Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 chips finally going live on laptops

After months of teasing, Intel officially unveiled its 18A Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 laptop processors, confirming not just specs but real-world timelines at CES 2026. And it's arriving pretty soon. Here in this article, we'll get through everything about the Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 chipset.

Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 Overview:

What’s new with Panther Lake?

Panther Lake is built on Intel’s 18A process, which the company boldly calls the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing ever done in the US. Big words, yes, but Intel clearly wants this chip family to symbolize its comeback moment.

At a high level, Core Ultra Series 3 focuses on three things: More performance, Better graphics, and Longer battery life. Intel says the top-end configurations can deliver up to 60% better multithread performance, 77% faster gaming, and battery life stretching as high as 27 hours. Naturally, we’ll need real-world testing to see how much of that delivers on the bold claim.

Xe3 graphics and a serious gaming push

One of the more interesting upgrades comes on the graphics side. Panther Lake debuts Intel’s Xe3 integrated GPU, branded as Intel Arc B390. This isn’t just about casual gaming anymore.

Intel says the Arc B390 supports XeSS 3 with multiframe generation, and during the keynote, it claimed Battlefield 6 could hit 147fps at 1080p on the highest “Overkill” settings. That’s a bold flex for integrated graphics, and one that could seriously blur the line between thin-and-light laptops and entry-level gaming machines. Which is actually better for general users!

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AI

AI acceleration is another primary focus of this new Series. Panther Lake’s upgraded NPU delivers 50 TOPS, making it well-suited for on-device AI tasks such as background effects, content creation tools, and future Windows AI features. Intel is clearly positioning these chips for a future in which AI workloads run locally rather than relying heavily on the cloud.

200+ laptop designs and even a handheld tease

Intel confirmed that over 200 laptop designs from global OEM partners will feature Core Ultra Series 3 chips. Expect everything from ultraportables to performance-focused machines from brands you already know.

Interestingly, Intel also teased a dedicated handheld gaming device powered by Panther Lake, with partners including Acer and MSI. Details are scarce for now, but it’s a clear sign Intel wants a slice of the handheld PC gaming space, too.

Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra 3 Launch and Availability:

Pre-orders for laptops powered by Intel’s Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 processors will begin on January 6, 2026, with global availability starting January 27, 2026, marking the moment.

• Meanwhile, you can check our AI Laptop video.