Intel’s new mini PC, the NUC 13 Pro, also known as Arena Canyon, has been released just six months after its predecessor, the NUC 12 Pro, with a significant change. The NUC 13 Pro comes with mobile processors from the Core i-1300U and Core i-1300P series instead of the 1200 versions. The mini PC also has different variants, including 6-core Core i3-1315U, Core i5-1340P, and Core i7-1370P, with 12 to 14 cores and a TDP of 35 watts. There are also embedded types with the abbreviation UE and PE, intended for corporate customers.
Intel provided a test sample called the NUC13ANKi7, which uses the 12-core Core i7-1360P with four performance and eight efficiency cores in a 37 mm flat case. The NUC 13 Pro is slightly faster than its direct predecessor, the NUC12WSi7, with almost the same electrical power consumption, making it more efficient. Both NUC versions consume around 80 watts of electrical power at the peak.
Intel has changed little in terms of the NUC 13 Pro’s case and remaining components. The mini PC can get loud when fully loaded but remains pleasantly quiet in normal office use. The NUC 13 Pro provides an M.2 slot with a PCI Express 4.0 x4 connection for using a fast NVMe SSD. In terms of memory, Intel sticks with two SO-DIMMs with DDR4-3200 support, and on the connection side, the mini PC has two Thunderbolt 4-capable USB-C ports and two type-A sockets, among others.
The NUC 13 Pro can connect a total of four 4K monitors with 60 Hertz via the two rear HDMI 2.0 outputs in addition to two Thunderbolt 4 connections. Retailers should start selling the NUC 13 Pro at the end of March 2023, with prices ranging from 340 to 1080 US dollars excluding VAT.
In conclusion, the NUC 13 Pro is a small improvement over its predecessor, making it a good choice for those who prioritize efficiency. However, those who find the NUC 12 Pro on offer can still opt for the cheaper model, as the difference in speed is hardly noticeable in everyday use.
