Intel’s Panther Lake CPUs are finally ready to hit the market. First detailed in October last year, the new Core Ultra Series 3 chips recently took the stage at CES 2026, with the company confirming pre-order and retail launch plans for the first laptops featuring the new processors.
In its announcement, Intel reiterated that the new Core Ultra Series 3 processors are the company’s first AI PC platform built on the Intel 18A process technology. The company says the chips will power over 200 designs from global partners, making the Series 3 “the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform Intel has ever delivered.”
The Core Ultra Series 3 introduces a new range of X9 and X7 SKUs packing the highest performing integrated Intel Arc graphics. The top-end models will feature up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe cores, and 50 NPU TOPS, and offer up to 60% better multithread performance and over 77% faster gaming performance compared to Lunar Lake.
Battery life also sees a notable boost, with Intel claiming up to 27.1 hours of Netflix streaming on a Lenovo IdeaPad reference design powered by the Core Ultra X9 388H. The Series 3 lineup will also include Intel Core processors that use the same architecture as the Core Ultra models, enabling more performant and power-efficient systems at lower price points.
Panther Lake laptops will hit the shelves later this month
Intel says pre-orders for the first consumer laptops powered by the Core Ultra Series 3 processors will start January 6. These laptops will go on sale globally starting January 27.
Additional models featuring the new processors are expected to launch throughout the first half of the year. Details on pricing, regional availability, and configurations are expected closer to launch as partners begin unveiling their Panther Lake-powered laptops.
