Intel had probably the most thrilling product launch at CES 2026 and I completely wasn't anticipating that
Return a 12 months to 18 months, and there is completely no approach you’d have picked Intel as the highest candidate for probably the most thrilling product launch at CES from the massive tech gamers. However right here we’re, CES in January 2026, and Intel’s new Panther Lake chip is not simply probably the most thrilling launch. It is nearly the one launch.
Nvidia is clearly totally consumed by all issues AI, plus possibly a contact of reminiscence disaster administration. So, there have been no new GPUs from Staff Inexperienced. And AMD had nothing however respins of current merchandise.
Our Andy took Panther Lake for a fast spin in Las Vegas and got here away impressed. How about Cyberpunk 2077 at 1200p, Excessive settings, no upscaling and 53 fps common? OK, that is with out ray tracing. However nonetheless spectacular, eh?
Add in High quality upscaling, and also you’re taking a look at a really playable 74 fps. At barely past 1080p. On a bleedin’ Intel iGPU. You may learn Andy’s piece for some extra video games briefly examined. However this can be a distinctly gameable iGPU.
In truth, it’s extremely, very probably by far the quickest real-world gaming iGPU for the PC. And by that I imply excluding the likes of AMD’s Strix Halo, which is tremendous costly and actually constructed for duties like working AI fashions, not video games.
Definitely, AMD’s “new” Ryzen AI 400 sequence will not threaten Panther Lake. As a result of the Ryzen AI 400 sequence is simply the Ryzen AI 300 sequence with a really slapdash lick of paint. AMD will not have a genuinely new APU for at the least a 12 months, and possibly longer.
On the similar time, Panther Lake additionally seems to be to be fairly power-efficient. There’s even going to be a model aimed squarely at handheld gaming PCs, which is unquestionably probably the most thrilling utility.
Then there’s the entire Intel 18A factor. Panther Lake is the primary chip on Intel’s new node. 18A silicon nonetheless has lots to show. However that is absolutely a promising early viewing.
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Certainly, Panther Lake is with none doubt probably the most promising new Intel chip since at the least the Alder Lake structure in 2021, and I would argue most likely longer nonetheless. Most of all, it has the makings of a very nifty chip for gaming handhelds, a subsection of the PC market that’s itself an terrible lot of enjoyable.
In fact, a single chip does not make a golden summer time of PC expertise. Intel nonetheless has all of it to show. And it is onerous to know what to make of the way forward for Intel Arc GPUs, together with iGPUs, what with the Nvidia deal that is particularly about pairing Intel CPUs with Nvidia GPU chiplets.
However Panther Lake is clearly a step in the correct course. And it is undoubtedly probably the most fascinating PC chip at CES. And that is some consequence for Intel.
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