Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | ASUS - ROG NUC (2025) | Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 2048 GB | 512 GB |
| TDP | 170 W | 65 W |
| RAM | 32 GB | 24 GB |
| Volume | 2.5 L | 0.34 L |
Between the ROG NUC (2025) and Mac mini M4 Pro, the ROG NUC (2025) comes out ahead in storage / ram, while the Mac mini M4 Pro wins on tdp / volume. Overall, the ROG NUC (2025) scores 59.1 and the Mac mini M4 Pro scores 69.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Mac mini M4 Pro is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.0 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 ROG NUC (2025) if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. The biggest gaps in its favor are storage, ram. The single most decisive one: Storage — 300.00% more. 2048 GB vs 512 GB.
Pick the Mac mini M4 Pro if you care most about tdp / volume. Its strongest claims are tdp, volume. The single most decisive one: TDP — 105.00 W less. 65 vs 170.
Both ship with comparable thunderbolt, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Mac mini M4 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 - ROG NUC (2025) or Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro?
Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro leads the current Mars Score by 10.0 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare ram, storage, volume, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose ASUS - ROG NUC (2025) if…
ASUS - ROG NUC (2025) has the measurable edge on storage gb, ram gb.
Choose Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro if…
Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro has the measurable edge on tdp w, volume l.
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 - ROG NUC (2025) wins
- ▲Storage — 300.00% more. 2048 GB vs 512 GB.
- ▲RAM — 33.33% more. 32 GB vs 24 GB.
Why Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro wins
- ▲TDP — 105.00 W less. 65 vs 170.
- ▲Volume — 2.16 L less. 0.34 vs 2.5.
Spec comparison
Core
Form & I/O
| Spec | ASUS - ROG NUC (2025) | Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 2.5 L | 0.34 Llead |
| Weight | 1.5 kg | 0.73 kglead |
| TDPⓘ | 170 W | 65 Wlead |
| USB ports | 7lead | 5 |
| Thunderboltⓘ | true | true |