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Intel Unveils Panther Lake, First 18A Laptop Chips, as Fab 52 Ramps for 2026 PCs

Intel frames the launch as a pivotal test of its 18A process to regain PC leadership.

Overview

  • Intel says Panther Lake is already in production, with first units shipping before the end of 2025 and broad availability beginning in January 2026.
  • The company claims up to 50% faster CPU and GPU performance versus Lunar Lake with roughly 10% lower power consumption, and up to 40% lower power versus Arrow Lake.
  • The multi‑chiplet design puts the compute tile (CPU, NPU, media) on Intel 18A while the platform controller and the 12‑core Xe3 GPU tile are produced externally, including at TSMC.
  • Lineup options include 8‑core and 16‑core CPUs with four Xe3 GPU cores, plus a 16‑core variant with 12 Xe3 cores; all models feature an updated NPU rated around 50 TOPS and new media and imaging blocks.
  • Intel says its Chandler, Arizona Fab 52 is fully operational and set for high‑volume 18A production this year, with the 18A‑based Clearwater Forest server chips slated for the first half of 2026.