Intel has officially launched its next-generation AI PCs, introducing the Core Ultra Series 3 processors. This release marks a historical milestone: it is the first compute platform manufactured on the Intel 18A process, the most advanced semiconductor technology developed in the United States.

Announced at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors (codenamed “Panther Lake”) are designed to deliver a massive leap in power efficiency, graphics, and AI computing. The platform is set to power over 200 designs from global partners, making it Intel’s most broadly adopted AI PC platform to date.

New Performance Tiers: X9 and X7

The mobile lineup introduces a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors. These high-end SKUs are engineered for advanced workloads, including gaming and professional content creation.

Key technical highlights for the top SKUs include:

Processing Power: Featuring up to 16 CPU cores and 12 Xe-cores for integrated Intel Arc graphics.
AI Capabilities: An NPU delivering up to 50 TOPS (Trillions of Operations per Second).
Performance Gains: Up to 60% better multithread performance and over 77% faster gaming performance compared to previous generations.
Efficiency: Systems can achieve up to 27 hours of battery life.

Intel also introduced a mainstream Intel Core lineup within the Series 3 family, utilizing the same architecture to bring performance and efficiency to laptops at lower price points.

Expansion into Edge and Industrial AI

For the first time, Series 3 processors have been certified for use in embedded and industrial applications at the edge. These “edge processors” are designed for 24/7 reliability and extended temperature ranges, targeting sectors such as robotics, healthcare, and smart cities.

In edge AI workloads, the series offers significant advantages over multi-chip architectures, including:

LLM Performance: Up to 1.9x higher performance in Large Language Models.
Video Analytics: Up to 2.3x better performance per watt per dollar.
Vision Models: Up to 4.5x higher throughput on Vision Language Action (VLA) models.

Availability

Pre-orders for the first consumer laptops featuring Intel Core Ultra Series 3 begin on January 6, 2026. Global availability is scheduled for January 27, 2026, with hundreds of additional designs expected to launch throughout the first half of the year.