Intel’s Core Ultra 200K Plus and 200HX Plus CPUs, which are supposed to herald the outfit’s comeback, are set for a March or April launch.
A Chinese hardware leaker known as Golden Pig Upgrade Pack claims that Core Ultra 200K Plus and Core Ultra 200HX Plus, dubbed Arrow Lake Refresh, are lined up for a March or April 2026 launch as Intel squares off against AMD.
According to Tom’s Hardware Chipzilla has already confirmed it will refresh the Core Ultra 200S Arrow Lake family, but it has been cagey on dates, only promising something at some point in 2026. That vagueness had some expecting a CES 2026 moment, but the firm has instead banged the drum for Panther Lake.
Panther Lake is meant to land in shops on 27 January 2026. The leak claims reviews for the flagship Core Ultra X9 388H will go live on 26 January 2026, with the rest following on 27 January 2026 alongside retail availability.
The delay on the Arrow Lake Refresh looks like classic Chipzilla refresh theatre, with modest clock bumps and improved memory support, rather than anything that would terrify rivals. Panther Lake gets the bigger spotlight because it is tied to Intel 18A, which Chipzilla is treating like the start of a comeback tour.
AMD is not expected to sit quietly, with Ryzen AI 400, codenamed Gorgon Point, tipped to launch in China on 22 January 2026, putting it five days ahead of Panther Lake’s retail push. There is also chatter that AMD could round out the month with a Ryzen 7 9850X3D on 29 January 2026, keeping the pressure on gaming CPUs.
