Intel has officially announced the 'Intel Core Ultra Series 3', a processor based on the Intel 18A process, and is targeting the next-generation AI PC market.

At CES 2026 on the 6th, Intel unveiled the Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 processor, the first AI PC platform based on Intel 18A process technology designed and manufactured in the United States.

This new product is expected to be featured in more than 200 global PC designs, creating the broadest ecosystem of any AI PC platform Intel has ever introduced.

Intel Core Ultra Series 3 is the first processor developed based on Intel's latest ultra-fine process technology, Intel 18A.

It simultaneously enhances power efficiency and CPU performance, and provides best-in-class GPU performance and enhanced AI computing capabilities.

“The Core Ultra Series 3 sets a new standard in power efficiency, CPU performance, GPU performance, and AI processing capabilities,” said Jim Johnson, vice president and general manager of the Intel Client Computing Group.“Compatibility with a wide range of applications based on the x86 architecture has also been further strengthened,” he said.

The Core Ultra Series 3 for mobile includes new top-of-the-line performance tiers: Core Ultra X9 and X7.

The top model offers up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe GPU cores, and 50 TOPS NPU performance.

It is designed to deliver up to 60% better multi-threading performance, up to 77% better gaming performance, and up to 27 hours of battery life.

This configuration is optimized for gamers, creators, and professional users who perform high-performance tasks on the go.

It also comes with mainstream Intel Core processors based on the same architecture, supporting laptop designs across a wide range of price points.

The Core Ultra Series 3 is the first processor to be certified not only for PCs but also for edge computing.

It meets the requirements of industrial environments, including an extended operating temperature range and 24/7 reliability, and can be used in various fields such as robotics, smart cities, automation, and healthcare.

AI performance has also improved significantly.

LLM processing performance is improved by up to 1.9x, and end-to-end video analytics performance is improved by up to 2.3x per watt-dollar. VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model processing capacity has also been improved by up to 4.5 times.

Another advantage is that it provides a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than existing CPU/GPU multi-chips through an integrated AI acceleration structure.

The first consumer notebooks featuring Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors will be available for pre-order starting January 6th, with global sales starting January 27th.

Additional product lines are expected to be unveiled sequentially throughout the first half of 2026.

The Edge system is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2026.