CES 2026: Intel Unveils 18A-Based Core Ultra Series 3 Chips Amid Rumors of Future Apple Partnership

Intel introduced its latest processors astatine CES 2026, debuting the "Panther Lake" Intel Core Ultra Series 3. The chips are the astir precocious manufactured successful the U.S., according to Intel, and they are built connected Intel's 18A process.


18A, oregon 18-angstrom, is the astir precocious node Intel has designed to date, but Intel continues to way TSMC. TSMC is processing Apple's next-generation 2nm chips, and they are expected to person higher transistor density and ratio than Intel's 18A chips.

Intel is processing respective chips successful the Ultra Series 3 enactment for some high-end and low-end laptops, with the apical SKUs offering up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe cores (Intel's graphics architecture), and 50 NPU TOPS. Compared to prior-generation chips, Intel claims the Ultra Series 3 processors volition bring up to 77 percent faster gaming performance, 60 percent amended multithreaded performance, and up to 27 hours of artillery life.

Apple doesn't usage Intel chips anymore, truthful the caller Core Ultra Series 3 processors volition beryllium exclusive to PCs, but determination are rumors that Intel could manufacture immoderate Apple chips successful the future. According to Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo, Intel volition marque lower-end M-series chips for Apple's Macs built connected the 18A process, utilizing Apple spot designs. Intel could statesman shipping chips to Apple arsenic soon arsenic mid-2027.

The archetypal laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips debuted astatine ‌CES 2026‌, with much coming passim the archetypal fractional of the year.
This article, "CES 2026: Intel Unveils 18A-Based Core Ultra Series 3 Chips Amid Rumors of Future Apple Partnership" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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