Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 puts 18A into new laptops

Intel unveiled Core Ultra Series 3 processors at CES on 5 January, describing them as its first computing platform manufactured on Intel 18A. The company’s official release PDF sets first laptop preorders for 6 January and global system availability from 27 January.

The family introduced Core Ultra X9 and X7 models with larger integrated Arc graphics. Top configurations were specified with up to 16 CPU cores, 12 graphics cores and an NPU rated at 50 TOPS.

Intel also certified Series 3 for embedded and industrial workloads, with those systems planned from the second quarter. The chip announcement therefore covered more than consumer notebooks. Intel’s performance and battery figures depend on the reference systems and workloads identified in its footnotes. A processor specification cannot establish the battery life or graphics performance of every laptop using it; manufacturers still choose the surrounding memory, cooling and battery. The release date opens a platform, not a uniform laptop specification.