ASUS ROG NUC 16 Phantom Blade Zero Edition Launches in China: Specs, Pricing and Support Questions

What ASUS is selling​

TweakTown reports that the machine was developed with S-GAME, the game's developer. It measures about 282.5 x 189.5 x 56.5 mm. ASUS's own specification page lists the same dimensions and a weight of 3.2 kg (7.05 lb).

ASUS describes an Obsidian Black finish with crimson accents and engraved blade motifs. It also lists a red-to-dark gradient plate and a semi-transparent front panel that shows the outline of the protagonist, Soul. A removable stand has a built-in G-sensor. ASUS says the cooling system adapts whether the PC stands upright or lies flat.

These are manufacturer design claims. They are not test results.

The hardware: two configurations, one official listing​

The coverage doesn't fully agree on how many configurations exist. TweakTown and several outlets describe two China-market models, both with the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and 32GB of DDR5-6400:

• RTX 5070 Laptop GPU: 12GB GDDR7 and a 1TB SSD.
• RTX 5080 Laptop GPU: 16GB GDDR7 and a 2TB SSD.

The ASUS global specification page I could inspect documents only one SKU, RNUC16JNK9X28AA6. That is the RTX 5080 version, and the page doesn't establish specs for a separate RTX 5070 special-edition model. The two-configuration account therefore rests on TweakTown, VideoCardz and similar reports. The ASUS page doesn't contradict it, but it doesn't confirm it either.

The official SKU lists:

• OS: Windows 11 Home.
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus with a configurable TDP of 45–160W, on the Intel HM870 chipset.
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with 16GB GDDR7. ASUS's feature page also lists a 300W TGP.
• Memory: 32GB, supplied as two 16GB DDR5-6400 CSO-DIMMs.
• Storage: a 2TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
• Power: a 380W adapter.

TweakTown and other outlets describe the CPU as 24 cores with boosts up to 5.5GHz. The captured ASUS special-edition page shows the model and TDP range but not the core count or boost clock. Treat those two figures as reported, not officially confirmed on that page.

Upgrades and connectivity​

ASUS's listing is more precise than the news coverage here.

• Memory: the system supports two DDR5-5600 SO-DIMMs or two DDR5-6400 CSO-DIMMs. The maximum is 64GB per slot, or 128GB total.
• Storage: it has one PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 2280 slot and one PCIe Gen5 x4 slot. Each is listed as supporting 1TB–2TB NVMe drives. The included 2TB drive uses one of the two.
• Access: a rear thumbscrew gives tool-free access for memory and SSD upgrades.
• Wireless: Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750x and Bluetooth 5.4. ASUS notes the Bluetooth version may vary with the OS.
• Wired: Realtek 2.5G Ethernet.
• Front/side ports: two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.
• Rear ports: one Thunderbolt 4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, two HDMI 2.1 FRL and two DisplayPort 2.1. It also has an RJ45 jack, a DC input and a Kensington lock slot.

Some outlets cite up to 4TB of dual-SSD capacity, which fits two 2TB drives. The official page itself lists drives from 1TB to 2TB per slot.

Cooling: what ASUS claims​

ASUS says the machine has a triple-fan design and a unified vapor chamber over the CPU and GPU area. Two fans cool the overall system and the third cools the memory. ASUS claims noise stays below 38 dBA in demanding games. It also claims 12% more CPU thermal capacity than the previous generation.

The material I reviewed has no independent measurements of noise, temperatures or sustained load. Reviews will have to settle whether a 160W-class CPU and a 300W-TGP-class laptop GPU stay quiet in a three-liter box.

Pricing and availability​

TweakTown says ASUS advertises a China starting price of 24,499 CNY, about $3,670. It also says local retail reports range from 24,999 to 33,999 CNY depending on configuration and retailer.

Other outlets give a tier split:

• BigGo Finance lists the RTX 5070 model at 24,499 yuan and the RTX 5080 model at 31,499 yuan.
• Two listings spotted by other coverage show the RTX 5070 version in stock and the RTX 5080 version temporarily out of stock.

Dollar conversions differ across outlets, from about $3,670 to about $3,688. Take the yuan figures as the anchor.

Outside China, ASUS has listed the collaboration on its global ROG website, although US and European prices have not been confirmed. A China price is not a forecast for a US or European price. Local taxes, retail margins and regional SKUs make that comparison unreliable.

The "Laptop GPU" caveat​

This is not a desktop RTX 5080. ASUS labels the graphics as a Laptop GPU. That means a mobile-class chip in a compact chassis, with a different power and performance profile than a full-size desktop card. For buyers, the draw is density and looks, not raw value. The French outlet Pause Hardware makes a similar point, saying the series suits collectors and compact-PC fans more than bargain hunters.

Upgradability helps the case a little. Tool-free RAM and SSD access plus 128GB of memory support make this less of a sealed appliance than many small PCs.

A support-page discrepancy​

ASUS's NUC/MiniPC support-status page lists the "ROG NUC 16 Phantom Blade Zero Edition" with these dates:

The discontinuance date falls six days before the reported China launch. The sources don't explain this. It could be a listing error or a limited-run designation. It is not a confirmed withdrawal, and buyers shouldn't assume support ends immediately. If you plan to buy, confirm the support terms with ASUS or your retailer.

Bundled collaboration products​

ASUS's feature page says the collaboration also includes a monitor, keyboard, keycaps, mouse and headset. TweakTown adds the ROG Strix XG27UCGR-G, a 27-inch dual-mode display that switches between 4K at 162Hz and 1080p at 485Hz. Those are ancillary details, and I haven't seen separate pricing for them.

Bottom line​

• What it is: a game-themed ROG NUC 16 with a Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and RTX 5070 or 5080 Laptop graphics, launched in China.
• What's confirmed: ASUS's official RTX 5080 SKU, with Windows 11 Home, 32GB DDR5-6400, a 2TB SSD and a full port list.
• What's not: international pricing and availability, independent performance numbers, and the RTX 5070 variant's official specs.
• What to watch: the support-date discrepancy, and whether a global SKU follows with different pricing.

If you want this form factor without the themed chassis, the regular ROG NUC 16 is the more practical comparison. This edition mostly adds the look.