Asus has launched the 2026 ROG NUC 16, a compact gaming PC built for people who want a powerful setup without making room for a full desktop tower. It can sit vertically or horizontally on a desk, and there is also a Moonlight White version for buyers who want something a little cleaner-looking. The problem is the price.
In China, the refreshed ROG NUC 16 is listed at a starting price of CNY 29,999, which is around $4,405. The white version costs CNY 31,999, or about $4,699. Asus has not confirmed global pricing or availability yet, but international prices are likely to be in the same range, or possibly go even higher.
What do you get for nearly $4,500?
The top model uses Intel’s Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. It supports up to 128GB of DDR5-6400 memory, though this listed configuration comes with 32GB RAM and a 2TB SSD. Asus says the ROG NUC 16 can handle gaming, creative work, and local AI tasks. It also supports DLSS 4.5 with Multi Frame Generation, which should help boost frame rates in supported games.
Cooling has been upgraded with three fans, a dual vapor chamber, and a separate SSD heatsink. Asus says it runs below 38 dBA even at full load, which is an acceptable noise level for a PC.
Why does a mini PC cost this much?
ASUS has always charged a premium for its ROG NUC PCs, which is not surprising. These machines are small, clean, and built for people who want serious gaming power without a full-size desktop tower.
Even with that in mind, the price increase over the previous generation is hard to digest. The maxed-out 2025 ROG NUC gaming mini PC, with the same hardware and an Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2 chip (275HX), launched in the U.S. for around $3,200. That is a $1,200 jump in just one generation, and the mini PC has not even arrived in western markets yet.
Like many laptops and PCs launching right now, the price may be linked to the ongoing RAM and NAND shortage, which has already pushed hardware costs higher. Still, the ROG NUC 16 is a tough sell unless portability is the main reason you want it. At this price, you could buy a stronger pre-built desktop, or build one yourself and get much more gaming power for the money.