CES 2026: Intel Unveils Core Ultra Series 3, Its First Platform Built on New 18A Process

CES 2026 is now in full swing, and Intel is opening the show with one of its more important platform launches in years. The company has announced the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, marking the first compute platform built on Intel’s 18A manufacturing process and the first major AI PC platform designed and manufactured entirely in the United States.

This isn’t just a one-off chip announcement. Intel says Core Ultra Series 3 will power more than 200 PC designs across categories, making it the company’s most widely adopted AI PC platform so far.

A new process, and a bigger bet on efficiency

At the heart of the launch is Intel 18A, the company’s most advanced process node to date. Intel is positioning it as a turning point, with a clear focus on power efficiency alongside higher CPU, GPU, and AI performance.

According to Intel, the goal with Series 3 was to balance raw performance with real-world gains like longer battery life and broader software compatibility. Jim Johnson, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group, summed it up simply: more CPU performance, a larger integrated GPU, and more AI compute, without breaking existing x86 workflows.

Core Ultra X9 and X7 target high-end mobile users

Within the mobile lineup, Intel is introducing a new class of processors under the Core Ultra X9 and X7 branding. These chips are aimed at users who bounce between demanding workloads like gaming, content creation, and productivity on the go.

Top configurations scale up to 16 CPU cores, integrated Intel Arc graphics with up to 12 Xe cores, and AI performance rated at 50 NPU TOPS. Intel claims sizable gains over previous generations, including faster multithreaded performance, higher gaming frame rates, and battery life that can stretch well beyond a full workday, depending on the system.

Alongside these, Intel is also rolling out standard Intel Core processors based on the same underlying architecture. These are designed for more mainstream laptops, where cost and efficiency matter as much as performance.

From laptops to the edge, for the first time

One of the more notable shifts with Core Ultra Series 3 is that Intel isn’t limiting the platform to PCs. For the first time, the same processors are being tested and certified for embedded and industrial use.

That opens the door to deployments in areas like robotics, smart cities, automation, and healthcare, where requirements include extended temperature support, predictable performance, and round-the-clock reliability. Intel says the platform delivers clear gains in edge AI workloads, from language models to video analytics, while keeping total system costs lower by relying on a single system-on-chip design.

Availability timeline

Intel says pre-orders for the first consumer laptops powered by Core Ultra Series 3 will begin on January 6, 2026. Retail availability is set for January 27, with more designs expected to roll out through the first half of the year.

For industrial and embedded systems, Intel is targeting availability starting in the second quarter of 2026.