In a significant move to capture a share of the booming portable gaming market, Intel has officially announced it is developing a dedicated handheld gaming platform. The revelation was made by Daniel Rogers, Intel's vice president and general manager of PC products, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
A Platform Built for Portable Power
The new platform will encompass both hardware and software, with its heart being a chip specifically engineered for handheld gaming devices. This silicon will be based on Intel's upcoming Panther Lake architecture, part of the Intel Core Series 3 processors. Notably, these Panther Lake chips will be the first from Intel manufactured on its advanced 18A process node, which entered production in 2025.
While full specifications are still under wraps, Rogers confirmed that more details about the products for handheld gaming devices will be shared by the company later this year. This strategic entry pits Intel directly against AMD, which currently leads the handheld gaming chip market. AMD reinforced its position at CES by announcing the new Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor for gaming PCs.
Intel's Broader CES Portfolio: AI and Mobility
Beyond the gaming handheld news, Intel made several other key announcements. The company launched its Core Ultra Series 3 mobile processors, a lineup that blends high-performance Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 chips with integrated Intel Arc graphics. These processors are touted as ideal for gaming, creative work, and productivity on the go.
These premium chips feature up to 16 CPU cores and are optimized for battery life extending up to 27 hours. The Series 3 family also includes more affordable options for mainstream laptops. Furthermore, Intel highlighted that these processors will power edge AI applications in sectors like robotics, smart cities, automation, and healthcare.
Laptops featuring the new Core Ultra Series 3 processors will be available for pre-order starting January 6, 2026, with systems hitting the global market from January 27, 2026.
Intel's Gaming Legacy and Future Ambitions
Intel is no stranger to the gaming world, having supplied processors for gaming PCs since the 1990s. Its focus intensified in 2022 with the launch of the Intel Arc GPU series. The foray into the dedicated handheld segment marks a new and ambitious chapter, aiming to translate its silicon expertise into a form factor that is rapidly gaining popularity among gamers worldwide.
