Intel Announces Launch of Panther Lake “Core Ultra 300” CPUs in 2026, With Full Production Starting This Year

Intel has officially revealed plans for the launch of its upcoming client CPU platform, known as Panther Lake, with an anticipated release in early 2026. Production is set to begin later this year, paving the way for this next-generation architecture.

Launch Timeline for Intel’s Panther Lake CPUs

The Panther Lake CPU family is poised to be a significant milestone as it will be the first generation to utilize the advanced 18A process node. This new technology not only represents a leap from the Intel 3 process but also incorporates various innovative packaging techniques designed for high-volume manufacturing starting in 2023.

Initially scheduled for a soft launch in the second half of 2025 with limited availability, Intel recently confirmed that the public release is now expected in 2026, marking a slight adjustment to their previous timeline.

Key Features of Panther Lake CPUs

Intel’s Panther Lake family will showcase groundbreaking technological advancements, including:

Introduction of the new Cougar Cove Performance Cores (P-Cores) alongside the efficient Skymont Efficiency Cores (E-Cores).
A configuration featuring 6 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores, targeting enhanced performance for mobile devices.
Integration of the new Xe3 “Celestial”graphics architecture, expected to house up to 12 Xe3 cores, delivered in a chiplet format.

Comparative Overview of Intel Mobility CPU Lineup

CPU Family	Panther Lake	Lunar Lake	Arrow Lake	Meteor Lake	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Process Node (CPU Tile)	Intel 18A	TSMC N3B	Intel 20A / TSMC N3B	Intel 4	Intel 7	Intel 7
Process Node (GPU Tile)	TSMC 3/2nm?	TSMC N3B	TSMC N4?	TSMC 5nm	Intel 7	Intel 7
CPU Architecture	Hybrid	Hybrid (Dual-Core)	Hybrid (Triple-Core)	Hybrid (Triple-Core)	Hybrid (Dual-Core)	Hybrid (Dual-Core)
P-Core Architecture	Cougar Cove	Lion Cove	Lion Cove	Redwood Cove	Raptor Cove	Golden Cove
E-Core Architecture	Skymont?	N/A	Skymont	Crestmont	Gracemont	Gracemont
Top Configuration	6+8 (H-Series)	4+4 (MX Series)	6+8 (H-Series) / 2+8 (U-Series)	6+8 (H-Series) / 2+8 (U-Series)	6+8 (H-Series) / 8+16 (HX-Series)	6+8 (H-Series) / 8+8 (HX-Series)
Max Cores / Threads	TBD	8/8	14/14	14/20	14/20	14/20
AI NPU	NPU5 (TBD TOPS)	NPU4 (48 TOPS)	NPU3.5 (TBD)	NPU3 (11 TOPS)	NPU2 (7 TOPS)	NPU2 (7 TOPS)
GPU Architecture	Xe3-LPG (Celestial)	Xe2-LPG (Battlemage)	Xe-LPG+ (Alchemist)	Xe-LPG (Alchemist)	Iris Xe (Gen 12)	Iris Xe (Gen 12)
Memory Support	TBD	LPDDR5X-8533	DDR5-5600 / LPDDR5-7500 / LPDDR5X-8533	DDR5-5600 / LPDDR5-7400 / LPDDR5X – 7400+	DDR5-5200 / LPDDR5-5200 / LPDDR5-6400	DDR5-4800 / LPDDR5-5200 / LPDDR5X-4267
Memory Capacity (Max)	TBD	32 GB	128 GB	96 GB	64 GB	64 GB
Thunderbolt Ports	TBD	TBD	TBD	4 (TB4)	4 (TB4)	4 (TB4)
WiFi Capability	TBD	WiFi 7	TBD	WiFi 6E	WiFi 6E	WiFi 6E
TDP	TBD	17-30W	TBD	7W-45W	15-55W	15-55W
Launch	2H 2026	2H 2024	2H 2024	2H 2023	1H 2023	1H 2022