The Asus NUC 14 Essential has now been officially announced. The mini PC offers a compact yet powerful solution. The CPU technology is particularly exciting. Asus has opted for a brand new Intel Core N-series processor. This does not make the mini PC a power PC, but qualifies it as an energy-saving alternative for everyday tasks or multimedia applications.
The most important highlights
- Processor: Equipped with Intel Core N-series processors, which are optimized for high energy efficiency and appealing performance.
- Memory and expandability: Support for up to 16 GB DDR5 RAM, SSD slots for fast data storage.
- Connectivity: Comprehensive interfaces with HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort and USB-C for up to two 4K displays.
- Network: Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast and stable wireless connections.
Asus NUC 14 Essential: Technical details at a glance
No sooner has Apple presented its latest Mac Mini with M4 CPU than Asus comes around the corner with a significantly cheaper, but certainly somewhat weaker Windows alternative. The nickname “Essential” is no coincidence. With the NUC 14 Pro (€ 879.00), Asus already has a significantly more powerful mini PC with Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and 32 GB RAM to offer. At the core of the Asus NUC 14 Essential is a new 14th generation Intel Core N processor, specially developed to offer energy efficiency and stable performance for everyday and demanding tasks.
The support of up to 16 GB DDR5-4800 MHz RAM should ensure fast and smooth applications. PCIe NVMe SSD slots and a SATA interface allow users to utilize flexible storage solutions with SSDs or HDDs.
The mini PC also has a 2.5 Gbit Ethernet interface which, together with Wi-Fi 6E technology, promises excellent connectivity for everyday use. In addition, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 support enables multiple monitors to be connected, providing an excellent multitasking option. Thunderbolt 4 ports are not included compared to more expensive models, which still makes it an affordable alternative for users who primarily require simple connections.
Price and availability
The Asus NUC 14 Essential is aimed at users who are looking for a compact and efficient mini PC. By combining a modern Intel Core N processor with extended memory and connectivity options, the NUC 14 Essential offers a well thought-out solution for anyone who wants to work without a large amount of hardware. If you are currently looking for just such a model, the Mini PC from Asus could possibly be the right solution. The barebone kit of the Asus NUC 14 Essential is already listed in the price comparison at Geizhals with prices starting at € 204.00. Delivery is expected to start in mid-November.
