en.Wedoany.com Reported - Intel has launched the Panther Lake processor with 8 CPU cores and 4 Xe iGPU cores for the mid-range laptop market, including models such as Core Ultra 5 335/325/332/322, manufactured using the Intel 18A process and Foveros advanced packaging technology.

This series of small die Panther Lake processors is designed for laptops that prioritize thinness, lightness, and long battery life. In real-world tests on the Honor MagicBook 14, equipped with a 92Wh battery, after 30-40 minutes of gaming and AI applications while unplugged, it still retained 61% battery from 8 AM to evening. Its integrated GPU performance also exceeded expectations, maintaining over 100fps in CS2 and League of Legends at 1080p medium-low settings, with CS2 frame rates exceeding 100fps and League of Legends team fights stabilizing above 120fps.

In terms of AI inference, the 4 Xe3 cores provide 40 TOPS of INT8 computing power, combined with a 47 TOPS NPU (Core Ultra 5 325), supporting local inference tasks such as batch AI photo editing and AI video rough cutting. Although not reaching the flagship positioning of the top-tier Panther Lake, the small die version features the same modern IP, including Cougar Cove CPU cores, Xe3 graphics units, and NPU5.

In terms of pricing, due to rising raw material costs in the semiconductor upstream, the cost-performance advantage of this processor series has been weakened. For reference, models like the Honor MagicBook 14 are priced under 5,800 yuan after national subsidies, while the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 14 Core Ultra 5 325 version is priced under 6,800 yuan after subsidies. Intel divides the Panther Lake family into three different die hardware solutions, with the small die version positioned as a lower-cost option within the existing large die platform.

Compared to the Wildcat Lake processor, the small die Panther Lake offers higher CPU and GPU specifications, supporting higher peripheral configuration demands. For consumers who are not satisfied with low-spec platforms and seek cost-effective mid-range thin and light laptops, PCs equipped with processors like the Core Ultra 5 325H are a viable option amid the current price surge.

Intel demonstrated scenarios such as AI photo editing, AI video rough cutting, and the Cherry intelligent AI assistant at the event, with all inference completed locally without requiring an internet connection. The graphics performance of its 4 Xe cores excels in gaming, delivering a "playable online games" experience on thin and light laptops.

The small die Panther Lake is not Intel's originally envisioned "ultra-thin and light" product, but rather a lower-cost alternative to the high-end processor. This multi-specification collaborative design methodology reflects Intel's strategic shift in product scalability, also extending its lifecycle beyond the PC market.