Akasa Newton N16 Turns ASUS NUC 16 Pro Into a Fully Fanless Mini PC

Akasa has introduced the Newton N16, a passive cooling enclosure designed for the ASUS NUC 16 Pro that allows the compact PC to run without any fans.

The aluminum chassis replaces the standard cooling system with a large heatsink built directly into the enclosure. Separate thermal modules are used for the processor and both M.2 SSDs, while thermal compound and pads are included.

The main tradeoff is power. Akasa rates the Newton N16 for processors running at up to 28W, which means some NUC 16 Pro configurations will need their power limits reduced in the BIOS.

ASUS offers the NUC 16 Pro with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors that can operate at higher power levels, including configurations reaching 45W or 65W cTDP. Those systems can still be installed in the Newton N16, but they will not run at their normal maximum power settings.

Akasa Newton N16 specifications

The enclosure supports a broad range of NUC 16 Pro processor options, including Core Ultra X9, Core Ultra X7, Core Ultra 7, and Core Ultra 5 models.

Selected configurations also include integrated Intel Arc graphics.

Passive cooling comes with a performance limit

The biggest consideration is the 28W ceiling.

Passive cooling removes fan noise and reduces the number of moving parts inside the system, but it also limits how much sustained heat the chassis can handle.

That matters because higher end NUC 16 Pro processors are designed to operate above 28W under heavier workloads.

If you install one of those processors in the Newton N16, reducing the BIOS power limit may lower peak and sustained performance compared with the standard actively cooled configuration.

The tradeoff may still make sense for office systems, home servers, media PCs, digital signage, or other workloads where silence and reliability matter more than maximum performance.

Two versions cover different display layouts

Akasa is offering two versions of the Newton N16.

The A NUC109 M1B is designed for NUC 16 Pro boards with dual HDMI outputs, while the A NUC109 M2B supports versions with dual DisplayPort.

The chassis keeps access to the system's existing USB Type C, USB Type A, LAN, and display connections.

On the front, the enclosure includes one 10 Gbps USB C port and two 10 Gbps USB A ports.

VESA mounting is supported, allowing the system to be attached behind a monitor or display. Akasa is also preparing optional wall mounting and 10 inch rack accessories.

The Newton N16 is currently listed as an upcoming product, and official pricing has not yet been announced.

For buyers who want a completely silent NUC 16 Pro, the enclosure offers a practical option, provided they are comfortable trading some processor power for passive cooling.