In December, Asus will be revealing the latest addition to its line-up, the NUC Pro AI, featuring the upcoming Lunar Lake chipset. This unveiling has stirred up excitement in the tech community, not just for the innovative technology it promises, but also for the prospect of owning a high-performance and self-sufficient laptop.
Intel’s cutting-edge Lunar Lake chips are not limited to just ultra-portable devices. Recent announcements have confirmed that the upcoming MSI Claw console will also be powered by Lunar Lake. Now, Asus is jumping on the bandwagon by incorporating the Lunar Lake chipset into its new NUC Pro series.
Enhanced AI Capabilities with Lunar Lake in the NUC Pro
Those who closely follow the developments in mini PC technology are aware that Asus took over Intel’s NUC brand and operations some time back. The new NUC Pro series, set to launch in December, will come equipped with Lunar Lake System-on-Chips (SoCs). While specific details regarding the specifications are currently under wraps, it is evident that these models will be marketed as ‘AI’ Mini PCs, as exhibited at the IFA event. The inclusion of the ‘Copilot+’ button on the front panel of the NUC alludes to advanced AI functionalities.
The design of this mini PC closely aligns with Intel’s NUC aesthetic. Observant eyes will notice subtle changes like rounded corners and a slight increase in size, now measuring 130 × 130 × 34 mm compared to the previous version’s 117 × 112 × 37 mm dimensions. In terms of connectivity, users can expect all the features provided by Lunar Lake, such as 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports (1 on the front and another at the rear). Unlike its predecessor, the NUC 14 Pro, the new NUC Pro will have a single HDMI output instead of two. Additionally, it retains the USB-A ports and includes a 2.5 Gbit LAN port. Wireless connectivity options comprise WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Further information, especially regarding the performance capabilities of this mini PC and how the SoC might leverage its potential more effectively than an ultrabook, is eagerly awaited. The device is also expected to deliver impressive graphics performance, an area where AMD currently dominates the market.
