Overview

• Leaked shipping records list a Nova Lake-S pre‑qualification sample tagged as 28 cores for R&D, indicating very early silicon is in limited testing.
• Reports suggest the 28-core layout likely pairs eight P-cores with 16 E-cores and four low‑power E-cores, though the exact mix remains unconfirmed.
• Coverage ties Nova Lake to Intel’s 18A process and a new LGA1954 socket, with launch timing widely reported for mid to late 2026.
• An Arrow Lake-S Refresh is reportedly confined to clock-speed bumps on the existing LGA1851 platform, with a previously rumored NPU upgrade said to be dropped.
• Intel’s CFO acknowledged Arrow Lake underperformed in high-end desktops and said Nova Lake will address that tier, signaling a push to improve the company’s position next year.