ASUS NUC 16 Pro Debuts With Intel Panther Lake and Up to 180 TOPS AI Power

We recently saw the ASUS NUC 16 unveiled, and now ASUS has begun selling the NUC 16 Pro in China, introducing one of the first compact desktops powered by Intel Panther Lake.

The system was originally unveiled during CES 2026, and the first retail configuration is now available in the Chinese market with a price of RMB 10,999 (about $1,602).

ASUS launches NUC 16 Pro with Panther Lake

According to VideoCardz, the new NUC 16 Pro targets the high-end mini PC market rather than typical office-focused compact systems. The first retail configuration features the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor paired with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

The device is part of the first wave of mini PCs based on Intel’s Panther Lake architecture, also known as Core Ultra Series 3. The lineup can scale to higher-end processors, including models based on the Intel Core Ultra X9.

Integrated graphics options include the Intel Arc B390, bringing improved graphics performance compared with earlier NUC generations.

Focus on AI performance

One of the main selling points of the Panther Lake platform is AI acceleration. ASUS says the NUC 16 Pro platform can deliver up to 180 TOPS of AI performance, positioning it for AI workloads, development tasks, and advanced productivity applications.

The platform also supports up to 96GB of LPDDR5x-8533 memory on higher-end configurations, giving the compact system significantly higher memory bandwidth.

Compact design with upgrade support

Despite its small form factor, ASUS designed the NUC 16 Pro with upgradeability in mind. The system features dual-fan cooling and supports two M.2 storage drives with PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 compatibility.

The chassis uses a tool-less design that allows users to open the system and access components more easily. This approach simplifies upgrades and maintenance compared with many sealed mini PC designs.

Modern connectivity options

The Core Ultra X7 358H configuration includes modern connectivity designed for high-end users. It offers dual 2.5GbE Ethernet ports for fast wired networking alongside Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 support.

The system also includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two HDMI 2.1 outputs, enabling multi-display setups and high-speed external devices. USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports are available on both the front and rear panels for additional peripherals.

Image source: VideoCardz

Premium pricing raises questions

While the hardware specifications are strong for a mini PC, the price has raised some concerns. At roughly $1,600, the current model is not even the top-tier Panther Lake configuration.

Higher-end variants with a Core Ultra X9 processor and larger memory capacities could push pricing even further. As a result, the NUC 16 Pro appears aimed at premium compact workstation buyers rather than typical home users.

In other ASUS-related news, the company recently introduced the ASUS ExpertBook B3 G2, while early benchmark leaks suggest the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme may struggle against upcoming Apple M5 chips.