Intel unveiled its Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors at CES 2026, positioning the lineup as the company’s first compute platform built on Intel 18A process technology and its most broadly adopted AI PC platform to date. Intel said the chips will power more than 200 laptop designs from global partners, with initial consumer systems available later this month.
Intel framed Series 3 as a step up in power efficiency, CPU and integrated graphics performance, and on-device AI compute, while maintaining broad x86 application compatibility. In the mobile lineup, Intel introduced a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors featuring integrated Intel Arc graphics aimed at heavier on-the-go workloads such as gaming, content creation, and productivity. Intel said top configurations offer up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe-cores, and 50 NPU TOPS, with performance claims that include up to 60% better multithreaded performance and up to 77% faster gaming versus prior-generation “Lunar Lake” reference comparisons, as well as up to 27 hours of battery life under a Netflix streaming test in a reference design.
Alongside the Core Ultra branding, Intel also included a mainstream Intel Core processor tier based on the same foundational architecture, targeting lower price points for broader laptop adoption.
Intel also extended the Series 3 positioning beyond PCs, saying the processors are being tested and certified for embedded and industrial edge deployments for the first time, including use cases such as robotics, smart cities, automation, and healthcare. For these environments, Intel emphasized features such as extended temperature support, deterministic performance, and 24×7 reliability, and it cited performance-per-watt and throughput gains in specific edge AI workloads compared with NVIDIA Jetson Orin AGX configurations.
Pre-orders for the first consumer laptops with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors are set to begin Jan. 6, 2026, with global availability for the first systems starting Jan. 27, 2026, and additional designs expected through the first half of 2026. Intel said edge systems powered by Series 3 are expected to be available starting in Q2 2026.
KEY QUOTE:
“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
