In most ways, yes. The ASUS NUC 16 Pro is the first NUC built on Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" chips, made on Intel's 18A process. It brings a 50 TOPS NPU, which is enough for Microsoft's Copilot+ PC features, and on the X-series chips the much stronger Arc B390 graphics. It also adds two 2.5GbE ports, Wi-Fi 7, four display outputs and an ASUS-claimed 180 platform TOPS, all in a 0.7-litre box. The catch is that the headline graphics and AI figures belong to the X7 and X9 models, not the entry Core Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 versions. At SourceIT a ready-to-use NUC 16 Pro Ultra 5 325 with 16GB, 512GB and Windows 11 Pro is S$1,704.07, and the NUC 16 Pro X9 388H with 32GB and 1TB is S$2,775.81 (listed 3 Nov 2026). We have not tested it ourselves; this is based on ASUS's specifications and published reviews.
What are the key specifications?
| Item | ASUS NUC 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| Processors | Core Ultra X9 388H, X9 378H, X7 358H, Ultra 7 366H (vPro), Ultra 7 356H at 65W; Ultra 5 335 (vPro), Ultra 5 325 at 45W |
| AI | NPU 50 TOPS (Intel lists 50 TOPS INT8 for the 356H and 358H); up to 180 platform TOPS (ASUS) |
| Graphics | Arc B390 (122 TOPS INT8) on X-series only; smaller Intel Graphics on Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 |
| Memory | 2 CSO-DIMM slots, DDR5 up to 128GB; or soldered LPDDR5x up to 96GB on X-series |
| Storage | 1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen5 x4 and 1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 x4 |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x HDMI 2.1 or 2x DP 2.1, 4x USB-A, 1x USB-C front, 2x 2.5GbE |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Displays | Four outputs; up to four 4K or two 8K (ASUS, via StorageReview) |
| Size and power | 144 x 117 x 42 mm, 0.7 L; 120W or 150W adapter; operating 0–40°C |
From the ASUS NUC 16 Pro tech spec page and datasheet, Intel ARK (accessed 3 Nov 2026) and StorageReview (Oct 2026).
How fast is it for local AI?
Faster than any earlier NUC, with caveats. StorageReview tested an X7 358H unit with 64GB of LPDDR5X in UL Procyon's OpenVINO text-generation test and reported 26.18 tokens per second for Llama 3 on the GPU and 17.99 on the NPU, with Phi reaching 46.24 on the GPU. Those are benchmark figures under specific settings, not a promise for every model. Two practical notes:
- Software is still settling. Ollama reaches Intel GPUs through its Vulkan backend, and OpenVINO's llama.cpp backend is still a preview. Intel's older IPEX-LLM project, once the usual route to Ollama on Intel graphics, was archived in January 2026, so we would not build on it now.
- Memory sets the ceiling. The soldered LPDDR5x on X-series models tops out at 96GB, and peak bandwidth is roughly half that of an NVIDIA GB10 system. Small and mid-size models run well; very large ones do not.
Our guide to running Ollama on the NUC 16 Pro's Arc B390 covers setup, and Intel NPU vs NVIDIA GPU explains why TOPS figures from different vendors can't be compared directly.
What has grown up compared with older NUCs?
- Two network ports as standard. The NUC 15 Pro has one 2.5GbE port; the NUC 16 Pro has two, which helps for network appliances, labs and separate management networks.
- Copilot+ PC class. Microsoft says many new Windows AI features need an NPU of 40+ TOPS. The NUC 15 Pro's NPU is 13 TOPS; the NUC 16 Pro's is 50.
- Business features. vPro is offered on the Ultra 5 335 and Ultra 7 366H. There is an optional discrete TPM, a Kensington lock slot and a VESA bracket in the box, and ASUS positions it for 24/7 use with MIL-STD-810H testing.
- Quiet at idle. ComputerBase measured about 28 dB(A) at idle with the fans stopped, and 32 dB(A) under sustained load in Whisper mode. In Performance mode it reached 50 to 52 dB(A) without a matching gain in speed, so the quieter profiles make more sense for offices.
The NUC 16 Pro is the first NUC that can honestly be sold as an AI PC. Just make sure the model you buy has the X in its name if graphics and AI are the reason.
Which business uses suit it?
- Office and finance desks that want four displays from a box behind the monitor. See One Tiny ASUS NUC, Four Monitors.
- Local AI assistants and document search on small and mid-size models, kept on site.
- Edge and lab work that benefits from dual 2.5GbE.
- Developers and analysts who want 32 to 64GB of fast memory in a small box.
It is not a GPU workstation. For CUDA rendering or heavier AI, look at the RTX-equipped NUC 15 Performance or ROG NUC, or a GB10 system. We compare the generations in NUC 16 Pro vs NUC 15 Pro, and the existing ASUS NUC Buyer's Guide covers the wider range.
Buying in Singapore
SourceIT stocks the NUC 16 Pro as barebones and as ready-to-use systems with Windows 11 Pro:
- NUC 16 Pro Ultra 5 325 barebone: S$700.53
- NUC 16 Pro Ultra 7 356H barebone: S$885.65
- NUC 16 Pro Ultra 5 325, 16GB, 512GB, Windows 11 Pro: S$1,704.07
- NUC 16 Pro Ultra 7 356H, 16GB, 512GB, Windows 11 Pro: S$1,898.93
- NUC 16 Pro X7 358H, 32GB, 1TB, Windows 11 Pro: S$2,727.10
- NUC 16 Pro X9 388H, 32GB, 1TB, Windows 11 Pro: S$2,775.81
- NUC 16 Pro X9 388H, 64GB, 1TB, Windows 11 Pro: S$4,281.65
Prices listed 3 Nov 2026. ASUS offers a three-year limited warranty on NUCs bought through authorised distributors; see our ASUS warranty guide. Browse the ASUS NUC collection. For a quotation, use Request for Quotation on the product page, call (65) 6978 3502, email Sales@sourceit.com.sg or use our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
What processor does the ASUS NUC 16 Pro use? Intel Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake", from the Core Ultra 5 325 up to the Core Ultra X9 388H, depending on the model.
Is the ASUS NUC 16 Pro a Copilot+ PC? ASUS markets it as one. Its NPU is rated at 50 TOPS, above the 40 TOPS Microsoft cites for many new Windows AI features.
Do all NUC 16 Pro models have Arc B390 graphics? No. Arc B390 is on the X7 and X9 models. The Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 models use smaller Intel Graphics.
How many monitors can the NUC 16 Pro run? It has four display outputs, and ASUS states up to four 4K or two 8K displays.
How much is the ASUS NUC 16 Pro in Singapore? At SourceIT on 3 Nov 2026, barebones start at S$700.53 and ready-to-use systems with Windows 11 Pro at S$1,704.07.
SourceIT Approved
Researched and verified by the SourceIT team for Singapore buyers.
