Asus has launched one of the anticipated versions of its NUC 16 Pro mini desktop computer to become officially available for purchase. This distinguished device appeared for the first time during the Global Technology Exhibition at the beginning of 2026, where the company explained at that time that it would be available with powerful processing options up to the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H processor from the Panther Lake series, without specifying an exact date for its launch in the commercial markets.
Although the most powerful version with the highest specifications has not been put up for sale until this moment, Asus has made available one of the mid-range options that is based on the powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 356H processor. This specific version of the mini-computer is currently available at a price of $999, and comes as a basic system stripped of some components, giving the user the freedom to choose additional parts according to his needs and budget.
This small computer offers tremendous support for up to 128 GB of DDR5 random access memory via two dedicated ports. The device also includes two M.2 ports that accommodate a huge total storage space of 16 TB. The first port supports ultra-fast PCIe Gen 5×4 drives, while the second port is dedicated to PCIe Gen 4×4 drives to meet all storage requirements with high efficiency and ultra-fast response speed.
Returning to the processor used in this version, it should be noted that the Core Ultra 7 356H processor does not include the Arc B390 graphics processing unit dedicated to superior performance. Instead, the device relies on an integrated Intel Graphics 4
Instead, the device features two Thunderbolt 4 ports that provide full support for installing external graphics cards to enhance performance when needed. The port panel is completed with four USB-A ports, two wired network ports, two HDMI 2.1 ports, in addition to one USB-C port, and all of this comes within a compact body that features a practical design that allows for tool-less disassembly and installation for easy upgrade and maintenance, with a cooling system that relies on two fans to maintain stable performance for long periods.
