Asus Mini PC Asus NUC 14 Pro+ Desktop Mini PC Ultra 7 14th Gen Review
The Asus NUC 14 Pro+ is a stylish, ultra-compact desktop with fantastic connectivity, but you pay a premium for its small size. It's great for a clean desk, but don't expect gaming-level performance.
The 30-Second Version
A stylish and incredibly well-connected mini PC that's better for your desk aesthetics than for heavy lifting. Buy it for the ports and the size, not for blazing speed or gaming.
Overview
The Asus NUC 14 Pro+ is a tiny, well-connected desktop that's trying to be smarter than it is fast. The headline here isn't raw power—it's the promise of local AI processing in a box the size of your hand. It's a solid, modern office PC that's been shrunk down, but you're paying a premium for that small footprint and the 'AI Ready' badge.
Performance
Looking at our database, the performance story is a bit of a mixed bag. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H lands in the 48th percentile for CPU power, which is perfectly fine for office work and web browsing, but it's not a speed demon. The integrated Intel Arc graphics are a step up from older Intel graphics, but at the 43rd percentile for GPU, you're not buying this for gaming or heavy creative work. The real surprise is the connectivity: it scores in the 100th percentile for ports, packing Thunderbolt 4 and dual HDMI 2.1. That's a lot of screen and peripheral potential for such a small box.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredible port selection for its size (Thunderbolt 4, dual HDMI 2.1). 93th
- Compact, premium aluminum chassis that looks great on a desk. 87th
- Easy toolless access for RAM and storage upgrades. 72th
- Modern specs with DDR5 RAM and a fast PCIe 4.0 SSD.
Cons
- You're paying a 'mini tax'—performance per dollar is lower than a traditional desktop. 30th
- The 'AI Ready' feature feels more like marketing for most users right now.
- Asus customer support has a terrible reputation, according to multiple buyers.
- Integrated graphics mean gaming is a non-starter (scored 12.5/100 in that category).
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 64 bit 16-Core Processor |
| Cores | 64 |
| Frequency | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Integrated video |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM | 16 GB |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
Build
| Form Factor | Mini |
| PSU | 120 |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.3 lbs |
Connectivity
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | 2 x HDMI 2.1 |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Ethernet | 2.5Gbps |
System
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
At around $1,000, it's not a great value if raw performance is your only goal. You're spending extra for the mini form factor and the sleek design. If you need a tiny, modern, and well-connected PC for a clean desk setup, it's worth considering. If you just want the most power for your budget, look elsewhere.
vs Competition
This isn't competing with the big gaming towers listed. Its real rivals are other mini PCs like the Intel NUC kits or the Mac Mini. Compared to a base model Mac Mini with an M2 chip, the Asus offers more upgradeability and a wider array of ports, but the Mac will likely feel snappier in general use and has much better integrated graphics. Against other Windows mini PCs, the NUC 14 Pro+ wins on modern connectivity but you need to check if you actually need Thunderbolt 4 to justify the cost.
| Spec | Asus Mini PC Asus NUC 14 Pro+ Desktop Mini PC Ultra 7 14th Gen | HP OMEN HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop, Intel Core Ultra 7 | MSI MSI - EdgeXpert Mini Desktop - Arm 20 core - 128GB | Dell Dell Tower Plus Desktop Computer | Lenovo Lenovo Legion T7 34IAS10 90Y6003JUS Gaming Desktop | Apple Mac Studio Apple - Mac Studio - M3 Ultra - 1TB SSD - Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 64 bit 16-Core Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 265K | ARM | Intel Core Ultra 7 265 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | Apple M3 Ultra |
| RAM (GB) | 32 | 32 | 128 | 32 | 64 | 96 |
| Storage (GB) | 1024 | 2048 | 4096 | 1024 | 2048 | 1000 |
| GPU | Intel Integrated video | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | Apple M3 Ultra 60-core |
| Form Factor | Mini | Desktop | Mini | Tower | Tower | - |
| Psu W | 120 | 850 | 240 | 750 | - | - |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | NVIDIA DGX OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | macOS |
Common Questions
Q: Can I play games on this?
Not really. It has integrated Intel Arc graphics, which are fine for older or very simple games, but our data gives it a 12.5/100 score for gaming. For anything modern, you'll need a desktop with a dedicated GPU.
Q: Is it easy to upgrade?
Yes, that's a real strength. The chassis opens without tools, so you can swap out the SSD or RAM (which is SODIMM laptop memory) fairly easily down the line.
Q: What does 'AI Ready' actually mean for me?
Right now, not much for most people. It means the CPU has a dedicated AI engine (NPU) that some specific software can use to speed up tasks like background blur in video calls. It's a forward-looking feature, not a current must-have.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a gaming PC or a workstation for video editing or 3D rendering, this isn't it. The integrated graphics and mid-tier CPU will hold you back. Go get a desktop with a dedicated graphics card instead. Also, skip it if you expect great customer service—the feedback on Asus support is brutal.
Verdict
We can cautiously recommend the Asus NUC 14 Pro+ if your priorities are a tiny footprint, a clean look, and future-proof connectivity like Thunderbolt 4. It's a capable machine for office work, media consumption, and light productivity. Just go in with eyes wide open about the performance ceiling and Asus's spotty support. For everyone else, a traditional small-form-factor desktop or a laptop dock will give you more for your money.