Intel has officially unveiled its new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, marking the first compute platform built on Intel’s 18A process technology.
Announced on January 5, 2026, the new processors are designed and manufactured in the United States and represent Intel’s most advanced semiconductor process to date. The company says Series 3 is its most widely adopted AI PC platform so far, with support across consumer, commercial, and industrial segments.
According to Intel, Core Ultra Series 3 processors will power more than 200 PC designs from global partners. The new lineup focuses heavily on improving power efficiency, CPU performance, graphics capability, and AI processing while maintaining compatibility with existing x86 applications. Intel also highlighted longer battery life and better performance across everyday workloads, gaming, and creative tasks.
The mobile lineup introduces a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors, featuring Intel Arc integrated graphics and advanced AI acceleration. Top configurations include up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe cores, and up to 50 TOPS of NPU performance. Intel claims these chips deliver up to 60 percent better multithreaded performance, significantly faster gaming performance, and battery life reaching up to 27 hours. The Series 3 family also includes standard Intel Core processors aimed at more affordable and efficient mainstream laptops.
For the first time, Intel has expanded Core Ultra Series 3 beyond PCs, with select processors tested and certified for embedded and industrial edge use cases. These include robotics, smart cities, automation, and healthcare systems that require 24×7 reliability and extended temperature support. Intel says the new processors deliver strong gains in edge AI workloads, including faster large language model processing and improved performance per watt for video analytics.
Pre-orders for consumer laptops powered by Core Ultra Series 3 begin on January 6, 2026, with global availability starting January 27, 2026.
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