At Embedded World 2025 in Germany, Intel unveiled its Panther Lake processor, a key part of the Core Ultra 300H/U series and the first to leverage the Intel 18A process. This event marked Panther Lake's public debut, underscoring Intel's push to bring its next-generation mobile processors closer to market readiness, according to reports from XFastest and VideoCardz.
First public appearance: a key milestone for 18A process technology
Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger first showcased Panther Lake at the Lenovo Tech World event in October 2024, where a sample was presented to Lenovo. However, its appearance at Embedded World 2025 marks the first public demonstration, signaling substantial progress in its development.
Built on the Intel 18A process, Panther Lake features a hybrid architecture comprising 4 performance cores (P-cores), 8 efficiency cores (E-cores), and 4 low-power efficiency cores (LPE cores), totaling 16 cores and 16 threads. It also incorporates 12 Xe2-based GPU cores and offers connectivity via 4 PCIe 5.0 lanes, 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes, and 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Panther Lake boasts a total AI compute power of 180 TOPS, distributed across the CPU (10 TOPS), GPU (50 TOPS), and NPU (120 TOPS). This significant boost in AI performance positions Intel to better compete in an increasingly AI-driven computing landscape.
Intel 18A: competing with TSMC's N2 & advancing foundry ambitions
Under its ambitious "Five Nodes in Four Years" (5N4Y) strategy, Intel aims to roll out successive process nodes by 2025. At the heart of this initiative, the Intel 18A process incorporates Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor technology (RibbonFET) and backside power delivery (PowerVia), improving power efficiency and transistor density, according to Sina.
A recent Intel technical paper suggests that the SRAM density of its 18A process is on par with TSMC's N2 node. While cross-node comparisons depend on multiple variables, Intel projects 18A to be competitive with TSMC's N3 or even N2.
At the Morgan Stanley Tech, Media & Telecom 2025 event, Intel VP of Corporate Planning & Investor Relations, John Pitzer, highlighted that Panther Lake's yield rate has surpassed Meteor Lake's at the same stage of development, ICsmart reports.
Intel secured US$3 billion in direct funding from the US CHIPS and Science Act in September 2024 to support its "Secure Enclave" initiative, aimed at bolstering high-trust semiconductor manufacturing. The company also confirmed that its foundry remains on track to reach a key milestone, with Intel 18A scheduled for production in 2025.
Market strategy & product roadmap
Intel's roadmap indicates that the Panther Lake-H series will launch first, followed by a potential HX variant. The processors are expected to roll out in the second half of 2025, with the first consumer devices likely arriving in early 2026.
Panther Lake's success extends beyond Intel's PC processor portfolio—it will play a key role in the company's IDM 2.0 strategy. As the first consumer product manufactured on the 18A process, its market performance will be a crucial factor in Intel's broader foundry ambitions, particularly in its competition with TSMC.
Conclusion
Panther Lake's public debut represents a significant milestone in Intel's push for next-generation process technology. As the 18A node progresses, Intel is positioning itself for both a stronger PC market presence and expanded foundry opportunities. With advancements in AI, power efficiency, and semiconductor design, Panther Lake and the 18A process will be key industry focal points in 2025.
Article edited by Jack Wu
