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In brief: Embedded World 2025 wraps up today, and German media outlets captured clear images of Intel's upcoming Panther Lake processors. They are the most detailed images since Intel unveiled Panther Lake last year. The chips should be available sometime mid-year.
Intel's upcoming Panther Lake CPU has surfaced again, this time at Embedded World 2025, where German media captured clear images of both sides. These new images come courtesy of PC Games Hardware. It's not Panther Lake's first public appearance – former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger already showed it off on stage a few months back. However, it is the best look so far.
Panther Lake is the official codename for Intel's Core Ultra 300 series mobile processors. It will succeed the current Core Ultra 200 "Lunar Lake" chips as Intel's flagship CPU offering when it arrives later this year.
Panther Lake represents a significant evolution for Intel's processor lineup. The chip uses Intel's new 18A process node, which should deliver a decent performance uplift over previous generations. The CPU pairs "Cougar Cove" performance cores with "Skymont" efficiency cores that debuted in the Lunar Lake series.
However, Panther Lake's integrated Xe3 "Celestial" graphics processor is its real selling point. This third-gen Xe GPU is a big step up from the Xe2 "Battlemage" graphics found in Lunar Lake, promising up to 16 cores and 180 TOPs of AI muscle. Celestial also marks a shift in Intel's production strategy.
While the CPU cores are manufactured solely on Intel's 18A process, the graphics silicon comes from TSMC's advanced N3E node. It's an unconventional hybrid model, but it likely allows Intel to leverage TSMC's expertise in leading-edge GPU production.
Some doubts remain about whether Intel can get Panther Lake out the door this year as planned. The 18A process builds upon multiple changes to Intel's transistor architecture, which debuted with the 20A process. These include moving to RibbonFET gated-around designs and new PowerVia backside power delivery. Intel has already encountered delays in Panther Lake production, primarily due to challenges with 18A. However, analysts still expect Intel to announce the new generation sometime in mid-2025, meaning these chips should hit the shelves in January 2026, just in time for CES 2026.
Image credit: PC Games Hardware
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