ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ (Ultra 9, 32GB, 1TB) Review: Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7 in a 689 Gram Box
Core Ultra 9 285H with Arc 140T graphics, an AI NPU, dual Thunderbolt 4 and a three year warranty, in an aluminium chassis you can hide behind a monitor.
The ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ is a full workstation compressed into 112 x 144 x 42 mm: an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, 32 GB of DDR5-5600 in dual channel, a 1 TB PCIe Gen5 SSD, Arc 140T graphics and a dedicated AI NPU. Connectivity is the strong suit, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, so it drives multiple high-resolution displays and fast external storage without compromise. It ships with Windows 11 Pro, a VESA mount and three years of warranty, which is longer than most mini PCs offer.
- Desk workstations in small spaces
- Multi-monitor setups
- Home lab and always-on servers
- Creative work without a discrete GPU
Pros
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H with Arc 140T graphics and an AI NPU
- 32 GB DDR5-5600 dual channel, upgradeable to 96 GB
- 1 TB PCIe Gen5x4 SSD
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1
- 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
- Aluminium chassis at just 689 g, with a VESA mount included
- Three year warranty, longer than most mini PCs
- Kensington lock slot
Cons
- External 120W power brick, so the desk footprint is bigger than it looks
- Integrated graphics only: no discrete GPU option
- Compact cooling means fan noise under sustained load
- Premium price compared with budget mini PCs
Who is the NUC 15 Pro+ for?
It suits someone who wants desktop-class performance without a desktop-sized machine: mounted behind a monitor with the included VESA bracket, it disappears entirely. The Core Ultra 9 285H is a high-end mobile-class chip, which means strong multi-core performance for compiling, editing and virtualisation while staying inside a 120W power envelope. For a smart home audience it is also a capable always-on host for Home Assistant, a NAS front end or a media server, helped by 2.5G Ethernet and quiet cooling.
What the specification delivers
Memory is 32 GB of DDR5-5600 across two SODIMM slots, upgradeable to 96 GB, which is what separates a machine you keep from one you replace. Storage is a 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen5x4 SSD, the fastest consumer interface available. Graphics come from Intel Arc 140T, adequate for creative work, video acceleration and light gaming, alongside an Intel AI Boost NPU for local AI workloads. Display support is generous: two HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which also handle external GPUs, docks and fast storage. Networking covers 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, and there are four USB Type-A ports plus a USB-C. The aluminium chassis helps thermals, and a Kensington lock slot is included for shared spaces.
What to know before you buy
The power supply is external, a 120W brick at 19VDC, so the tidy footprint on the desk does not include the adapter. Graphics are integrated, so serious gaming or GPU compute needs an external enclosure over Thunderbolt, which adds cost and bulk. Being a compact machine, sustained heavy workloads will run the fan harder than a tower would, though ASUS describes the design as ultra-quiet. It ships with Windows 11 Pro, which suits business use, and there is no dedicated discrete GPU option in this configuration.
Is the NUC 15 Pro+ worth it?
It is priced as a premium mini PC, and the justification is the combination of a top-tier mobile CPU, Gen5 storage, dual Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7, plus a three year warranty that most competitors do not match. Cheaper mini PCs will match the core count on paper while giving up Thunderbolt, Gen5 storage and the warranty. If your work needs a real GPU, a tower remains better value; if it needs to be small, quiet and fast, this is near the top of what the format allows.
Frequently asked questions
How many monitors can the NUC 15 Pro+ drive?
It has two HDMI 2.1 outputs, DisplayPort 2.1 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, so multiple high-resolution displays are supported through a combination of those.
Can I upgrade the memory?
Yes. It uses two DDR5 SODIMM slots, shipping with 32 GB at 5600 MT/s and supporting up to 96 GB.
Is it suitable for gaming?
For light gaming, yes, through Intel Arc 140T graphics. For serious gaming you would need an external GPU enclosure over Thunderbolt 4.
Does it come with an operating system?
Yes, Windows 11 Pro, along with a VESA mount for attaching it behind a monitor.
How long is the warranty?
Three years, which is notably longer than the one year most mini PCs come with.
