Intel NUC 14 Pro Review

Intel’s NUC has long been the benchmark for compact computing, packing serious desktop power into a palm-sized chassis. Now under ASUS’s stewardship, the NUC 14 Pro arrives with Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, aiming to push the boundaries of what a mini-PC can accomplish. This little black box carries a legacy of performance and a future-forward focus on AI, making it a compelling device for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

The first thing you’ll notice about the NUC 14 Pro is the new tool-less chassis, an excellent quality-of-life improvement inherited from ASUS. A simple pull on a latch releases the top cover, granting immediate access to the SODIMM and M.2 slots. This makes installing RAM and storage an absolute breeze, even for novices. While the design is functional and honeycomb-patterned side vents provide ample airflow, the all-plastic construction is a step back from the premium-feeling metal enclosures of previous generations. It’s solid enough, but it lacks the reassuring heft and professional aesthetic of its predecessors. Port selection, however, remains a highlight, with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, multiple USB-A connections, dual HDMI 2.1, and a 2.5 GbE LAN port providing phenomenal connectivity for a device this small.

At the heart of the system is where the real magic happens. Our review unit, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, chewed through productivity tasks, code compilation, and multi-layered creative projects without breaking a sweat. The new CPU architecture, combining Performance-cores and Efficient-cores, delivers a potent blend of multi-threaded muscle and power efficiency. The integrated Arc graphics are a significant leap forward, making 1080p gaming on medium settings a reality for many titles and accelerating video encoding workloads. The inclusion of an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is forward-looking, poised to offload future AI tasks from the CPU and GPU, though its real-world impact today is still nascent. Under sustained load, the single cooling fan works hard and becomes clearly audible—it’s not distractingly loud, but it’s a noticeable presence in a quiet room.

The NUC 14 Pro’s value proposition is nuanced. It carries a premium price, especially when you factor in the cost of adding your own memory and storage for the barebones kits. Competing mini-PCs from other brands may offer similar raw performance for less money. However, the NUC’s value lies in its polished ecosystem, robust driver support, enterprise-grade features like Intel vPro, and the peace of mind that comes with a tier-one manufacturer. It’s a refined, reliable workhorse built for demanding environments where stability and connectivity are paramount.

For power users, developers, or businesses seeking a compact, versatile, and highly capable computer for workstations or advanced deployments, the ASUS NUC 14 Pro is a fantastic choice. It successfully carries the NUC torch forward, blending cutting-edge performance from the Core Ultra platform with thoughtful design enhancements. While it may not be the cheapest mini-PC on the block, its combination of power, connectivity, and polish makes it a leader in the premium compact computing space.

Where to Buy:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Intel+NUC+14+Pro&tag=cp01a-20