- Intel’s Panther Lake lineup will not come to shoppers till Q1 2026, in keeping with a leaked presentation slide
- This comes after the anticipated full launch in late 2025, however that’s just for the Early Enablement Program
- Rumors recommend the delay is because of Intel’s 18A manufacturing course of
Intel‘s Lunar Lake Core Extremely 200 processors are already right here, current throughout highly effective laptops (such because the MSI Status EVO AI+ lineup) and handhelds (notably the MSI Claw 8 AI+). Now, it is time to sit up for Staff Blue’s Panther Lake lineup – however it might not come as quickly as initially promised.
As reported by VideoCardz, a leaked slide from a particular occasion in China has seemingly revealed that Intel’s Panther Lake processors will not launch till Q1 2026, whereas its EEP (Early Enablement Program) will begin later this yr in preparation. That is opposite to former interim CEO Michelle Holthaus’ earlier affirmation of the lineup’s launch and availability within the second half of 2025, indicating a delay. Finally, it means shoppers could have to attend till 2026 to get their arms on Intel Panther Lake-powered merchandise.
Causes for the delay reportedly stem from difficulties with managing Staff Blue’s 18A manufacturing course of when it comes to the unique manufacturing schedule. It isn’t precisely clear why this delay is in place, but when the setback is critical sufficient, it might have an effect on Intel’s placement out there (particularly up in opposition to AMD).
We all know that AMD nonetheless has its Ryzen AI 400 collection processors set to be introduced, and we nonetheless do not know if it would launch across the identical time as Intel’s Panther Lake.
It is also price noting that Staff Purple’s Ryzen AI 300 collection APUs have already made big leaps in processing energy, notably the Ryzen AI 395+ Max – so if its new lineup does arrive in Q1 2026, it is going to be fascinating to see the way it festivals in opposition to the Panther Lake chips utilizing the Xe3 structure.
What does this imply for handheld gaming PCs?
With Intel’s Core Extremely 7 258V processor, we have seen the brand new MSI Claw 8 AI+ (the identical chip can also be utilized in Dell’s XPS 13 laptop computer) work wonders at offering big enhancements in gaming – particularly compared to the earlier MSI Claw A1M. Spoiler: it wasn’t good.
With Panther Lake processors now on the (considerably distant) horizon, I am hopeful that we will get even stronger gaming ultrabooks and handheld gaming PCs based mostly on these new chips. Intel’s Technical Advertising and marketing Vice President, Robert Hallock, confirmed Staff Blue’s plans to help gaming handhelds (as reported by LaptopMag) and this might work completely for competitors.
AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Excessive is slated for ‘early 2025’ as part of the Ryzen AI 300 collection household – it is going to be used for handhelds just like the Lenovo Legion Go 2 (nonetheless a prototype), but it surely’s nonetheless not clear when that may launch. It additionally appears as if it would rival the Core Extremely 7 258V processor, which can find yourself being a superb indication of how each Staff Purple and Staff Blue’s upcoming lineups might carry out in opposition to one another.
I hope that each lineups present drastic leaps in energy for handhelds throughout the board, additional inserting handheld gaming throughout the limelight the place it belongs – let’s simply hope that these delays do not make it a protracted wait…
