CES 2026: Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Debut as First Built on Intel 18A

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:

• First platform built on Intel 18A: At CES 2026, Intel launched the Intel® Core^™ Ultra Series 3 processors, the first compute platform built on Intel 18A - the most advanced semiconductor process ever developed and manufactured in the United States.
• Powering over 200 PC designs: Series 3 delivers a robust family of processors powering hundreds of designs up and down the stack, all delivering exceptional performance, graphics and battery life.
• From PC to Edge: For the first time, Series 3 processors are tested and certified for embedded and industrial use cases at the edge like robotics, smart cities, automation, healthcare, and more.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2026 – Today at CES, Intel unveiled Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, the first AI PC platform built on Intel 18A process technology that was designed and manufactured in the United States. Powering over 200 designs from leading, global partners, Series 3 will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform Intel has ever delivered.

“With Series 3, we are laser focused on improving power efficiency, adding more CPU performance, a bigger GPU in a class of its own, more AI compute and app compatibility you can count on with x86.”

– Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group, Intel

Series 3 Adds a New Class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 Processors

Within the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 mobile lineup, a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors come packed with the highest performing, integrated Intel® Arc^™ graphics. They are purpose-built for multitaskers that handle advanced workloads like gaming, creation and productivity on the go. The top SKUs feature up to 16 CPU cores, 12 X^e -cores and 50 NPU TOPS, delivering up to 60% better multithread performance¹ over 77% faster gaming performance² and up to 27 hours of battery life³.

The Series 3 family also includes Intel Core processors, intentionally designed to power mainstream mobile systems. Leveraging the same foundational architecture of Intel Core Ultra Series 3, the Intel Core lineup enables more performant and efficient laptop designs at lower price points.

Event Press Kit: Intel at CES 2026

A wafer of Intel® Core™ Ultra series 3 processors. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

A silicon wafer of Intel® Core™ Ultra series 3 processors. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

A graphic showing off a panther, which is the codename of the Core™ Ultra series 3 processors (Panther Lake). (Credit: Intel Corporation)

An Intel® Core™ Ultra series 3 processor. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

Close up of hand holding Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 - blur outside

Series 3 Accelerates AI Adoption in Robotics, Smart Cities, Automation and Healthcare

For the first time, alongside their PC counterparts, Series 3 edge processors are certified for embedded and industrial use cases, including extended temperature ranges, deterministic performance, and 24x7 reliability.

Intel Core Ultra Series 3 delivers competitive advantages in critical edge AI workloads with up to 1.9x higher large language model (LLM) performance⁴, up to 2.3x better performance per watt per dollar on end-to-end video analytics⁵, and up to 4.5x higher throughput on vision language action (VLA) models⁶. The integrated AI acceleration enables superior total cost of ownership (TCO) through a single system on chip (SoC) solution versus traditional multi-chip CPU and GPU architectures.

Availability

Pre-orders for the first consumer laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors will begin Jan. 6, 2026. Systems will be available globally starting Jan. 27, 2026, with additional designs coming throughout the first half of the year.

Edge systems powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 will be available starting Q1 2026.

More: Supporting Quotes from Partners | Product Brief: Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Processors | Press Deck: Supplemental Data Deep Dive