Intel Debuts 18A Core Ultra Series 3 Chips as Apple Partnership Rumors Swirl
Intel unveils its new Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 processors at CES 2026, built on the advanced 18A manufacturing process. Rumors suggest Intel will soon use this same process to manufacture lower-end Apple M-series chips.
Intel introduces its new "Panther Lake" Core Ultra Series 3 processors at CES 2026, marking the debut of its highly anticipated 18A manufacturing process. The company claims these are the most advanced chips manufactured in the United States, though TSMC continues to lead the industry as it develops Apple's next-generation 2nm chips with superior transistor density and efficiency.
The new Ultra Series 3 lineup targets both high-end and low-end laptops, with top-tier models featuring up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe graphics cores, and 50 NPU TOPS. Intel promises significant performance leaps over previous generations, including up to 77 percent faster gaming performance, 60 percent better multithreaded capabilities, and an impressive 27 hours of battery life.
While Apple no longer uses Intel processors in its products, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Intel will manufacture lower-end M-series chips for future Macs using the 18A process. These specific chips will rely on Apple's own designs rather than Intel's architecture, and Intel is expected to begin shipping these components to Apple as early as mid-2027.