CES 2026: Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Debuts as First Built on Intel 18A

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Key Terms

large language model (llm) technical

A large language model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence trained on massive amounts of text to read, write and analyze language, behaving like a very well-read assistant that can draft reports, answer questions and summarize information. For investors it matters because LLMs can boost productivity, enable new products or cost savings, and change competitive dynamics, while also creating risks around accuracy, bias and regulatory compliance that can affect a company’s value.

vision language action (vla) models technical

Vision language action (VLA) models are artificial intelligence systems that combine visual inputs (images or video) and written or spoken language to recognize, describe, and predict physical actions or tasks. For investors, they matter because they power smarter automation and products—think of a machine that watches a video, reads instructions, and figures out what to do—enabling advances in robotics, surveillance, content moderation, and user-facing apps that can change costs and create new revenue streams.

system on chip (soc) technical

A system on chip (SoC) is a single microchip that combines many electronic parts—such as the processor, memory, and communications controllers—needed to run a device, similar to fitting an entire workshop into one compact toolbox. For investors, SoCs matter because they can lower manufacturing costs, improve performance and power efficiency, and create product advantages that affect a company’s margins, competitive position, and ability to scale production.

form s-8 regulatory

A Form S-8 is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration that lets a public company set aside shares for employee benefit plans and stock-based compensation. Think of it as opening a dedicated account that authorizes the company to issue or reserve stock for workers and directors; it matters to investors because it enables share dilution when those awards are granted or exercised and signals how management is compensated and incentivized.

10-q regulatory

A 10-Q is a company’s required quarterly filing with U.S. regulators that provides updated financial statements, management discussion of results, and disclosures about risks, legal matters and operational changes. Think of it as a quarterly report card and progress update that lets investors track recent performance, spot trends or warning signs between annual reports, and make informed buy/sell decisions based on the latest verified financial and business information.

8-k regulatory

An 8-K is a public report companies must file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose major events or changes that shareholders should know about, such as leadership changes, mergers, financial surprises, or legal developments. It matters to investors because it acts like a breaking-news alert for a company’s health and prospects—providing timely facts that can affect stock value and investment decisions.

private placement financial

A private placement is a way for companies to raise money by selling securities directly to a small group of investors instead of through a public offering. This process is often quicker and less regulated, making it similar to offering a special, exclusive investment opportunity to select individuals or institutions. For investors, it can provide access to unique investment options that are not available on public markets.

warrants financial

Warrants are special documents that give you the right to buy a company's stock at a set price before a certain date. They are often used as a way for companies to attract investors or raise money, and their value can increase if the company's stock price goes up.

01/05/2026 - 06:00 PM

Intel ushers in the next generation of AI PCs with exceptional performance, graphics and battery life; available this month.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:

First platform built on Intel 18A: At CES 2026, Intel launched the Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 processors, the first compute platform built on Intel 18A - the most advanced semiconductor process ever developed and manufactured in the United States.
Powering over 200 PC designs: Series 3 includes a robust family of mobile processors, delivering exceptional performance, graphics and battery life.
From PC to Edge: For the first time, Series 3 processors are tested and certified for embedded and industrial use cases at the edge like robotics, smart cities, automation, healthcare and more.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today at CES, Intel unveiled Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 processors, the first AI PC platform built on Intel 18A process technology that was designed and manufactured in the United States. Powering over 200 designs from leading, global partners, Series 3 will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform Intel has ever delivered.

An Intel® Core™ Ultra series 3 processor. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

“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.” – Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group, Intel

Series 3 Adds a New Class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 Processors

Within the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 mobile lineup, a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors come packed with the highest performing, integrated Intel® Arc™ graphics. They are purpose-built for multitaskers that handle advanced workloads like gaming, creation and productivity on the go. The top SKUs feature up to 16 CPU cores, 12 X^e-cores and 50 NPU TOPS, delivering up to 60% better multithread performance¹, over 77% faster gaming performance²and up to 27 hours of battery life³.

The Series 3 family also includes Intel Core processors, intentionally designed to power mainstream mobile systems. Leveraging the same foundational architecture of Intel Core Ultra Series 3, the Intel Core lineup enables more performant and efficient laptop designs at lower price points.

Series 3 Accelerates AI Adoption in Robotics, Smart Cities, Automation and Healthcare

For the first time, alongside their PC counterparts, Series 3 edge processors are certified for embedded and industrial use cases, including extended temperature ranges, deterministic performance, and 24x7 reliability.

Intel Core Ultra Series 3 delivers competitive advantages in critical edge AI workloads with up to 1.9x higher large language model (LLM) performance⁴, up to 2.3x better performance per watt per dollar on end-to-end video analytics⁵, and up to 4.5x higher throughput on vision language action (VLA) models⁶. The integrated AI acceleration enables superior total cost of ownership (TCO) through a single system on chip (SoC) solution versus traditional multi-chip CPU and GPU architectures.

Availability

Pre-orders for the first consumer laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors will begin Jan. 6, 2026. Systems will be available globally starting Jan. 27, 2026, with additional designs coming throughout the first half of the year.

Edge systems powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 will be available starting Q2 2026.

About Intel

Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) designs and manufactures advanced semiconductors that connect and power the modern world. Every day, our engineers create new technologies that enhance and shape the future of computing to enable new possibilities for every customer we serve. Learn more at intel.com.

Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Core and Arc are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.

¹ Up to 60% better multithread performance vs. Lunar Lake at similar power with an Intel® Core™ Ultra X9 388H vs. Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 288V. As measured by Cinebench 2024 Multi Core (at 25W). See intel.com/performanceindex for workloads and configurations. Results may vary.

² Up to 77% better gaming performance vs. Lunar Lake with an Intel® Core™ Ultra X9 388H vs. Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 288V. As measured by Geomean of average game performance across 45 game titles at 1080p High with 2x upscaling when supported on Panther Lake Reference Platform vs. Lunar Lake Reference Platform. See intel.com/performanceindex for workloads and configurations. Results may vary.

³ Get as much as 27.1 hours while Netflix streaming with an Intel® Core™ Ultra X9 388H tested in Lenovo IdeaPad reference design. As measured by Netflix streaming at 1080p in Edge browser. Individual system results will vary significantly with different use, battery capacity and other factors. Learn more at intel.com/performanceindex.

⁴ As estimated by DeepSeek Ilama-8B first token latency on Intel Core Ultra X9 processor 388H vs. NVIDIA Jetson Orin™ AGX 64GB for BS1 and INT4. Individual system results may vary as power and performance are affected by use, configuration and other factors. Details at intel.com/performanceindex.

⁵ As estimated by medium end-to-end video analytics with BS8 on Intel Core Ultra X9 processor 388H vs. NVIDIA Jetson Orin™ AGX 64GB. Individual system results may vary as power and performance are affected by use, configuration and other factors. Details at intel.com/performanceindex.

⁶ As estimated by Action Chunking Transformer (ACT) Bimanual insertion model (using four cameras – 640x480 with FP32) on Intel Core Ultra X9 processor 388H iGPU vs. NVIDIA Jetson Orin™ AGX 64GB. Individual system results may vary as power and performance are affected by use, configuration and other factors. Details at intel.com/performanceindex.