Intel’s new Panther Lake CPU: 11 essential facts you should know

Here is a 178-word summary of the key facts about Intel's new Panther Lake CPU: Intel's next-generation "Panther Lake" laptop processors are expected to launch in 2026. The chips will come in three variants: an 8-core model, a 16-core model with 4 performance and 12 efficiency cores, and a 16-core model with 12 Xe3 GPU cores. The new chips offer over 50% better multi-threaded performance and 10% better single-threaded performance compared to previous generations, while consuming 10% less power. Panther Lake introduces a modular design with separate compute, GPU, and platform controller tiles. Key features include a 50% faster Xe3 integrated GPU with "multiframe generation" for smoother gaming, a 50 TOPS AI accelerator, improved webcam processing, and advanced wireless capabilities like Auracast audio sharing and enhanced Bluetooth tracking. Exact pricing and laptop availability details will likely be announced at CES 2026.