Asus has introduced a limited Phantom Blade Zero Edition of the ROG NUC 16 in China that fits high‑end notebook‑class graphics and a 24‑core Intel processor into a compact enclosure. The special edition was developed with S‑GAME, the studio behind Phantom Blade Zero, and applies game-themed finishes and artwork to the standard ROG NUC 16 chassis.
Design, hardware and cooling
The unit pairs an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor with 32GB of DDR5‑6400 memory across configurations, inside an enclosure Asus lists at 282.5 x 189.5 x 56.5 mm (roughly three liters). The case includes a semi‑transparent front panel, a black‑to‑red gradient finish, blade motifs and artwork of the game's protagonist, Soul. The compact NUC can be positioned upright or flat on a desk; an orientation sensor adjusts cooling settings depending on orientation.
Asus uses mobile GPU designs for the Phantom Blade Zero Edition rather than desktop cards with similar names. Cooling is handled by the company's QuietFlow solution with three fans and a unified vapor chamber; Asus states the system keeps noise below 38 dBA under demanding loads.
Configurations and China pricing
Both packages share the same CPU and memory, while differences are in GPU, storage and power delivery. Asus published China market prices and adapter ratings as follows:
- Entry configuration: GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU (12GB GDDR7), 1TB SSD, 280W power adapter — 24,499 yuan
- Top configuration: GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR7), 2TB SSD, 380W power adapter — 31,499 yuan
| Specification | Entry | Top |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | |
| Memory | 32GB DDR5‑6400 | |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU (12GB GDDR7) | GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR7) |
| Storage | 1TB SSD | 2TB SSD |
| Power adapter | 280W | 380W |
| China price | 24,499 yuan | 31,499 yuan |
Expandability and connectivity
Asus says memory and storage can be replaced without tools and that the platform supports up to 128GB of RAM across two M.2 slots. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort options. Real‑world frame rates will depend on the power budget and the small chassis’ thermal performance since the GPUs used are mobile variants.
The announcement lists China market pricing and mentions retailer variance; the company uses mobile GPU variants rather than desktop RTX 5070 or RTX 5080 cards.
