Intel has announced that high-volume production of its first 18A product, a notebook processor codenamed Panther Lake, will commence in the second half of 2025. This timing would allow for the first Panther Lake-powered devices to be released before year-end, although the majority will likely hit the shelves in 2026. Intel is currently sampling 18A chips to customers, but a few notebooks running on them are already on display at the CES trade show, this week in Las Vegas.
18A is a key node for Intel, which has been fighting an uphill battle to catch up with the competition while also opening up its manufacturing lines to external customers. The latter aspect of Intel’s strategy has come into question after the ousting of CEO Pat Gelsinger last month. The interim leadership says it’s “an open question” whether foundry operations will be cut loose. 18A is Intel’s first foundry node, but so far only minor engagement from customers has been reported.
In any case, Panther Lake should improve Intel’s financial performance. In recent years, the firm has been forced to outsource production of key chiplets – or tiles, as Intel calls them – to TSMC. Panther Lake processors, on the other hand, will consist of 70 percent Intel silicon, which should boost profit margins. The end of support for Windows 10 and the hardware requirements for Windows 11, along with the introduction of AI functionality, are expected to help sales.
If Intel’s release schedule holds up, it would put the firm roughly on par with Samsung and TSMC, which also plan on taking their equivalent 2nm nodes into production in the second half of 2025.
