Asus’ NUC Revolution: A Deep Dive into the 2025 Lineup
After more than a decade under Intel’s wing, the NUC (Next Unit of Computing) brand has entered a new era under the stewardship of Asus. The acquisition, which concluded over a year ago, marks a significant turning point for the mini-PC lineup. While the previous year saw Intel still involved in design aspects, the 2025 NUC lineup unveiled at CES in Las Vegas showcases Asus’ complete vision, design prowess, and innovation.
To understand the direction Asus is taking the NUC brand, an interview was conducted with Kuo Wei Chao, General Manager of Asus’ IoT Business Unit. The conversation provided valuable insight into Asus’ core objectives and the key features that define the new generation of NUCs.
The CES 2025 lineup features a diverse range of models catering to different needs and user profiles. The NUC 14 AI and the premium NUC 14 Pro AI+ stand out with their focus on artificial intelligence, boasting 48 TOPS NPU AI power and a dedicated Copilot+ button for seamless access to AI assistants. For everyday computing needs, the NUC 15 and NUC 15 Pro+ offer powerful performance fueled by the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chips. The NUC 14 Essential is designed for efficiency, delivering maximum performance while minimizing power consumption.
However, the undisputed star of the lineup is the return of the ROG NUC, promising the most potent CPU and GPU combination ever seen in a NUC device.
Chao articulated Asus’ threefold focus for its second year of NUC development. First, mirroring the broader trend at CES 2025, the integration of AI hardware is a central theme, granting users enhanced AI task mobility. Second, Asus is committed to "improving performance while keeping NUC sizes as small as possible." The third pillar, deeply rooted in Asus’ corporate ethos, involves incorporating user feedback into the NUC range. This commitment reflects the company’s dedication to tailoring the NUC experience to meet consumer demands.
The ROG NUC is the best example of Asus’ changes to the NUC brand in action.
Asus has significantly increased the ROG NUC’s performance by upgrading its CPU and GPU to an Intel Core Ultra 9 mobile CPU and a mobile Blackwell variant of the Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU. These components represent the pinnacle of Intel and Nvidia’s 2025 performance offerings. In addition to raw power, Asus has prioritized cooling, upgradability, and connectivity.
While Asus did not specify the exact model of the Intel Core Ultra 9 (Series 2) chip used in the 2025 ROG NUC, the turbo clock speed of 5.5GHz suggests it is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, Intel’s flagship Arrow Lake mobile CPU. The ROG NUC boasts 24 cores of processing power, coupled with 36 TOPS of AI power.
The inclusion of the RTX 5080 GPU ensures compatibility with Nvidia’s new DLSS 4 AI technology.
A significant feature of the 2025 ROG NUC is the introduction of overclocking capabilities. Upgrading to an Intel mobile HX Series Arrow Lake chip grants users greater control over their NUC’s maximum CPU speed. Overclocking can be managed through Asus’ Armory Crate software, which also allows users to adjust fan speed settings.
The cooling system has been revamped with an integrated triple-fan design featuring twin vapor chambers. This system not only improves cooling performance but also reduces noise levels compared to the 2024 ROG NUC. The perforated chassis further enhances airflow.
The new chassis measures 11.1 x 7.4 x 2.2 inches, slightly larger than its predecessor at 3 liters versus 2.5 liters. However, the larger size allows for greater upgradability.
The base 16GB of RAM can be expanded to a maximum of 96GB. A new single-screw design simplifies access to the internal components.
The ROG NUC boasts a comprehensive array of connectivity options, including 6x USB-A 3.2 ports, 2x HDMI 2.1 FRL ports, and 2x DisplayPort 2.1 ports. Additionally, it features a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port, a 3.5mm combo jack, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet port. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 provide wireless connectivity.
The decision to include a Thunderbolt 4 port instead of the newer Thunderbolt 5 is notable, especially considering that Asus’ 2025 XG Mobile eGPU utilizes the latter. Chao explained that this choice was made after extensive discussions with gamers, stating that while Thunderbolt 5 holds long-term potential, its ecosystem is still in its early stages. Therefore, Asus prioritized the preferences and needs of the majority of gamers for the 2025 ROG NUC.
The ROG NUC’s design aligns with Asus’ ROG portfolio, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. It has a 16GB of fast DDR5-6400 memory and the 7,680 CUDA cores in the RTX 5080.
The 2025 ROG NUC combines performance, upgradability, and portability.
