Intel's upcoming Refresh of the Raptor Lake will include a new family of HX SKUs, including 6+8, 8+12, and 8+16 variants.
Raptor Lake Next HX Mobile Chips to Bring 14-24 Core Configuration; However, Intel is Expected to Remove the vPro Support
Intel isn't just launching the Nova Lake before 2026 ends, but is also reportedly preparing for another launch, as we reportedly a few days ago. To fulfill the demands of the mainstream market, Intel is set to release Raptor Lake NEXT, which is expected to arrive in the early part of 2027 and should exist alongside the Nova Lake series.
That said, the lineup will not be exclusive to desktop, but will also extend to the mobile platform. The Raptor Lake NEXT family will reportedly include mobile HX series processors, as per the prominent leaker @jaykihn0. As per the information, the Raptor Lake NEXT shouldn't bring any regular mobile chips and will only concentrate on the high-performance chips.
The new flagship chip in the series will be the Core 9 family SKU, featuring an 8P+16E-core configuration. This is the same core configuration as found on the flagship Core i9 14900HX chip. With hyperthreading, we are going to see 24 cores and 32 threads, but the leaker hasn't disclosed any information on the clocks. The Core 7 series would bring up to a 20-core configuration, but will also reportedly utilize a 14-core arrangement.
We are expected to see 8P+12E and 6P+8E core configurations for the Core 7 series SKUs. The 8P+12E arrangement isn't new for the Raptor Lake Refresh, but the 6P+8E is carried from the Core 5/i5 series from the existing family, which also exists for SKUs like Core i7 13650HX. Apart from the core configuration, we are expected to see similar specs in other areas, and the Raptor Lake NEXT shouldn't bring any drastic changes.
This time, the lineup will be stripped of vPro/SIPP support, according to the leaker. This will impact the enterprise and the workstation market, but not the regular consumers. vPro support usually brings a collection of enterprise technologies such as AMT, Remote KVM access, SIPP, etc, but for an individual buyer, losing vPro has almost no downside.
Intel is also readying Core 3, 5, and 7 series Raptor Lake NEXT SKUs for the desktop, which we have talked about in a recent post. You may check out the possible specifications for these SKUs in our dedicated post.
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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