The mini-PC market continues to grow

The segment of mini-PCs keeps expanding in terms of appeal for both consumer and business markets, thanks to the progressive reduction in physical dimensions alongside a substantial increase in performance available. In this context, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG emerges as an ultra-compact system that aims to stand out not only for its form factor but also for its Copilot+ PC certification and the integration of accelerated on-device AI functionalities.

The device, positioned in the business segment, has been awarded the Red Dot Design Award 2024 and the Good Design Award 2025, two recognitions that testify to the attention paid to its aesthetic and design aspects, in addition to its technical specifications.

Design and Form Factor

The first striking element of the Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG is its compactness: 0.51 liters in volume, with dimensions of 119.60 x 115.20 x 37.50 mm and a weight of just 550 grams. Its thickness of merely 37.5 mm makes it comparable in size to a large paperback book, allowing it to be positioned practically anywhere: on a desk, attached to the back of a monitor via a VESA mount (compatible with 75x75 mm and 100x100 mm standards), or installed in digital signage configurations.

The polymer shell adopts a uniform matte black finish, with rounded edge topology giving it a tidy, neutral appearance suitable for professional settings. The front panel hosts frequently used connectors, while the back concentrates high-bandwidth ports and network jacks.

MSI claims a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of over 100,000 hours for the Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG, resulting from a structured testing cycle that includes 11 distinct types of tests: PCBA, motherboard, vibrations on X and Y axis, drop test, climatic chamber (temperature and humidity), infrared, acoustic, signal, I/O port lifecycle, energy stress, and system performance tests, all in compliance with military standard MIL-STD-1916.

A Modern Platform

On the computational front, the Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG is available in three distinct CPU configurations: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, Intel Core Ultra 7 355, and Intel Core Ultra 5 322. All three processors belong to the third-generation Intel Core Ultra family (Panther Lake).

The selection of this platform is functional in obtaining the Copilot+ PC certification, which requires at least 40 TOPS of NPU processing. In this case, the flagship model reaches 50 TOPS at the NPU level, with a total of – summing CPU, GPU, and NPU – reaching 100 TOPS. These values are sufficient to classify it among the systems enabled for advanced AI functionalities in Windows 11.

Graphics are handled by integrated Intel Graphics, with no options for a discrete GPU, which is a comprehensible choice considering the productivity-oriented usage target rather than intensive rendering or gaming.

Memory, Storage, Connectivity, and I/O Ports

The memory configuration features two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots that support up to 32 GB in dual-channel configuration. For storage, there is an M.2 2280 slot, and no additional slots for secondary storage are provided. In our case, we have 32 GB of memory and a 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD.

A notable practical aspect is the tool-less design: accessing the system interior is done without tools, with a straightforward three-step procedure (turn, press, remove the cover), allowing for quick intervention on memory and SSD, clearly advantageous in corporate IT contexts where maintenance or upgrades of fleets of machines are routine operations.

The port setup is one of the strengths of the Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG, especially when compared to its size.

On the front panel, we find a 10 Gbps Type-C USB, one 10 Gbps Type-A USB, a USB 2.0 Type-A, and a power button with an integrated fingerprint reader.

On the back, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports (supporting DP 1.4 alt-mode up to 4K@60Hz and Power Delivery output of 15W; one of them supports PD input up to 98W), two RJ45 at 2.5 Gbps (managed by an Intel I226V chip), and two HDMI 2.1 ports (4K@60Hz; one of the ports supports MSI Power Link). On the side, there’s a Kensington Lock slot and a header for an external power button (optional).

The two Thunderbolt 4 ports deserve special mention: with data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps and Power Delivery input of up to 98W, each port can simultaneously manage power, display, and data through a single cable, reducing cabling on the desk. The system supports up to 4 simultaneous displays.

The dual 2.5G LAN is another important element, especially in business environments: in addition to network redundancy, it enables functionalities such as load balancing, segmentation, and failover, particularly useful in structured professional contexts.

On the wireless front, the MTK RZ717 Wi-Fi 7 module with Bluetooth 5.4 ensures the maximum bandwidth available in the current standard, providing tangible benefits in managing AI workloads that require fast data transfer and low latency.

Copilot+ PC Functionality

The Copilot+ PC certification unlocks a set of native AI functionalities in Windows 11 such as Cocreator, an integrated feature in Paint that transforms rough sketches into detailed illustrations through local AI generation, as well as Live Captions with Live Translation, which transcribes real-time audio from calls, conversations, or recordings, with automatic translation from over 40 languages to English and over 25 languages to Simplified Chinese.

There’s also Recall, a feature that allows users to find previously viewed content on the PC by simply describing what they remember - a document, a webpage, a screenshot - without needing to remember the filename or path.

