Asus has introduced its latest mini PC, the NUC 14 Pro AI, featuring Intel's new Core Ultra series 2 Lunar Lake processors and a surprising addition - a dedicated Copilot button on the front panel.
Compact Powerhouse
The NUC 14 Pro AI packs impressive specs into a tiny 130x130mm chassis, weighing less than 1.1 lbs:
- Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 288V CPU (8 cores: 4 P-cores, 4 E-cores)
- 8 Xe2 GPU cores at 2.05 GHz
- 16GB or 32GB LPDDR5X-8533 memory
- Up to 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD storage
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support
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| The powerful specifications of the Asus NUC 14 Pro AI mini PC |
AI-Focused Features
As the name suggests, this mini PC is built with AI capabilities in mind:
- Up to 48 TOPS of AI processing power
- Dedicated Copilot button for quick access to Microsoft's AI assistant
- Copilot+ support (update coming November 2024)
Connectivity and Expansion
Despite its small size, the NUC 14 Pro AI offers a wide range of ports:
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 (with DisplayPort 2.1 support)
- 4x USB 3.2 ports (2x Gen1, 2x Gen2)
- HDMI 2.1
- 2.5 GbE LAN
- 3.5mm audio jack
Unique Design Elements
Asus has incorporated some interesting features into the NUC 14 Pro AI's design:
- Fingerprint reader for Windows Hello authentication
- Active cooling system with strategically placed vents
- Built-in speakers and microphone
Availability and Pricing
While Asus hasn't announced specific pricing or a release date, the NUC 14 Pro AI is expected to launch later this year. It will come pre-installed with Windows 11 Home or Pro.
The Copilot Button Debate
The inclusion of a dedicated Copilot button on the front panel has raised some eyebrows. While it showcases Microsoft's push to integrate AI assistants more deeply into hardware, its practicality on a mini PC that's likely to be placed at arm's length is questionable.
As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in computing, it will be interesting to see how hardware manufacturers continue to adapt their designs to accommodate these new technologies. The Asus NUC 14 Pro AI represents an intriguing step in this direction, even if some of its choices might seem puzzling at first glance.