TL;DR
Intel has introduced Panther Lake as the Core Ultra Series 3, the company’s first processors using its 18A node, claiming significant gains in power efficiency and multithreaded performance. Laptops with these chips begin shipping Jan. 27 and the family spans 14 SKUs targeting long battery life, improved graphics and on-device AI.
What happened
Intel unveiled the Panther Lake family under the Core Ultra Series 3 name, marking its first use of the 18A manufacturing process for the compute die. The line includes 14 SKUs, from an 8-core 4.4 GHz model up to a 16-core, 5.1 GHz Core Ultra X9 388H, with a hybrid core layout of P, E and low-power E (LP E) cores intended to balance performance and battery life. Intel says transistor density rose about 30% and performance-per-watt improved versus prior generations, with single-thread gains of roughly 10% and multithread gains around 50%. GPUs are integrated Arc designs with up to 12 Xe cores and up to 120 TOPS for AI, while low-power NPUs can deliver up to 50 TOPS for simpler inference tasks. Many SKUs include Thunderbolt 5, all support Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, and laptop shipments are expected to start Jan. 27 with more than 200 design wins reported.
Why it matters
- First commercial use of Intel’s 18A process for the compute die suggests a new manufacturing milestone for Intel.
- Architecture and process changes aim to improve battery life and performance-per-watt for thin-and‑light laptops and edge devices.
- Integrated Arc GPUs and on-chip NPUs increase on-device AI capability, reducing reliance on cloud inferencing.
- Broader support for modern I/O (Thunderbolt 5) and Wi‑Fi 7 could simplify high-speed docking, displays and wireless connectivity in new designs.
Key facts
- Core Ultra Series 3 is the brand name for Intel’s Panther Lake family.
- The compute die for Panther Lake uses Intel’s 18A process; platform controller is made by TSMC and the integrated GPU may come from TSMC or Intel 3 depending on SKU.
- Fourteen SKUs range from the 8-core Core Ultra 5 322 (4.4 GHz) to the 16-core Core Ultra X9 388H (5.1 GHz).
- Processors use a three-tier core mix: high-performance P cores, mid E cores, and low-power LP E cores.
- Intel reports a roughly 30% increase in transistor density and claims ~10% better single-thread and ~50% better multithread performance per watt versus the prior generation.
- All SKUs have a 25 W base power and turbo ratings of 55 W or 65 W; top X-series parts claim substantially higher multithread and gaming performance versus predecessors.
- Integrated Arc GPUs offer up to 12 Xe cores and up to 120 TOPS for AI; NPUs can reach up to 50 TOPS.
- Many SKUs include Thunderbolt 5 support (80 Gbps native, up to 120 Gbps Bandwidth Boost), while others support Thunderbolt 4.
- Wireless: built-in Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. Memory: up to 96 or 128 GB LPDDR5x/DDR5 depending on SKU, with the top X-series running up to 9,600 MT/s.
What to watch next
- Independent battery-life and real-world performance tests to verify Intel’s claims about improved endurance and performance (not confirmed in the source).
- Third-party gaming and AI benchmarks that compare Core Ultra Series 3 to competing mobile CPUs and discrete GPUs (not confirmed in the source).
- Timing and availability beyond early OEM partners and the scale of shipments to broader laptop and embedded markets (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- 18A process: A semiconductor fabrication node used by Intel for certain chip components; denotes a specific generation of transistor and wafer manufacturing technology.
- NPU (Neural Processing Unit): A specialized processor core designed to accelerate machine learning inference and other AI workloads with lower power use than a general-purpose CPU.
- RibbonFET: Intel’s gate-all-around transistor architecture intended to improve density and power efficiency over earlier transistor designs.
- TOPS (Trillions of Operations per Second): A metric often used to express the raw throughput capability of AI accelerators and inference engines.
- Thunderbolt 5: A high-speed wired interface standard that provides high-bandwidth bidirectional data, video and power delivery over a single cable when implemented.
Reader FAQ
When will devices with Core Ultra Series 3 start shipping?
Intel says laptops with these processors will begin shipping as soon as Jan. 27.
Are all Panther Lake components manufactured on Intel’s 18A node?
No. The compute die uses 18A, while the platform controller is made by TSMC and the integrated GPU may be from TSMC or Intel’s Intel 3 process depending on the SKU.
How many SKUs are in the Core Ultra Series 3 family?
Intel announced 14 SKUs, spanning 8-core and 16-core configurations with varying clock speeds and power envelopes.
What battery-life claims has Intel or partners made for laptops using these chips?
Dell materials cited over 40 hours of 1080p video streaming on its new XPS 14 and 16 models using Core Ultra Series 3 chips.
PERSONAL TECH Intel unleashes Panther Lake CPUs, first built on 18A process Company claims its Ultra Series 3 processors will offer the best battery life yet Avram Piltch Mon 5 Jan 2026 //…
Sources
- Intel unleashes Panther Lake CPUs, first built on 18A process
- CES 2026: Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Debuts as First Built on …
- Intel's Panther Lake is finally here: These are the Core …
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