Minisforum is gearing up to expand its compact workstation lineup with a new model called the MS-03, and the big headline is its use of Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” processors running at up to 70W. Teased during an Intel event in Shanghai celebrating the arrival of the Panther Lake and Xeon 6 families, the Minisforum MS-03 is positioned as a small-but-serious workstation mini PC built for productivity, creator workloads, and on-device AI.
The MS-03 follows the company’s earlier workstation-style mini PCs, succeeding models based on Arrow Lake and Raptor Lake. While the teaser didn’t reveal every detail, Minisforum did confirm key specs that make it clear this system is meant to punch above its size.
At the heart of the Minisforum MS-03 is the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, paired with integrated Intel Arc graphics based on the Battlemage generation. Minisforum is targeting a 70W power profile, which sits just below the maximum typical ceiling for Panther Lake chips—suggesting the MS-03 is tuned for sustained performance while keeping thermals in check inside a very compact chassis.
And compact is the right word here: the MS-03 measures 195.0 x 195.0 x 42.5mm. That footprint puts it firmly in the space-saving mini workstation category—ideal for desks with limited room, clean studio setups, small offices, or anyone who wants workstation-class features without a tower.
The Core Ultra 7 356H inside the MS-03 is configured with 16 total cores in a 4+8+4 layout, boosting up to 4.7 GHz and backed by 18 MB of cache. For graphics and AI-heavy tasks, the integrated Arc GPU includes 4 Xe3 cores with boost speeds up to 2.45 GHz, delivering up to 40 TOPS of compute. On top of that, the built-in NPU contributes 50 TOPS, bringing the combined AI performance to 90 TOPS for the platform. That level of on-device AI compute is increasingly important for features like local inference, AI-assisted creation tools, and productivity workflows that benefit from keeping tasks on the machine instead of in the cloud.
Minisforum also hinted—at least indirectly—that more powerful variants could arrive later. The company’s plans may include a higher-end configuration that upgrades to a fuller integrated graphics solution such as the Arc B390-class iGPU, giving users an option with stronger graphics performance after the initial launch.
Alongside the MS-03 tease, Minisforum also showed off another AI-focused mini PC: the M2 PRO. This model is powered by the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and is equipped with the full Arc B390 iGPU. Minisforum says the M2 PRO will support up to 96 GB of LPDDR5X-9600 memory and includes dual M.2 SSD slots, pointing to a high-performance compact system aimed at users who need fast memory, quick storage, and expanded capability in a small chassis. The M2 PRO is also described as offering extensive I/O and support for local AI agents, including OpenClaw.
As of now, Minisforum hasn’t shared official pricing for either the MS-03 or the M2 PRO. However, expectations are that pricing will land in line with other premium mini PCs, with final cost depending heavily on memory and storage configurations—especially as buyers increasingly look for higher RAM ceilings and fast SSD options for workstation and AI tasks.
If you’re watching the next wave of Intel Core Ultra Panther Lake mini PCs, the Minisforum MS-03 is shaping up to be one of the more interesting compact workstation entries: a small chassis, a 70W Panther Lake CPU, integrated Arc Battlemage graphics, and strong AI throughput designed for modern creator and productivity workloads.
