60%
Plausible
If the report is true, then we will have to wait a few more months before seeing the next-gen gaming handhelds powered by newer Intel chips.
Intel Reportedly Delays Panther Lake for Gaming Handhelds to Q2 2026; Two SKUs with 12 and 10 Xe3 Cores Supposedly in the Making
Not long ago, Intel's VP and GM, Robert Hallock, confirmed that dedicated Panther Lake SoCs for gaming handhelds will be released this year. While Robert didn't share any details on the launch, the prominent leaker "Golden Pig Upgrade" suggested the launch at the end of Q1 2026. The leaker said in a previous post that if things go smoothly, the handheld Panther Lake chips should be coming either at the end of Q1 or the start of Q2.
Looks like things aren't going smoothly, and there is supposedly a delay, which will now push the launch date to a few weeks or months later. It's not clear in which month the CPUs will launch exactly, but it's supposedly not going to launch any later than Q2. So, we are likely going to see these chips before June. The leaker previously also hinted that these chips will offer a 16-core CPU and up to 12 Xe3 cores for the integrated graphics.
Keep in mind that these were the leaker's own speculations, and the specifications haven't been confirmed by Intel yet. Still, considering the top Panther Lake SKUs with 12 Xe3 core iGPU offer 4+8+4 (16-core) configurations, it makes sense to see a custom SoC designed on the existing chips like Core Ultra X9 388H or Core Ultra X7 368H. According to Golden Pig, the second SKU will bring a 10 Xe3 core-based iGPU, and if you take a look at the SKU lineup, only Core Ultra 5 338H brings such an iGPU configuration.
It's going be really interesting to see how things change when Panther Lake officially enters the handheld market since AMD's Zen 5-based chips have been reigning since their launch. Arc B390 and Arc B370 iGPUs have already shown big performance improvements over the predecessor, i.e., Lunar Lake. We have seen Panther Lake iGPUs offering excellent gaming performance in modern titles while remaining power-efficient. We don't know how many manufacturers will adopt the new chips, but MSI has always been at the forefront to bring newer Intel chips in its Claw gaming handhelds.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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