Intel CEO confirms next-gen “Nova Lake” CPU launch plans
Intel’s next-generation Nova Lake CPU architecture is launching this year
During its Q4 2025 earnings call, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan confirmed that its next-generation “Nova Lake” processors would launch this year. In late 2026, Intel will have a new desktop CPU architecture that will “fortify” the company’s market share and “profitability”.
CES 2026 saw the launch of Intel’s Series 3 “Panther Lake” series processors. By the end of this year, Intel plans to release its series 4 “Nova Lake” chips, pushing ahead with new core architectures to deliver new performance highs. With Nova Lake, Intel is aiming for “best-in-class” performance.
Our client momentum was on full display at CES earlier this month, where we formally launched Series 3 with our OEM partners, powering over 200 notebook designs Series 3 will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform we have ever delivered. Along with our next-generation Nova Lake coming at the end of 2026, we now have a client road map that combines best-in-class performance with cost-optimized solutions giving me confidence that we are on the path to fortify market share and profitability in both notebooks and desktops over the next several years.
Intel Nova Lake expectations
Intel’s Core Ultra Series 4 “Nova Lake” desktop CPUs are expected to launch on a new socket called LGA-1954. It is expected to feature Intel’s next-generation NPU6 neural processing unit and Xe3P graphics. Furthermore, Intel has already confirmed that these new CPUs will feature next-generation Coyote Cove P-cores and Arctic Wolf E-Cores. In other words, all of Intel’s architectures are getting revamped with Nova Lake.
Rumour has it that Intel will be building Nova Lake CPUs with up to 52 total cores. There are also reports of CPU models with a huge “BLLC” cache to rival AMD’s gaming-oriented X3D chips. If these reports are true, Nova Lake is going to be an exciting CPU launch for Intel.
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