We’re sure some of you have seen those hulking gaming PC rigs over at r/battlestations on Reddit. But if you’re not looking for something that’s overkill and just want something small and capable that will blend into your living room, mini PCs are the way to go. In fact, ASUS has unveiled its latest NUC 15 Pro, which could be a perfect desktop alternative for some of you out there.
ASUS NUC 15 Pro’s key specs
In terms of build, the NUC 15 Pro measures 117mm x 112mm x 37mm and ranges in weight from 500g to 600g, depending on your configuration. ASUS has also designed it to meet MIL-STD-810H standards. Obviously, please don’t drop it, but the MIL-STD-810H standards mean it can withstand some knocks here and there.
Under the hood, the NUC 15 Pro is powered by an Intel Core Ultra processor (Series 2), which ASUS claims is an 18% boost in performance gen-on-gen. Memory is not an issue for the mini PC either. The computer supports up to a staggering 96GB of dual-channel DDR5-6400MHz RAM. It might be overkill for some, but if you do need that much RAM, that is an option.
Now, obviously, given its size, don’t expect to find a desktop-class GPU inside it. Instead, the NUC 15 Pro comes equipped with Intel Arc graphics. This should be good enough for day-to-day tasks, basic photo and video editing, and maybe even some games. It won’t run the latest games at 60 FPS, but it is definitely sufficient for casual ones and older titles.
The ASUS NUC 15 Pro has a PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD slot for storage. There is an additional Gen4 expansion slot for various storage needs. Last but not least, the NUC 15 Pro includes connectivity support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It also comes with ports such as dual HDMI 2.1 ports, Thunderbolt 4 ports, DisplayPort 2.1, and USB4 compatibility.
Who is this for?
Mini PCs are basically computers but in a much smaller form factor. However, it raises the question of who these types of PCs are intended for. It’s clear that the design does not cater to hardcore gamers or to those who require a powerful rig for video production or 3D rendering.
However, this doesn’t mean that these mini PCs have no target audience. For instance, their compact sizes make them ideal for the office, conference rooms, and remote work setups. It could also be perfect for home theater enthusiasts. These PCs can act as an entertainment hub to access streaming services, videos downloaded to your hard drive, and more. It could also be perfect for schools where space might be limited.
