Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | ASUS - NUC 15 Pro | Minisforum - MS-A1 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 65 W | 100 W |
| Thunderbolt | true | false |
| Volume | 0.7 L | 1.6 L |
Between the NUC 15 Pro and MS-A1, the NUC 15 Pro comes out ahead in tdp / thunderbolt, while the MS-A1 wins on several specs. Overall, the NUC 15 Pro scores 72.2 and the MS-A1 scores 64.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The NUC 15 Pro is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.1 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the NUC 15 Pro if you care most about tdp / thunderbolt. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp, thunderbolt, volume. The single most decisive one: TDP — 35.00 W less. 65 vs 100.
The MS-A1 similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable ram, storage, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the NUC 15 Pro is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: ASUS - NUC 15 Pro or Minisforum - MS-A1?
ASUS - NUC 15 Pro leads the current Mars Score by 8.1 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare volume, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose ASUS - NUC 15 Pro if…
ASUS - NUC 15 Pro has the measurable edge on tdp w, has thunderbolt, volume l.
Choose Minisforum - MS-A1 if…
Minisforum - MS-A1 does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why ASUS - NUC 15 Pro wins
- ▲TDP — 35.00 W less. 65 vs 100.
- ▲Has Thunderbolt.
- ▲Volume — 0.90 L less. 0.7 vs 1.6.
Why Minisforum - MS-A1 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Core
Form & I/O
| Spec | ASUS - NUC 15 Pro | Minisforum - MS-A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 0.7 Llead | 1.6 L |
| Weight | 0.67 kglead | 1.4 kg |
| TDPⓘ | 65 Wlead | 100 W |
| USB ports | 6 | 7lead |
| Thunderboltⓘ | truelead | false |