Intel has officially announced its new Core Ultra Series 3 processors at CES 2026. This is the company’s first AI PC platform built using the Intel 18A process. Intel says the chips are designed and manufactured in the United States and will power a wide range of next-generation laptops and AI systems.
The Core Ultra Series 3 platform will support more than 200 device designs from global partners. According to Intel, this makes it the most widely available AI PC platform the company has launched so far.
For laptops, Intel has introduced a new class of Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors. These chips come with integrated Intel Arc graphics and are aimed at users who need strong performance for multitasking, creative work, gaming, and daily productivity. The processors can feature up to 16 CPU cores and up to 12 Xe graphics cores. Intel also highlights AI performance, with up to 50 TOPS of NPU acceleration.
Intel claims the new processors deliver up to 60 percent better multithreaded performance and up to 77 percent faster gaming compared to previous generations. Battery life is also a focus, with Intel promising up to 27 hours of usage on supported laptops.
Alongside the high-end models, Intel is also bringing Core Ultra Series 3 processors to mainstream laptops. These chips use the same core architecture but are designed for more affordable devices, allowing manufacturers to offer better performance and efficiency at lower prices.
The Core Ultra Series 3 lineup is not limited to consumer PCs. Intel has also certified these processors for embedded and industrial use. They are built to handle extended temperature ranges and are designed for stable, round-the-clock operation in edge and industrial environments.
For edge AI workloads, Intel says the new platform offers major gains. This includes faster large language model performance, better efficiency for video analytics, and higher throughput for advanced vision and language tasks. The integrated AI hardware allows everything to run on a single chip, which helps reduce overall system cost.
Consumer laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors will be available globally starting January 27, 2026. Pre-orders will open on January 6, 2026. Edge and industrial systems based on the new chips are expected to launch in the second quarter of 2026.
