Intel Confirms Nova Lake for 2026, Following Panther Lake in 2025
Intel has officially confirmed that its next major client CPU architecture, Nova Lake, is set to launch in 2026. The announcement came during Intel’s latest earnings call, where co-chief executives Michelle Johnston Holthaus and David Zinsner outlined the company’s roadmap. This follows the upcoming Panther Lake release, scheduled for the second half of 2025.
Panther Lake will be manufactured primarily using Intel 18A technology, marking the final step in Intel’s ambitious five-nodes-in-four-years strategy. Most of the silicon production will take place within Intel’s own fabs. However, Nova Lake will still be split between Intel Foundry and external manufacturers, likely TSMC. While details about Nova Lake remain sparse, Intel emphasized that both Panther Lake and Nova Lake will deliver significant performance improvements across the PC lineup while also improving cost efficiency and margins.
During the call, Holthaus reiterated Intel’s shift toward a more competitive foundry model, stating that Intel Foundry must earn its business like any other supplier. The division, which became independent in 2024, aims to grow gradually by building trust with external clients. Additionally, Intel continues to engage with the U.S. government, receiving $1.1 billion in CHIPS Act grants during Q4 2024 and another $1.1 billion in January, as part of a total $7.86 billion grant package.
Financially, Intel reported a $100 million loss on $14.3 billion in revenue, marking a 7% year-over-year decline. Its Client Computing Group, responsible for PC chips, generated $8 billion in revenue, down 9% from the previous year.
