An early "test chip" for Intel's next-generation Nova Lake CPU has been spotted in shipping manifests, suggesting that development for this mainstream consumer platform is well underway.
Intel's Focus: 18A and Beyond
At CES 2025, Intel showcased their Panther Lake CPU, which is the first consumer platform to utilize the 18A process node. While Panther Lake is slated for mass production in the second half of 2025, Intel is also working on Nova Lake, which will follow shortly after.
Panther Lake is primarily targeted for mobile devices but could potentially see a limited desktop release, similar to the approach taken with Meteor Lake.
Nova Lake: The Successor
Intel has not yet revealed many details about Nova Lake, but it's expected to launch sometime in 2026 and will replace both Panther Lake in mobility platforms and, potentially, Arrow Lake in the desktop sector. The blue team may opt to outsource certain tiles or certain chips to TSMC as they have done with Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake
Process Node and Key Features
Rumors suggest that Nova Lake will be manufactured using either the Intel 14A process node or TSMC's 2nm node. Unlike Lunar Lake, it will not feature on-package memory.
The spotted "test chip" confirms the development of the architecture. There is also a rumor that the successor to the Nova Lake-S will be called Razor Lake-S. We'll have to wait to see this new generation of Intel processors in action.
