Intel unveiled Core Ultra Series 3 processors at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on January 5, introducing the first AI PC platform built on Intel 18A process technology designed and manufactured in the United States.
The launch event featured nine demos running on PCs powered by Core Ultra Series 3 processors. These demonstrations covered gaming, AI, content creation, retail, edge computing, and additional categories, showcasing the platform’s capabilities across diverse applications.
Core Ultra Series 3 represents the first compute platform constructed on Intel 18A, recognized as the most advanced semiconductor process developed and manufactured in the United States. This process technology underpins the entire family of processors.
The Series 3 family powers over 200 PC designs from leading global partners. These designs span the product stack and deliver performance, graphics capabilities, and battery life optimized for AI PCs.
- First platform built on Intel 18A: This compute platform utilizes Intel 18A, the most advanced semiconductor process ever developed and manufactured in the United States.
- Powering over 200 PC designs: The family powers hundreds of designs across the stack, delivering exceptional performance, graphics, and battery life.
- From PC to edge: Series 3 processors are tested and certified for embedded and industrial use cases at the edge, including robotics, smart cities, automation, healthcare, and more.
“With Series 3, we are laser focused on improving power efficiency, adding more CPU performance, a bigger GPU in a class of its own, more AI compute and app compatibility you can count on with x86.” Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group, Intel, stated during the launch.
The mobile lineup introduces a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors equipped with integrated Intel Arc graphics. These processors target multitaskers handling advanced workloads such as gaming, content creation, and productivity on mobile devices. Top SKUs in this class include up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe-cores, and 50 NPU TOPS. Performance metrics show up to 60 percent better multithread performance compared to prior generations, 77 percent faster gaming performance, and up to 27 hours of battery life.
The Series 3 family also encompasses Intel Core processors designed specifically for mainstream mobile systems. These processors share the foundational architecture of the broader family, enabling laptop designs that offer improved performance and efficiency at lower price points.
Edge variants of Series 3 processors mark the first certification for embedded and industrial use cases. Certifications cover extended temperature ranges, deterministic performance, and 24×7 reliability. Target applications include robotics, smart cities, automation, and healthcare.
In edge AI workloads, Intel Core Ultra Series 3 provides up to 1.9 times higher large-language-model performance. It achieves 2.3 times better performance-per-watt-per-dollar on end-to-end video analytics. Additionally, it delivers 4.5 times higher throughput on vision-language-action models. The integrated AI acceleration supports a single-chip solution, which reduces total cost of ownership relative to traditional multi-chip CPU-GPU architectures.
Pre-orders for the first consumer laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors begin on January 6, 2026. Global availability of these systems starts on January 27, 2026, with further designs arriving throughout the first half of the year. Edge systems powered by Series 3 become available starting in the second quarter of 2026.
