Eleven years have passed since Intel introduced the NUC (Next Unit of Computing), one less since its first generation hit the market. Since then, the tech giant has regularly refreshed its line of mini-PCs that use the latest in its own line of processors. During this time, they managed to build a highly respected image that became for many the main alternative from the Windows ecosystem to Apple’s Mac mini.

As I said, the first Intel NUC design came to the market in 2013, 10 years ago, with systems built on the Intel Celeron 847, a rather modest integrated, but sufficient for the use for which this platform was originally conceived. However, over the years we’ve seen Intel put more meat on the grilluntil reaching the latest generations, in which we find the brand’s top chipsets, in designs as extreme and surprising as the Intel NUC 13 Extreme.

The latest news comes from just over a week ago, when Intel began rolling out the NUC 13 Pro “Desk Edition,” a launch that somewhat silenced recurring rumors that Intel might be considering exiting this line of businesswhich was practically always questioned about its growth capacity, although it is true that it was decisive in demonstrating that PCs with a very small form factor could offer excellent performance even for more demanding users.

However, it seems that these rumors, which increased significantly yesterday Monday, were correct, and that according to what we can read in ServeTheHome, and it is confirmed by the official statement in HardwareLuxx (in German), Intel will stop making NUC products. We can read this in the said official confirmation:

«We have decided to stop direct investment in the Next Unit of Compute (NUC) Business and change our strategy to enable our ecosystem partners to continue the innovation and growth of NUC. This decision will not affect the rest of the Intel Client Computing Group (CCG) or Network and Edge Computing (NEX) companies. In addition, we are working with our partners and customers to ensure a smooth transition and compliance with all of our current commitments.»

In other words, it doesn’t necessarily mean the death of the NUC, but it will depend on other manufacturers from now on (in cooperation with Intel, of course) decided to manufacture and sell devices that reproduce the formula used by the chip giant until now. However, the fact that the main banner (and father) of the NUC has decided to withdraw from the market is not a particularly encouraging sign in this regard.