Intel used CES 2026 to unveil its most ambitious client processor platform to date, announcing the Intel Core Ultra Series 3, the company’s first processors built on Intel 18A, its most advanced semiconductor manufacturing process. Designed and manufactured in the United States, Series 3 signals a major step forward in Intel’s push to reclaim leadership in performance, efficiency and AI computing across PCs and the edge.
Intel says Core Ultra Series 3 will power more than 200 PC designs from global partners, making it the most broadly adopted AI PC platform the company has ever delivered. The processors target a wide range of devices, from premium mobile laptops to mainstream systems, with availability beginning later this month.
“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,” said Jim Johnson, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group.
A New Flagship Class: Core Ultra X9 and X7
At the top of the lineup, Intel introduced a new class of mobile processors branded Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7. These flagship SKUs feature Intel’s highest-performing integrated Intel Arc graphics to date and are aimed at users who demand strong multitasking performance for gaming, content creation and productivity on the go.
According to Intel, the top configurations offer up to 16 CPU cores, up to 12 Xe GPU cores, and as much as 50 TOPS of NPU AI performance. The company claims up to 60% higher multithreaded CPU performance, over 77% faster gaming performance, and battery life reaching up to 27 hours, depending on configuration and workload.
Alongside these premium chips, Intel is also rolling out Intel Core processors built on the same Series 3 architecture for more affordable laptops. This approach allows OEMs to deliver thinner, more efficient designs at lower price points while retaining the benefits of the new platform.
From AI PCs to the Intelligent Edge
One of the most notable shifts with Core Ultra Series 3 is its expansion beyond traditional PCs. For the first time, Intel has tested and certified these processors for embedded and industrial edge use cases. That includes deployments in robotics, smart cities, industrial automation and healthcare environments, where requirements such as extended temperature operation, deterministic performance and 24/7 reliability are critical.
Intel claims Series 3 delivers up to 1.9× higher large language model performance, up to 2.3× better performance per watt per dollar in end-to-end video analytics, and as much as 4.5× higher throughput for vision-language-action models. By integrating CPU, GPU and AI acceleration into a single system-on-chip, Intel argues customers can reduce system complexity and total cost of ownership compared to traditional multi-chip solutions.
Availability
Pre-orders for the first consumer laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors begin Jan. 6, 2026, with global availability starting Jan. 27. Additional designs are expected to roll out throughout the first half of the year. Edge systems based on Series 3 are slated to arrive in the second quarter of 2026.
With Core Ultra Series 3, Intel is positioning Intel 18A not just as a manufacturing milestone, but as the foundation for a unified AI computing platform spanning PCs and the edge an area where competition is intensifying rapidly across the industry.
