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ASUS Ascent QN10: the mini PC with Snapdragon X2 Elite and an 80 TOPS NPU for local AI
Under 0.7 litres, an 18-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU, a Hexagon NPU with up to 80 TOPS, 32 GB of LPDDR5x, Wi-Fi 7 and Microsoft Pluton security: ASUS aims it at creators, developers and businesses that want to run artificial intelligence on their own desk. In Italy it costs €2,299.
Milan, 12 November 2026 – ASUS has announced the Ascent QN10, which it calls the world’s first AI Mini PC with an 80 TOPS NPU. It is built on the Snapdragon X2 Elite platform with an 18-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU, comfortably exceeds the Copilot+ PC requirements and brings high performance, responsive AI and low power draw to an ultra-compact form factor.
With built-in AI acceleration and enterprise-grade security, the QN10 handles AI workloads and content generation directly on the device. ASUS targets creators, developers and businesses, and positions it for edge AI environments.
Under 0.7 litres, desktop performance
Its volume is under 0.7 litres: according to ASUS, more than 86% smaller than a typical 5-litre desktop. The official images give 130 × 130 × 40 mm and 720 grams. Integrated graphics come from a Qualcomm Adreno GPU with 2.3 times the performance of the previous generation. Its size and look suit studios, creative agencies and offices.
Snapdragon X2 Elite and a Hexagon NPU with up to 80 TOPS
The QN10 is designed for anyone who wants a powerful, quiet AI system. The Snapdragon X2 Elite platform, with up to 18 cores, delivers compute power and efficiency for multitasking, content creation and AI-assisted workflows, along with stronger graphics.
The Qualcomm Hexagon NPU reaches up to 80 TOPS and accelerates local applications such as real-time translation, text and image generation, video enhancement, AI assistants and workflow automation. The official spec sheets list LPDDR5x memory at 9600 MHz, up to 32 GB.
Security from chip to cloud
The Ascent QN10 has a multi-layer security architecture that protects the device, data and AI workloads across hardware, firmware, operating system and cloud. It includes fTPM 2.0 for credentials and hardware-level encryption and the Microsoft Pluton security processor for identities and keys, plus management and recovery for always-connected devices.
Local, hybrid and agentic AI
The QN10 runs AI on the device itself, with low latency and more privacy: from AI-assisted productivity to local LLM inference, content creation and edge AI. Developers get Qualcomm AI Hub, with more than 175 pre-optimised models, support for Bring Your Own Model (BYOM) and Bring Your Own Data (BYOD), and a path from customisation to deployment through the Qualcomm AI Stack.
It also supports hybrid agentic AI workflows across device and cloud: with tools such as OpenClaw and Hermes Agent, users can talk to AI agents from WhatsApp and LINE. The system splits workloads between cloud LLM APIs and the local NPU to balance performance, power and cost, and switches to local-only execution when privacy matters.
In its official spec sheets ASUS also describes the cooling: a CPU fan, a vapour chamber and cooling for the Gen5 SSD, to sustain performance quietly.
Connectivity
Latest-generation wireless with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. From the official port diagram:
- front: audio jack, USB-A 2.0, 10 Gbps USB-A 3.2, two 40 Gbps USB4 USB-C ports (DisplayPort 2.1 and power input) and the power button;
- rear: one 40 Gbps USB4 USB-C, two 10 Gbps USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2.5G LAN and DC-in.
Every USB port has individual power control.
Price and availability
The ASUS Ascent QN10 is available now with 32 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage and Windows 11 at a suggested price of €2,299 in Italy, from ASUS Gold Stores, Powered by ASUS retailers and major ASUS partners. Official page: ASUS Ascent QN10.
If you follow local AI on mini PCs, compare it with the GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro AMD mini workstation we covered recently (in Italian).
About ASUS
ASUS is a global technology leader that makes devices, components and solutions designed to improve people’s lives in every area. With 5,000 in-house R&D experts it is known for continuous innovation, Fortune consistently ranks it among the world’s most admired companies, and it aims to become a net-zero company with a responsible supply chain built around the circular economy.
Source: ASUS press release, 12 November 2026 (Preview PR press office) and official ASUS images. All trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners.
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* Content created with the support of artificial intelligence systems.