Intel has circled a date on the calendar for its next-gen laptop platform. The Core Ultra 300 series, codenamed Panther Lake, will make its official debut at CES 2026, with a dedicated launch event on January 5 at 3:00 PM PST led by Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group.
The company has already teased Panther Lake earlier this year, but many key details remain under wraps. Final SKU names, full specifications, and the exact naming structure are still unclear, even as early Geekbench entries have offered glimpses and fueled some confusion about how the lineup will be organized.
Performance expectations lean heavily toward graphics. Based on Intel’s own early benchmarks and recent database sightings, Panther Lake’s integrated GPU is shaping up to deliver substantial gains. The new iGPU is expected to outpace Qualcomm’s Adreno X2 and the RDNA 3.5-based integrated graphics found in AMD’s Gorgon Point APUs. CPU improvements, by contrast, appear more measured from what’s surfaced so far.
A few systems with Panther Lake chips have already been spotted in the wild. The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 have appeared in early listings, hinting at both thin-and-light and performance-focused designs. Mini-PC makers may join the party as well, with the GMKtec EVO-T2 pointing to compact desktops adopting the platform.
What to watch at the January 5 reveal:
– Official SKU names and the final naming scheme for Core Ultra 300
– Detailed CPU and iGPU specs, plus real-world performance claims
– Power efficiency, thermals, and battery life improvements for laptops
– Early partner designs and availability timelines
Bottom line: Panther Lake arrives at CES 2026 with a clear mission to push integrated graphics performance forward while refining CPU efficiency. With mainstream laptops and mini-PCs already lining up, the Core Ultra 300 launch is poised to be one of the biggest PC moments of the show. Stay tuned for confirmed specs, benchmarks, and the first wave of systems once Intel takes the stage on January 5 at 3:00 PM PST.
