Intel’s Latest Developments in Mobile CPU Market

In recent years, Intel has been quite active in the mobile CPU sector, with frequent updates and advancements, especially for lightweight laptops. Following the launch of the Core Ultra processor last year, Intel is gearing up to introduce the Arrow-Lake processor targeting the mid-to-high-end market. However, for the ultrabook market, Intel is set to roll out the Lunar Lake processor. Recent leaks online suggest that Intel has already begun production of the Lunar Lake processor, expecting to unveil it to the public in the second half of this year.

In the 2024 mobile market, Intel’s roadmap includes the Arrow Lake processor and the Lunar Lake processor. The former targets the mid-to-high-end market, while the latter is tailored for the ultrabook market. According to current information, the Lunar Lake processor will feature a chip integrated with memory in a single package. In terms of specifications, the Lunar Lake processor will continue to utilize a hybrid architecture, incorporating the P-cores of the Lion Cove architecture and the E-cores of the Skymont architecture. It is highly likely to follow Meteor Lake in discontinuing hyper-threading. Additionally, the GPU will feature the next-generation “Alchemist” Xe2-LPG graphics processor architecture, achieving new peaks in GPU performance with a maximum of 64 EUs. Coupled with LPDDR5X memory, high-bandwidth transmission is attainable. The most significant change in the Lunar Lake processor lies in its NPU, which promises a 3x boost in AI performance compared to Meteor Lake, meeting the demands of Microsoft’s next-generation Windows AI requirements effortlessly.

The Lunar Lake processor adopts the BGA-2833 interface, offering additional signal transmission channels. Reports suggest that the Lunar Lake processor will be manufactured using Intel’s 20A process and TSMC’s 3nm process. However, some analysts speculate that Intel plans to outsource all computing components to TSMC for production, utilizing TSMC’s 3nm process. Furthermore, support for PCIe 5.0 devices, WiFi 7, and the Thunderbolt 4 interface is also expected.

Intel is expected to launch the Lunar Lake processor by the end of this year, with notebooks built on the Lunar Lake processor set to flood the market early next year, priming the hardware landscape for Microsoft’s new-generation Windows platform.