Intel’s Only Winning CPUs Just Got Pricier, As The $50 Core Ultra Plus Hike Threatens Its Slim Comeback

Jul 2, 2026 at 06:47am EDT
The image displays an Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processor with 'Desktop Processors' and 'Embargo: March 23, 2026 at 6 a.m. Pacific Time' text on a futuristic blue background.

Unlike the non-Plus variants, the Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs are witnessing a good demand, but Intel just made them more expensive for the consumers.

Intel Quietly Raised Core Ultra 7 270K Plus From $299 to $349 While Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Received a $30 Price Hike

The recent price hike could raise the actual retail prices for these products, and this will position the Core Ultra 200S Plus chips in a more difficult position, given they are still not on par with the Ryzen 9000 series when it comes to sales. Launched nearly one year after the debut of Core Ultra 200S, Intel boosted its CPU share slightly in multiple regions, thanks to the Core Ultra 200S Plus series, but one of the major factors for good sales remains the lower recommended customer price.

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As spotted by @harukaze5719, Intel has silently raised the prices for these products, positioning them in a different price segment than previously. There are currently three products in the family: Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, and Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. All three chips have witnessed a new price hike as per the official Intel website.

Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, the new 24-core/24-thread CPU launched at an attractive price point of $299, but the latest change reveals that Intel has changed its recommended customer price from $299 to $349. Core Ultra 5 250K Plus increased from $199 to $229, and the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus now sits at $214 instead of $184. This is a flat $30-$50 price adjustment by the company, which it didn't inform users through its public channels.

Considering the CPUs already sell at a higher price than their recommended customer price, the CPUs will likely retail at even higher price points than the current recommended customer price. The change isn't yet seen on major retailers, but we do see these CPUs selling for $10-$20 higher already. The price adjustments should take place soon, and once the CPUs start selling for higher price tags, it's going to be interesting seeing how it shapes the current desktop CPU market when Intel is already struggling.

Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 Processor 270K Plus 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) up to 5.5 GHz
Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus
Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 Processor 250K Plus 18 cores (6 P-cores + 12 E-cores) up to 5.3 GHz

News Sources: Intel, Intel, Intel

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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