Intel vs AMD: The Core Ultra 3 Targets AMD's Handheld Lead

In a massive announcement at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the chipmaker, Intel, revealed it is developing a dedicated platform for portable gaming devices powered by its new Core Ultra Series 3 processors. This move marks a direct challenge to AMD, whose chips currently dominate popular devices like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. With this new focus, Intel is betting that its advanced manufacturing and raw graphics power can finally break AMD's stronghold on portable PC gaming. The centerpiece of this announcement is the new "Panther Lake" architecture, specifically the Core Ultra Series 3 chips built on Intel’s advanced 18A process technology. 

To ensure these chips fit the specific needs of portable gaming, Intel plans to release handheld-exclusive "Core G3" CPU variants. Unlike standard laptop processors, these are optimized for better GPU focus and efficiency. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan described the launch as an "overdelivery" on promises, while Dan Rogers, Intel’s Vice President of PC Products, confirmed the creation of a complete ecosystem designed to support this new wave of devices.

Arc B390: Smashing Performance Records

The performance claims for these new chips are frankly absurd. Last year, Intel had the best iGPU on the market. This year, it’s broken that record by over 70% with Panther Lake, and it's a huge win for handhelds. Intel states that the integrated Arc B390 graphics featured in the Core Ultra Series 3 offer up to 77% faster gaming performance compared to the previous Lunar Lake generation. In a direct comparison with competitors, Intel claims its new chips are roughly 73% faster than AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and even perform about 10% better than the Nvidia RTX 4050 mobile GPU. 

This raw power translates to significant real-world gaming benefits. Perhaps even more important for gamers on the go is the efficiency; Intel is aiming for massive gains, targeting up to 27 hours of battery life for these devices. They are purpose-built for multitaskers who handle advanced workloads like gaming, creation, and productivity on the go. 

Beyond just speed, Intel is fixing the software experience, an area where Windows-based handhelds have often struggled. Intel is also targeting the budget-friendly market with its standard Core processors within the Series 3 family. These chips leverage the same foundation as the top-tier Core Ultra models, allowing manufacturers to build faster, more efficient laptops that remain affordable for the average consumer.

This ecosystem push is designed to rectify the rocky launches of past Intel handhelds like the original MSI Claw, as reported by IGN. Now that heavyweights like MSI and Acer are building handhelds with Intel’s specialized CPUs, AMD is finally facing a legitimate threat to its dominance in the portable gaming market. 

While laptops featuring the new Core Ultra Series 3 chips will be available for pre-order immediately, these dedicated handheld devices are expected to hit the market in mid-2026.