NUC is changing as ASUS prepares a version powered by AMD Strix Halo

Now, a NUC powered by an AMD Strix Halo processor may be on the way. Since July 2023, when Intel transferred the rights and responsibilities for developing future NUC products, users have seen new iterations of these compact computers, such as the ROG NUC and NUC 14. However, according to recent reports, the NUC may no longer be what it once was. ASUS is reportedly preparing a mini PC that still carries the NUC name but is powered by AMD.

If you’re unfamiliar with NUC or don’t know its origins, here’s a brief explanation. NUC is commonly used to refer to small, boxy mini PCs with a volume of around 0.7 liters. Originally, NUC was a compact barebone PC kit (meaning it required additional components to function) designed and launched by Intel in early 2013. Essentially, NUC was Intel’s mini PC—until its transfer to ASUS—exclusively running Intel chips. Now, with the transition to AMD, NUC is undergoing a major change.

Information from the X (formerly Twitter) account Olrak29_ shows a partial shipping declaration dated December 26, 2024, mentioning a mini PC with the model code NUC14LNS. Manufactured by ASUS, this device is reportedly equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI Max processor. It’s likely referring to the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, featuring integrated Radeon 8060S graphics, shipped for testing by BIS (possibly the Bureau of Indian Standards), meaning it's headed for India.

The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is AMD’s top-tier "Strix Halo" CPU, boasting 16 Zen 5 cores and a powerful RDNA 3.5-based GPU with 40 compute units (CUs). If an AMD-powered NUC does launch, it could be the first 0.7-liter (estimated) mini PC to deliver performance on par with the ROG NUC lineup.

Currently, only HP has officially announced a mini PC (technically a mini workstation) using AMD’s “Strix Halo” processor—the HP Z2 Mini G1a. Meanwhile, ASUS, which now owns the NUC brand, is preparing the next-generation NUC 15 series, succeeding last year’s NUC 14. The lineup includes the NUC 15 Pro and NUC 15 Pro+, both powered by Intel Arrow Lake-H. Additionally, a new 2025 ROG NUC is in the works, featuring the Core Ultra 9 285H (Arrow Lake-S) and an NVIDIA RTX 5080 “Blackwell” discrete GPU.

This year’s ROG NUC is expected to remain at the top of the ultra-compact yet high-performance PC segment, catering to gaming enthusiasts. Until then, while waiting for more exciting news, remember to use our comparison tool to find the best deal for your next favorite game.