Additionally, there's integration with Microsoft Copilot for contextual assistance in Office and the operating system, along with support for Intel AI Playground, a tool for locally exploring AI functionalities like image generation, upscaling, and chatbots, all while preserving data privacy. Many more features are coming soon…

Cooling System and CPU Management

MSI has adopted its own proprietary MSI Frozr AI PRO cooling system. According to the Taiwanese company, compared to more standard systems, the fan provides a 16% increase in airflow, a 47% higher static pressure, and a system temperature reduction of between 5 and 20 °C (varies depending on the model). The solution features a single fan, consistent with the chassis size.

Despite the sultry heat of recent days, we tested the processor and the system's cooling capabilities with Cinebench 2024 multi-core, recording performance with the Balanced profile of Windows and the Extreme Performance profile enabled by MSI Center. Even under heavy load, MSI's mini PC remains relatively quiet. In terms of computing performance, the test yielded the following results in Cinebench 2024:

• Balanced Profile:
  • Single core: 110 points
  • Multi core: 820 points
• Extreme Performance Profile:
  • Single core: 118 points
  • Multi core: 1018 points

These scores - depending on the profile - deliver performance comparable to CPUs like the Ryzen 5 7600 or Ryzen 7 7700X, which are respectable 6 and 8-core Zen 4 desktop CPUs even today.

Regarding frequency, in the Balanced profile, there is a continuous fluctuation, while in the more performance-oriented profile there is greater continuity, as well as a significantly higher clock. The temperature clearly shows the Intel processor reaching about 92 °C with the optimal profile, which naturally means an increase in noise. Energy consumption also varies based on the profile, with the Balanced profile around 30 Watts and the Extreme Performance profile starting around 45 Watts, then stabilizing around 35 Watts.

A Commitment to Sustainability

The Cubi NUC line also serves as a testament to MSI's commitment to the environment. The packaging uses FSC-certified materials (forest responsibility) and post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. The device has received ENERGY STAR certifications and supports renewable energy at the production level. The MSI Power Meter software allows users to monitor consumption, estimate CO₂ emissions generated, and receive suggestions for reducing energy consumption with a single click.

Conclusions

With the Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG, MSI offers a mini-PC that convincingly interprets the evolution of the ultra-compact segment: extremely reduced dimensions - just 0.51 liters in volume and 550 grams in weight - but a complete, modern technical platform clearly designed for advanced professional and productive scenarios.

The system demonstrates how such a compact form factor does not necessarily translate into marked compromises in connectivity, maintenance, or security. The presence of dual Thunderbolt 4, dual 2.5G LAN, dTPM 2.0, and an integrated fingerprint reader in the power button provides a feature set that, in many larger desktops, is only partially found.

This is complemented by particularly practical management thanks to the tool-less design, allowing for quick interventions on RAM and SSD without tools: a concrete advantage in business environments and in managing numerous fleets.

The platform based on third-generation Intel Core Ultra processors also allows the Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG to obtain the Copilot+ PC certification, an element poised to gain increasing relevance in the coming years. The locally accelerated AI functionalities - from Recall to Live Captions, passing through Cocreator and Intel AI Playground tools - indeed represent one of the main evolutionary drivers of the Windows 11 ecosystem, with the advantage of being able to process many operations directly on-device, reducing dependence on the cloud and data privacy issues.

Thermal performance is also notable. Despite the extremely compact chassis, the MSI Frozr AI PRO cooling system manages to keep the processor under control even under continuous loads, with generally low noise, especially when using the Balanced profile. The Extreme Performance profile, however, allows for more aggressive pushing of the CPU at the cost of higher temperatures and consumption, thus offering some operational flexibility depending on the usage context.

There are, of course, some typical structural limits of the category: the absence of a discrete GPU makes it unsuitable for heavy graphical loads or advanced gaming, while the presence of a single M.2 slot and the maximum limit of 32 GB of memory may pose constraints in particularly demanding workstation scenarios. However, for the purposes for which the product is genuinely intended - productivity, advanced office use, digital signage, light edge computing, and multi-display business environments - these are compromises that are hardly decisive.

Finally, the attention to sustainability should not be overlooked, with packaging based on certified FSC materials and PCR recycling, ENERGY STAR certifications, and dedicated software tools for monitoring energy consumption.

Overall, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 3MG positions itself as an extremely balanced solution for those seeking a modern mini-PC, updated to the new AI functionalities of Windows 11, and capable of offering particularly rich connectivity in an almost pocket-sized chassis, while maintaining a focus on reliability and continuous professional management.

However, there is a “but”: the price. Our configuration costs around €1900, with a 36-month warranty. The price is high, partly due to the current period of high RAM and storage prices. The features and the state-of-the-art platform contribute to this, although it does seem a bit too much, to be honest. In any case, models with Core Ultra 7 and Ultra 5 (with 16 GB of RAM) drop to approx. €1500 and €1280, respectively, which are more affordable values but still high for our tastes.