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Intel just introduced its latest mobile processors, the Intel Core Ultra 200 series, also known as Lunar Lake, at an event in Berlin before IFA 2024 kicks off. These new chips promise a big boost in performance compared to last year’s Intel Core Ultra 100 series, also known as Meteor Lake. They’re also designed to compete strongly with AMD and Qualcomm in the thin and light laptop market.
Intel first announced these new chips at Computex 2024 in June, but today’s event gave us more details about their design and performance. The Lunar Lake processors have been completely redesigned to be more energy-efficient, while still delivering impressive performance improvements.
For example, an 8-core Lunar Lake chip running at 20 watts will perform as well as a 22-core Meteor Lake chip running with more power. This is thanks to Lunar Lake’s new design, which triples the performance for each thread compared to the previous generation.
Laptop makers like Lenovo and Asus are starting to take preorders for these new processors today, and they will be available in stores starting September 24. This launch is a big move for Intel as they continue to make strong strides in the mobile processor market.
Detailed Specs of Lunar Lake Processors
The new processors come in various configurations, catering to different needs from high-end to mid-range laptops. Here’s a detailed look at the specs:
| Processor SKU | P-Cores | E-Cores | Cores/Threads | Max P-Core Turbo Frequency | Max E-Core Turbo Frequency | Total Cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra 9 288V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 5.1 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 12 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 268V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 5.0 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 12 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 266V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 5.0 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 12 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 4.8 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 12 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 4.8 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 12 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 238V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 4.7 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 8 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 236V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 4.7 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 8 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 228V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 4.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 8 MB |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 226V | 4 | 4 | 8/8 | 4.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 8 MB |
Intel’s new Lunar Lake processors promise a big boost in graphics performance, thanks to the Intel Xe2 graphics cores. These cores are 50% better than the Xe1 cores found in last year’s Meteor Lake chips. This improvement means you might be able to play games with ray tracing at 1080p on lower settings using just the integrated GPU.
Lunar Lake also shines in AI tasks, which is a big deal this year with Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI technology in new PCs. The processor’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) can handle up to 48 trillion operations per second, making it one of the fastest around. This puts it slightly ahead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, which does 45 trillion operations per second. Intel says this leads to much better performance in apps like Adobe Lightroom and GIMP’s Stable Diffusion plug-in.
AI and Battery Life: A Winning Combination
One of the standout features of the Lunar Lake series is its AI capabilities. With up to 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS) from the NPU, Intel is positioning its chips as leaders in AI performance. This is a significant boost over Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, which offers 45 TOPS. This AI prowess enhances real-world applications, including software like Adobe Lightroom and GIMP’s Stable Diffusion plug-in, promising better performance compared to competitors.
Battery life, often a major concern for laptop users, gets a much-needed upgrade with Lunar Lake. Intel claims that laptops powered by these chips can achieve up to 20.1 hours of battery life. This marks a notable improvement from previous Intel-based laptops, addressing past shortcomings where battery life was overshadowed by high-end performance.
While these numbers sound impressive, they haven’t been independently tested yet. But if Intel’s claims hold true, Lunar Lake could be a game-changer in the AI-powered PC market.
| Processor Number | Built-In GPU | Xe2 Cores | Max Frequency (GHz) | XMX Ai PTOPS | Neural Compute Engines | NPU AI TOPS | Memory Capacity | Processor Base Power (W) | Maximum Turbo Power (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra 9 288V | Intel Arc 140V GPU | 8 | 2.05 | 67 | 6x Gen4 | 48 | 32 | 30 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 268V | Intel Arc 140V GPU | 8 | 2.0 | 66 | 6x Gen4 | 48 | 32 | 17 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 266V | Intel Arc 140V GPU | 8 | 2.0 | 66 | 6x Gen4 | 48 | 16 | 17 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Arc 140V GPU | 8 | 1.95 | 64 | 6x Gen4 | 47 | 32 | 17 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Intel Arc 140V GPU | 8 | 1.95 | 64 | 6x Gen4 | 47 | 16 | 17 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 238V | Intel Arc 130V GPU | 7 | 1.85 | 53 | 5x Gen4 | 40 | 32 | 17 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 236V | Intel Arc 130V GPU | 7 | 1.85 | 53 | 5x Gen4 | 40 | 16 | 17 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 228V | Intel Arc 130V GPU | 7 | 1.85 | 53 | 5x Gen4 | 40 | 32 | 17 | 37 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 226V | Intel Arc 130V GPU | 7 | 1.85 | 53 | 5x Gen4 | 40 | 16 | 17 | 37 |
Intel’s Strategic Move in a Competitive Market
Intel has been going through some tough times lately, with layoffs and cost-cutting across the company. They really need a win right now. Meanwhile, Qualcomm has been making waves in the laptop market with its Snapdragon X series, and AMD got a head start with its Ryzen AI 300 chips. Intel is the last of the big three to release its AI laptop chips, but they’re hoping to prove that they’ve saved the best for last with their new Lunar Lake processors.
If Intel can deliver on what they’ve promised, they’ll not only keep their spot as the top laptop chipmaker—where they currently lead by market share—but also gain some much-needed momentum as they head into 2025. Competition from AMD and Qualcomm is expected to be really tough.
The good news for consumers is that this competition means better laptops for everyone. As Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm battle it out to offer the best performance and efficiency, anyone looking to upgrade their laptop in 2024 or 2025 could see some fantastic options. So while Intel has a lot at stake, the real winners might be the users getting faster, more efficient laptops.
Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop
Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook
Victus by HP 15.6 inch Gaming Laptop
ASUS Vivobook 15.6” FHD Laptop
Conclusion
The Intel Core Ultra 200 series, with its new Lunar Lake architecture, represents a major step forward for Intel. By focusing on performance, efficiency, and extended battery life, Intel aims to solidify its position in the competitive landscape against AMD and Qualcomm. As laptop manufacturers begin preorders and deliveries for these new chips, all eyes will be on how well they perform in real-world scenarios and whether they can meet the high expectations set by Intel.
