CES 2026: Intel Unveils 18A-Based Core Ultra Series 3 Chips Amid Rumors of Future Apple Partnership

Intel Core Ultra Series 3 debuts on 18A node at CES 2026, sparking Apple manufacturing rumors and big performance claims.
Matilda
CES 2026: Intel Unveils 18A-Based Core Ultra Series 3 Chips Amid Rumors of Future Apple Partnership
Intel Unveils Core Ultra Series 3 on Homegrown 18A Process at CES 2026 At CES 2026, Intel made a bold statement about its manufacturing resurgence with the debut of its Core Ultra Series 3 processors—codenamed “Panther Lake”—built on the company’s most advanced in-house node yet: 18A. Designed for next-gen laptops, these chips bring significant gains in performance, battery life, and AI capabilities. But it’s not just PC users who should pay attention: new rumors suggest Apple could soon tap Intel to produce custom Mac chips, potentially marking a surprise reunion between the two tech giants. Credit: Google What Is Intel’s 18A Node—and Why It Matters Intel’s 18A, short for 18-angstrom, represents the company’s push to reclaim semiconductor leadership on U.S. soil. While the naming aligns roughly with the industry’s “2nm-class” node, it’s important to note that 18A still trails TSMC’s true 2nm process in transistor density and power efficiency—technology already earmarked for Apple’s futur…