the range of processors in the updated series, and the recommended retail prices of the computers are also unknown.
The company also announced the NUC 15 Pro and NUC 15 Pro+ mini PCs. The older version features a larger brushed aluminum case and an improved cooling system; the younger one is available in a “flat” and “tall” case for installing an additional M.2 2280 drive.
The computers are equipped with Intel Core Ultra 200H (Arrow Lake) processors, but their names do not have the AI+ prefix because Arrow Lake chips do not have powerful enough NPUs to run Copilot+. As an alternative, Intel Core 200H chips are available – mobile versions of Raptor Lake Refresh. But the Arrow Lake architecture, unlike Lunar Lake, allows you to connect up to four displays to Asus NUC 15 Pro and 15 Pro+ computers.