ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ 2025

The ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ is a barebone mini PC that squeezes a powerful 16-core Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and a massive port selection into a tiny, upgradeable case. It's ideal for developers and productivity users who want to build their own compact workstation, but gamers and plug-and-play fans should steer clear. You'll need to supply your own RAM, storage, and operating system, which pushes the real cost above the kit's $840-$1158 price range.

The ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ is a barebone mini PC that stuffs a ton of potential into a chassis you can palm with one hand. It's built around Intel's Core Ultra 9 285H, a 16-core chip aimed at productivity, AI workloads, and developers who need real horsepower without a tower taking over their desk. We're reviewing the kit here, so you'll need to add your own RAM, storage, and OS. If you've been searching for a compact desktop that can handle everything from coding to heavy multitasking, this little box is aiming straight at you. Connectivity is a highlight, with Thunderbolt 4, dual HDMI 2.1, and Wi-Fi 7, so hooking up multiple displays and fast peripherals is a breeze. And with prices ranging from $840 to $1,158 across vendors, you can find a decent deal if you shop around. Just know that the best price we're seeing is on the lower end of that spread, so it pays to compare. The tool-less chassis is a nice touch, letting you pop the lid, slot in up to 96GB of DDR5 memory, and slide in a fast PCIe 5.0 SSD in minutes. It's clearly built for tinkerers and power users who want a custom rig in a near-silent package.

Our benchmarks show the Core Ultra 9 285H sitting in the top quarter of desktop processors we've tested, and in practice it chews through code compiles, virtual machines, and data processing without breaking a sweat. It's not a chart-topper, but it's well above average, and for a machine this tiny, that's impressive. The integrated Intel Arc graphics land right in the middle of the pack. That means desktop apps, 4K video playback, and even some light creative work run perfectly smoothly, but don't expect to game on this thing. It scored a mere 16.5 out of 100 for gaming in our suitability tests, so titles like Cyberpunk 2077 are absolutely off the table. Where this NUC really shines is when you max out the RAM. 96GB of DDR5 at 6400 MT/s puts it in the 99th percentile of all desktops we've seen. For developers juggling databases, Docker containers, and browser tabs, that kind of memory capacity is a game-changer. Just remember you have to buy and install it yourself. The storage slots are fast, with one supporting PCIe 5.0, but if you go with the baseline 512GB SSD option, it's on the smaller side and only lands in the 29th percentile for capacity. A quick swap or secondary drive fixes that easily. Day-to-day responsiveness is crisp, the system stays cool and quiet, and the 150W PSU keeps things efficient for a 24/7 workstation.

The ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ kit itself costs between $840 and $1,158 depending on the retailer, and that's just the starting line. You'll shell out extra for DDR5 memory, an NVMe SSD, and a Windows license, which can easily add $300-$400 to your total. When you stack that up, a Mac mini M4 starts to look tempting because it comes with everything ready to go out of the box for a similar price. But the NUC gives you flexibility the Mac can't match: you can choose exactly how much RAM and storage you want, upgrade it later, and run Windows or Linux without jumping through hoops. If you spot this kit at the lower end of that $318 price spread, it's a solid foundation for a custom workstation. Just don't underestimate the hidden costs if you're used to pre-built pricing.

Next to the Apple Mac mini M4, the NUC 15 Pro+ is the tinkerer's choice. The Mac mini delivers a unified memory architecture and incredible power efficiency with macOS, but you're locked into whatever config you buy. The NUC is more modular and can ramp up to 96GB of RAM, while the Mac mini tops out at 32GB on the base M4 chip. When you look at traditional towers like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i or MSI Aegis RS2, the NUC obviously can't compete on raw gaming performance or GPU upgradability. Those rigs pack dedicated GPUs, larger power supplies, and better cooling for sustained loads. But they're also massive by comparison and way overkill for an office or dev setup. The NUC carves out its own lane: stupidly small footprint, enough compute for non-gaming heavy lifting, and a port selection that puts many full-size desktops to shame. If you're cross-shopping with something like the Dell XPS desktop or HP OmniDesk, you're getting similar productivity performance but in a fraction of the size, as long as you're okay bringing your own parts.

If you're looking for a gaming PC or a completely hands-off, just-add-a-monitor experience, you should skip the NUC 15 Pro+. The integrated graphics are no match for dedicated gaming rigs like the MSI Aegis RS2 or Lenovo Legion Tower 5i, and the barebone nature means you'll be hunting for parts and installing an operating system before you can even use it. Apple fans deep in the ecosystem will find a lot more convenience in the Mac mini M4, which arrives ready to go with macOS, memory, and storage. If you'd rather not mess with hardware assembly, consider a pre-built desktop from HP or Dell instead.

If you're a developer, data scientist, or power user who values a clean desk and doesn't mind rolling up your sleeves, the ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ is a fantastic little machine. It's flexible, fast for its size, and packs more connectivity than you'll likely ever need. The barebone approach means you can tailor it exactly to your workload, and the tool-less design makes that process almost fun. However, it's not for everyone. Gamers should look elsewhere immediately. And if you want a system you can just plug in and start using without shopping for components and installing an OS, this kit will feel like a chore. The reliability score in our database is a bit lukewarm too, so long-term peace of mind isn't guaranteed. But for the right person, the NUC 15 Pro+ is a desk-friendly workhorse that earns its stripes where it counts.