Head-to-head · Best Mini PCs For Video Editing

Asus ROG NUC 2025 vs Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Asus ROG NUC 2025 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 3.4). The gap is mostly about users who prioritize high performance in a portable form factor — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Mini PCs For Video Editing

Asus ROG NUC 2025

4.3

6 sources$3,899.99as of Oct 3

The Asus ROG NUC (2025) packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU into a compact 3-liter chassis, delivering desktop-rivaling gaming performance in a small footprint. GeekaWhat found the unit’s engineering impressive for housing such high-end silicon within its tiny dimensions, while PCMag noted it can sustain stable frame rates in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at maximum settings. The system offers extensive connectivity with five display outputs and user-upgradeable storage and memory up to 96 GB of DDR5 RAM. This model fits users who prioritize high performance in a portable form factor but should be avoided by those seeking absolute silence or budget-friendly pricing.

Strengths

— Delivers high-end gaming performance in a compact chassis using an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU.
— Features extensive connectivity with five display outputs, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, two DisplayPort 2.1 ports, and one Thunderbolt 4 port.
— Includes fast networking hardware with a Killer E3000 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet controller and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 module.

Watch-outs

— Comes with a steep price tag, starting around $1,899 for base models and reaching over $3,000 for the flagship RTX 5080 configuration.
— Fans become audible under load, particularly the CPU cooler which kicks in at moderate usage levels.

$3,899.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #6 in Best Mini PCs For Video Editing

Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition

3.4

6 sources$1,599as of Oct 3

KitGuru found that the Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition’s single-channel memory configuration severely bottlenecks its integrated Radeon 890M graphics, creating a significant performance handicap for gaming. PCMag noted that pricing has risen tremendously compared to the previous model, while KitGuru identified a downgrade to QLC-based SSD storage that reduces sustained write speeds and overall value. The system does offer extensive connectivity with dual USB4 ports and Wi-Fi 7, along with a dedicated NPU capable of local AI workloads for privacy-conscious professionals. This compact aluminum unit fits users who require extreme space-saving VESA mounting options or specialized on-device processing, but those seeking strong out-of-the-box graphical performance should look elsewhere.

Strengths

— Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor with up to 5.2 GHz boost clock and dedicated NPU for local AI workloads.
— Includes extensive connectivity with dual USB4 ports, HDMI 2.1 outputs, Wi-Fi 7, and dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports.
— Features a compact aluminum chassis that supports VESA mounting behind displays to save desk space.

Watch-outs

— Ships with single-channel memory (one 32GB stick), which reviewers found significantly bottlenecks integrated graphics performance.
— Equipped with a QLC-based SSD rather than the higher-performance SLC drive found in previous models.
— Pricing has risen substantially compared to the prior year's model, reducing overall value.

$1,599 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Asus ROG NUC 2025

The Asus ROG NUC 2025 delivers desktop-rivaling gaming performance with an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, vastly outperforming the integrated graphics of the AceMagic K1 and GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra. It features five display outputs including Thunderbolt 4, offering more connectivity options than the Geekom A9 Max's dual USB4 ports or the GMKtec G10's lack of modern high-speed standards like USB4.

Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition

The Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition features a powerful Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor and dual USB4 ports, providing superior connectivity compared to the Wi-Fi 5 limitations of the GMKtec G10. However, its single-channel memory configuration severely bottlenecks integrated Radeon 890M graphics performance, whereas the GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra's dual-channel DDR5 RAM ensures its Radeon 760M graphics reach their full potential.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Asus ROG NUC 2025	Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX	AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU	AMD Radeon 890M
Memory	32 GB DDR5 6400 MT/s	32GB DDR5-5600 (Single Channel)
Storage	2 TB NVMe SSD	1x M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
Dimensions	187.7 x 282.4 x 56.5 mm	135 x 132 x 46.9 mm
Networking	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	Dual 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

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