- MSI is the latest vendor to jump on the AI PC train
- The Cubi NUC AI+ 2M is a mini PC with 11 ports and 1 card reader but without TB5
- It comes with a dedicated Copilot button and a fingerprint reader.
MSI unveiled two new Cubi mini PC offerings at CES 2025, and it probably won’t come as a surprise that these models include AI in their names. Cubi NUC AI+ 2M and Cubi NUC AI 1UM offer on-device AI capabilities and are designed to deliver powerful performance in a compact form factor suitable for any workspace.
The largest Cubi NUC AI+ 2M measures 0.826 liters and is powered by Intel Core Ultra processors from the Lunar Lake platform, with configurations up to Core Ultra 7 258V. It features integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics and up to 32GB of LPDDR5X in package memory. Storage is supported through a single M.2 2280 SSD slot. The device can deliver up to 115 TOPS of processing power through a dedicated Intel AI Boost NPU.
The Cubi NUC AI+ 2M offers a total of 11 ports. On the front, there are two 10Gbps USB Type-A ports and a microSD card reader, as well as a one-touch fingerprint power button for added security and a Copilot button for instant access to AI tools like CoCreator and Windows Studio Effects. , live subtitles and live translation. There is also a built-in microphone and speaker for voice commands.
No Copilot button on the smallest model
The rear panel houses two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one of which supports PD-in up to 100 watts (it’s a shame MSI hasn’t yet adopted Thunderbolt 5 for even faster data transfer speeds), two HDMI ports and two Ethernet ports. 2.5 Gbps. ports. The Cubi NUC AI+ 2M can control up to three displays and supports WiFi 7 for high-speed wireless connectivity.
The Cubi NUC AI 1UM is a smaller and presumably more affordable alternative, with a volume of 0.51 liters. It is equipped with Intel Core Ultra 100 Meteor Lake processors, including options up to the Core Ultra 7 155H.
It supports two DDR5 SODIMM memory slots and two M.2 SSDs and, like its bigger brother, includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI outputs, and 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports. It can control four screens, but it doesn’t have a Copilot button.
Both models support MSI Power Link, allowing power control through select MSI monitors and reducing cable clutter, especially when mounted behind a monitor. Pricing details for both have yet to be announced.
