Last Updated: 2026-Jan-23
We list all expected and already announced desktop and laptop CPU releases in 2026 at this page and it will be periodically updated. If you are interested in this information please bookmark this page. Please note many information is uncofirmed and based on rumors but should still be pretty reliable.
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Jan 23rd update: 9950X3D release date confirmed and pricing.
Jan 2026
- Intel announced 14x Core Ultra Series 3 Laptop CPUs at CES2026 with Panther Lake architecture base on new 1.8nm Intel 18A architecture. Focuses on stronger GPU/AI. Global availability starts Jan 27. Xe3 iGPU in Ultra X9 388H reportedly matching RTX 4050 performance. Pre-orders Jan 6th. You can view All Panther Lake CPUs here.
- AMD announced 7 new Ryzen AI 400 laptop CPUs with codename Gorgon Point. First products in Q1 - rumored Jan 22nd. AI focus for Copilot Windows PCs. Update of AI 300 rather than new architecture, higher clock speeds vs AI 300 and faster NPU/AI. View New Amd CPUs
- AMD also announced Ryzen AI Max+ 392 (12 core,5GHz turbo,View Specs) and Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (8 core, 5GHz turbo,View Specs).
- AMD Ryzen 9850X3D - Release Jan 29th @ $499.. Refresh with higher speeds from 5.2 to 5.6GHz on Zen 5 architecture. Announced as "best gaming CPU". View Specs.
- Apple M5 Pro / M5 Max possible annoucement around Jan 28th. Unconfirmed. Expected move to 2nm with expanded AI and higher GPU core counts. M5 was released in Oct 2025.
- Qualcomm at CES2026 announced X2 Elite & Plus - Windows mid/high-end laptop cpus. First shipments expected Q2.
Mar 2026
- rumored Nvidia entry into ARM CPU consumer market with N1/N1X cpu. Some rumors are it will be Q3/Q4.
Q1 2026
- Intel rumored Arrow Lake desktop refresh Core Ultra 200K Plus / 200HX Plus with higher clock speed and rumored extra efficiency cores, but no major changes before Nova Lake.
Q2 2026
- rumored Intel desktop Panther Lake variants on 1.8nm process. Intel might skip this and go directly to Nova Lake. More details probably in June at Computex.
Q3/Q4 2026
- Intel Nova Lake. Confirmed. Desktop+Laptop. Core Ultra 400 series. Major architectural changes for PCs expected. Big jump in L3 to match AMD X3D, efficiency and instructions per clock expected. Successor to Arrow Lake.
- AMD Zen 6 / Ryzen 10000 "Medusa" desktop/laptop series. Likely AM5 socket and 2nm process. Expected double digit jump in instructions per clock.
- Qualcomm X3 Elite rumored for Windows laptops with 30% cpu/gpu uplift.
Late 2026
- Intel Wildcat Lake low-power budget architecture to replace Celeron/Pentium/i3.