Intel’s NUC mini PCs won’t die thanks to ASUS. A few days ago Intel announced the closure of the NUC division, but has now made it known that it has signed an agreement with ASUS for the sale, production and support of Next Unit of Compute (NUC), systems from 10th to 13th generation, and the development of future NUC systems.
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The terms of the agreement are not clear but from what we seem to understand ASUS will probably be Intel’s only partner for the production of NUC-branded mini PCs.
“Our NUC-based product team has delivered unique products that have spurred innovation in the ultra-small form-factor market,” said Sam Gao, Intel vice president and general manager of Intel Platform Solutions. “As we gear our strategy to enable ecosystem partners to continue the innovation and growth of NUC-based products, our priority is to ensure a smooth transition for customers and partners. We look forward to ASUS continuing to deliver outstanding products and support our NUC system customers.”
It remains to be seen what role ASUS will play in relation to other partners (whether, in other words, other manufacturers will also be able to continue to create NUC projects).
ASUS offers various mini PCs for home and work such as those of the PB, PN and PL series. According to rumors to be taken lightly, ASUS intends to develop its own business unit dedicated to NUC systems and also offer assistance for products already marketed directly by Intel.
“Thank you, Intel, for trusting us to continue the NUC-based product line. I am confident that this collaboration will enhance and accelerate our vision for mini PCs, expanding our presence in the AI and AIoT industries,” said Joe Hsieh, COO of ASUS. And again: “We are committed to providing the excellent support and service that customers of NUC systems have come to expect”.
Intel’s NUC line was introduced in 2012, an initiative to develop systems with small, powerful chips that others can also use to create compact computers. Thanks to this line, systems were born for various applications, from gaming to multimedia centres.
