Intel has announced the architectural details of its upcoming Intel Core Ultra series 3 processors, known as Panther Lake, which will be the first client system-on-chips (SoCs) built on the company’s advanced Intel 18A process node. These processors are expected to begin shipping later in 2025, with broad market availability starting in January 2026.
Panther Lake is being produced at Intel’s new Fab 52 facility in Chandler, Arizona. This site is now fully operational and will reach high-volume production using Intel 18A later this year. The company states that this development strengthens U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership.
Intel also previewed its next-generation server processor, Xeon 6+ (code-named Clearwater Forest), which is likewise built on Intel 18A. This server product is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2026. Both Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest are part of Intel’s strategy to build a resilient semiconductor supply chain within the United States.
“We are entering an exciting new era of computing, made possible by great leaps forward in semiconductor technology that will shape the future for decades to come,” said Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. “Our next-gen compute platforms, combined with our leading-edge process technology, manufacturing and advanced packaging capabilities, are catalysts for innovation across our business as we build a new Intel. The United States has always been home to Intel’s most advanced R&D, product design and manufacturing – and we are proud to build on this legacy as we expand our domestic operations and bring new innovations to the market.”
The Panther Lake processors feature a scalable multi-chiplet architecture designed for flexibility across various devices and price points. According to Intel, these chips will deliver up to 16 performance and efficient cores, with more than 50% faster CPU performance compared to the previous generation. The integrated Intel Arc GPU is expected to provide over 50% faster graphics performance versus prior models. The platform is also designed for enhanced AI acceleration, with up to 180 Platform TOPS (trillions of operations per second).
Beyond traditional PCs, Panther Lake will be used in edge applications such as robotics. A new software suite and reference board from Intel aims to help customers develop cost-effective robots using Panther Lake for both control and AI perception tasks.
Clearwater Forest represents Intel’s next step for data center efficiency. The Xeon 6+ processor includes up to 288 efficient cores and delivers a reported 17% improvement in instructions per cycle over its predecessor. It is intended for hyperscale data centers, cloud providers, and telecommunications companies seeking improved workload scaling and energy efficiency.
Intel describes its 18A node as the first U.S.-developed and manufactured two-nanometer class semiconductor process. Compared with the previous Intel 3 node, it offers up to 15% better performance per watt and a 30% increase in chip density. More details about this process can be found at https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/foundry/process/18a.html.
Key technological advancements with Intel 18A include RibbonFET transistor architecture for better scaling and energy efficiency, PowerVia backside power delivery for improved power flow, and Foveros packaging technology enabling integration of multiple chiplets into complex SoC designs.
Fab 52 is part of an ongoing $100 billion investment by Intel aimed at expanding its domestic manufacturing capacity. With research and development in Oregon, fabrication in Arizona, and packaging operations in New Mexico, Intel says it is positioned to support national priorities while providing strategic capacity for foundry customers.
Lip-Bu Tan toured Fab 52 ahead of its ramp-up for high-volume production on the new process node. Zivit Katz-Tsameret, Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations at Intel Corporation, joined him during this visit.
The company cautions that forward-looking statements about product timelines or performance are subject to risks including competition, supply chain challenges, geopolitical tensions, regulatory changes, and other factors outlined in its filings with the SEC.
Intel designs and manufactures semiconductors used globally across consumer electronics, data centers, cloud infrastructure, communications networks, automotive systems, industrial automation equipment, medical devices, military systems, aerospace applications, scientific research projects such as particle accelerators or telescopes—and more.
