Building on its Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake) processors unveiled at CES 2026, Intel has announced Core Series 3 chips codenamed Wildcat Lake for mainstream and value laptops. These mark the first non-Ultra Core CPUs to use the advanced Intel 18A manufacturing process, delivering major performance gains, AI improvements, and all-day battery life. Laptop makers including HP, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, and Samsung plan to integrate them throughout 2026.
The announcement on April 16, 2026, highlights how Intel is extending 18A technology—previously debuted in the premium Ultra lineup—to more affordable segments. Compared to a five-year-old PC, the chips offer up to 47% better single-thread performance and 41% better multi-thread performance. Versus the prior-generation Intel Core 7 150U, they consume up to 64% less power while providing 2.7x the AI GPU performance and 2.8x overall GPU AI gains. Intel emphasizes 'exceptional battery life' and 'AI-ready performance' for these processors.
