Intel gave top priority at CES 2026 to its new Panther Lake processors, also known as the Intel Core Ultra 3 Series. In this new lineup, the company highlighted models equipped with a more powerful integrated GPU capable of reaching up to 130 FPS in Battlefield 6. However, the desktop processors that Intel had planned before the arrival of the upcoming Nova Lake generation — the Arrow Lake Refresh — were notably absent, and they are now expected to launch in two to three months.
Arrow Lake Refresh Could Launch This Spring
Intel is not only refreshing its Arrow Lake processors for desktops but is also preparing Core Ultra 200HX Plus chips for laptops. However, there is still no official release date or announcement from the company. According to rumors, the Arrow Lake Refresh series won’t be available until March or April 2026, suggesting at least a short delay compared to early expectations.
Many expected Intel to showcase the Arrow Lake Refresh lineup during CES 2026, but instead, the company chose to focus attention on Panther Lake. It seems Intel’s strategy for the start of the year is already defined — Panther Lake processors are set to launch this month, Intel Xeon 6 chips will follow next month, and Arrow Lake Refresh models for both laptops and desktops will likely appear around March.
