Intel’s highly anticipated next-generation Lunar Lake mobile CPUs may be delayed until September, missing out on the lucrative back-to-school laptop business period. Reports suggest that the new chips won’t ship until September, instead of the previously suggested June timeline. This delay could put Intel at a disadvantage compared to competitors like AMD and Qualcomm, who are set to launch their Ryzen AI 300 Series CPU in July and Snapdragon laptops from major manufacturers in the coming months.
The delay in the release of Lunar Lake chips could have significant consequences for Intel, as it may lose out on late summer laptop sales to competitors with newer chips. Students, in particular, tend to look for laptops with the latest technology and AI capabilities, which may only be found in devices with AMD or Qualcomm CPUs. For Intel’s CPUs to qualify as AI PCs, they must have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with at least 45 TOPS of AI processing performance. Unfortunately, Intel’s current mobile chip, Meteor Lake, falls short with only 34 TOPS performance.
The possible factors contributing to the delay in the Lunar Lake release include Intel’s use of the TSMC N3B node, which is known for poor returns. It is speculated that Apple has already transitioned to the N3E node for its new M4 chip, abandoning the problematic N3B node. If confirmed, this could be a significant factor in the delay of Intel’s new chips.
The delay in the release of Lunar Lake CPUs could have a negative impact on Intel’s competitiveness in the market, as it struggles to keep up with AMD and other rivals. The company’s desktop CPUs also face challenges, as AMD has announced its Zen 5 chips with improved performance and an upcoming release, while information about Intel’s Arrow Lake remains scarce. These delays, if true, may reinforce the perception that Intel is falling behind in the race for technological advancement.
In conclusion, the delay in the launch of Intel’s Lunar Lake mobile CPUs could have detrimental effects on the company’s position in the market, particularly as it faces tough competition from AMD and Qualcomm. The delay may result in Intel missing out on important sales opportunities and losing ground to competitors with newer and more advanced chip technology. The company’s struggle to keep up with industry trends and technological advancements may further impact its reputation and market share in the long run.
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https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/intels-lunar-lake-mobile-cpus-reportedly-delayed-until-the-end-of-the-year-missing-the-big-back-to-school-period/