Intel teases next-gen ‘Panther Lake’ chips forward of 2026 launch

Intel dedicated to delivering its next-generation “Panther Lake” processor to PC makers early in 2026, sustaining the cadence of earlier launches.

Intel executives mentioned at Computex 2025 that it’ll start manufacturing Panther Lake throughout the second half of 2025. Nevertheless, in keeping with PCWorld’s Adam Patrick Murray, Intel executives mentioned that Panther Lake won’t be a socketed desktop half.

Intel confirmed off Panther Lake working in what it calls validation platforms or prototype PCs, in addition to examples of the chip itself. As for Intel’s next-generation “Nova Lake,” processor, due in 2026, we requested about that chip, as nicely.

“You’ll see Nova Lake on time,” mentioned Robert Hallock, Intel’s senior director of technical advertising and marketing.

Intel started speaking about Panther Lake over a yr in the past, when Intel mentioned that it was transferring into the fab. Panther Lake prototypes appeared in October, and since then surfaced in each main Intel presentation together with the debut of Intel’s latest chief govt, Lip-Bu Tan.

At Computex, Intel demonstrated these early variations of Panther Lake working on Da Vinci Resolve, a video modifying software, in addition to an LLM utilizing a entrance finish modeled after Microsoft’s AI assistant, Clippy. Topaz AI, a picture upscaling software, was additionally proven off working on the early Panther Lake {hardware}.

Intel hasn’t launched the Panther Lake specs but. Intel has additionally confirmed that it is going to be utilizing a brand new, built-in GPU, although not which one.

It appears like Nova Lake can be Intel’s subsequent desktop half, whereas Panther Lake will stay a cellular processor.

Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry