(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The new Asus ROG NUC 16 is the kind of device you need to experience firsthand to truly appreciate what this console-sized PC is capable of. Thankfully, while everyone else at the ROG 20th anniversary event made their way upstairs toward the DJ, I slipped away for some one-on-one time with this mini gaming PC. I’m incredibly glad I did, because the raw performance packed into this tiny case completely blew me away.Even though we’re dealing with just a 3-liter case here, Asus has managed to pack this device full of powerful components. From an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX processor to up to a Nvidia RTX 5080 Laptop GPU and even 128GB of DDR5 memory fully configured, the ROG NUC 16 is no slouch.My favorite thing this time around is that in addition to the standard black, it now also comes in white. However, if you prefer black but want something different, there’s always the even more powerful ROG NUC 16 Edition 20 which features gold accents all around like the new ROG Xbox Ally X20 I checked out when I first arrived at Computex 2026.So what can a console-sized mini PC with all the latest components actually pull off gameplay-wise? Quite a lot. If the Steam Machine just doesn’t seem like it has enough power to make your living room PC gaming dreams come true, then the ROG NUC 16 could be just what you’re looking for.Asus ROG NUC 16 SpecsSwipe to scroll horizontallyCPUIntel Core Ultra 9 290HX PlusGPUUp to Nvidia RTX 5080 (or 5090 with ROG 20th Anniversary Edition)MemoryUp to 128GB DDR5StorageUp to 2TB Ports1 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x SD card reader (front), 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 2 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x DisplayPort 2.1, 2 x USB-A, DC-in (rear)ConnectivityWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2.5 Gigabit EthernetDimensions11.1 x 7.4 x 2.2 inches (282.4 x 189.5 x 56.5 mm)Weight6.88 lbs (3.12 kg)Console-sized PC power
