ASUS announced the ROG NUC 16 on May 15, 2026, updating its compact gaming desktop with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. ASUS describes the chassis as having a volume of three liters.
China launch prices were reported to start at 29,999 RMB for the black version and 30,499 RMB for white, with approximate dollar equivalents of US$4,420 and US$4,490. These were reported currency conversions, not announced U.S. retail prices. Launch reports described the black model as on sale and the white version as open for reservations.
For comparison, the ROG NUC 2025’s China launch prices were reported at 24,399 RMB for a Core Ultra 9 275HX and RTX 5080 Laptop GPU configuration with 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage, and 24,999 RMB with 2TB. The figures provide historical context, but do not establish a price increase between identically configured systems.
Processor refresh retains the top GPU option
The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus succeeds the Core Ultra 9 275HX offered in the previous model. ASUS lists the RTX 5080 Laptop GPU as the highest graphics option for both generations.
ASUS specifies support for up to 128GB of DDR5-6400 CSODIMM memory. That is the supported capacity, rather than the amount installed in every retail configuration.
ASUS promotional video material was also reported to mention RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 options alongside the RTX 5080, all with the same CPU. The complete regional configuration lineup remained unconfirmed in the May 15 launch information.
Cooling, power and placement changes
ASUS says supported configurations include a 380W power adapter, providing 15% more wattage than the ROG NUC 2025 adapter. Adapter wattage varies by SKU.
The company describes a cooling system with three fans, a dual vapor chamber and a dedicated SSD heatsink. ASUS claims noise remains below 38 dBA under sustained high load.
A removable stand allows vertical or horizontal placement. ASUS says a built-in G-sensor detects the orientation and adjusts thermal settings when the computer is placed horizontally.
ASUS lists Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20, HDMI 2.1 and 2.5GbE connectivity, with support for up to five 4K displays.
The finishes are named Obsidian Black and Moonlight White. U.S. pricing and availability remained unconfirmed in the May 15 launch information.
