ASUS Announces an Adorable Copilot+ PC NUC

All mainstream Copilot+ PCs have been laptops to date, which makes sense given usage norms. But that’s going to change, and an ASUS announcement this week is just one example: The firm, which licensed the NUC brand from Intel in 2023 and agreed to keep making the small form factor (SFF) PCs, just revealed its first Copilot+ PC NUC. And it is adorable.

“ASUS today announced ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI, the world’s first mini PC featuring Intel Core™ Ultra processors (Series 2) integrated with Microsoft Copilot+,” the announcement notes. “This revolutionary device is engineered to deliver unparalleled performance for use across diverse sectors, easily handling business, entertainment, and industrial apps. Boasting compact dimensions and advanced AI capabilities, ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI sets a new benchmark for mini PC innovation, offering an alternative to traditional desktops in a compact package.”

I have so many questions the announcement doesn’t answer, most obviously the price range and when this product will be available. But as far as the Copilot+ PC bit goes, the language ASUS uses here will be familiar to anyone who parsed previous announcements about AMD Zen 5 and Intel Core Ultra Series 2 “Lunar Lake”-based laptops looking for clues about if or when these things would just be called Copilot+ PCs. It’s mostly identical.

Except in one instance.

“ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI is a Copilot+ PC with a dedicated Copilot button for quick AI access, delivering fast and intelligent Windows experiences,” the announcement notes. Granted, that sentence is flagged with a superscript that links to a footnote that reads, “Free update to Copilot+ PC experiences, when available. Timing varies by device and region.” It also links to a Copilot+ PC FAQ on the Microsoft website.

And, yes, this NUC does have a Copilot button. Not a Copilot key on its keyboard, as we see on most Windows laptops these days, but literally a button on its front that looks identical in size and shape to the NUC’s power button. That’s silly, but its presence there suggests it’s either a requirement or maybe just ASUS taking things a little too literally. The company also notes that this tiny PC has built-in microphones and speakers, just like a laptop, and that they can be used for voice commands in AI apps.

Beyond that, it looks like a cute little SFF PC. The ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI is powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, as noted, and provides five different options there, dictating whether it comes with 16 or 32 GB of RAM. (Remember that Lunar Lake is a unique one-off in which the processor is tied to integrated RAM.) It comes with a 256 GB to 2 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, and curiously (and probably incorrectly) notes that fTPM 2.0 or TPM 2.0 is optional. (I assume you get one or the other.)

The ports selection is nice given its size, and I like how ASUS labels each USB port with its data transmission speed instead of their increasingly inscrutable official names. On the rear, you’ll find two 10 Gbps USB-A ports, one Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Type C port (40 Gbps with DisplayPort 2.1), one HDMI 2.1 port, and one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. And then there’s another Thunderbolt 4/USB4 port and 5 Gbps USB-A port on the front, plus a combo mic/headphone jack. There’s also a Kensington lock slot on one side. The power adapter is 120 watts.

I assume we’ll be able to buy this thing in early 2025. Looking at the ASUS website, you’ll find a surprisingly diverse family of NUCs, including a line of “AI NUCs” that still resembles the old Intel and ROG designs. This coming NUC Pro AI device has a new look and feel that I like. Perhaps we’ll learn more at CES.