Intel has confirmed that its next-gen mobile CPU series will launch in 2026, made using its in-house 18A node. Core Ultra 300 processors are set to be powered by the Panther Lake architecture, said to offer great efficiency and performance, not to forget AI.
During the Intel Vision event in Las Vegas, the brand shared its future product roadmaps, including automotive, server, and client products. The one that interests us is the upcoming laptop chips headed to market next year, currently known as Panther Lake.
Intel said that Panther Lake combines the power efficiency of Lunar Lake and the performance of Arrow Lake, all while taking advantage of the latest 18A manufacturing process. The brand also indicated that production is on track to debut later this year, with client availability scheduled for 2026.
This seemingly clarifies a misunderstanding following the brand’s CEO announcement of mass production later this year. Originally, industry insiders claimed that Core Ultra 300 CPUs may become available in a limited capacity in October. It’s possible this might still be the case behind the scenes but we’ll have to wait longer for a proper launch, likely aiming for Q1 2026. After all, Intel aims to improve its position in the second half of this year, before the launch of Nova Lake in 2026.
After falling behind in the manufacturing/technology race, Intel is in dire need of a successful 18A – the first to use this fabrication process. The die is cast anyway as the node has already entered risk production, being used to test the design before full-scale production.
Manufacturing aside, the brand has also expressed its interest in software development, indicating that it has designed an app called AI Playground, meant to help clients develop their AI and chatbots. Intel’s Products CEO Michelle Holthaus said that the focus is to capture AI client opportunities from edge and automotive, to PCs and workstations.
Unfortunately, the event didn’t uncover more details about these chips, so we will have to wait for Computex in May. Hopefully, Intel will also shed some light on the Arc GPU status, and the upcoming Nova Lake CPUs.
