Intel Core Ultra Series 3 laptops bring AI and gaming into thin designs
Intel Core Ultra Series 3 laptops bring AI processing and gaming performance to thin-and-light designs with integrated graphics and local LLM support.
Intel has introduced a new wave of laptops powered by its Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, targeting a shift in what thin-and-light devices can deliver in both performance and AI capability.
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The new systems, built on Intel’s 18A process technology, are positioned as a step forward in balancing portability with workloads typically associated with larger, more power-intensive machines. The lineup includes devices from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and MSI, now available through retail and online channels.
Thin laptops take on heavier workloads
The announcement centres on extending gaming and high-performance tasks into slimmer devices. Systems powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors aim to handle AAA gaming without relying on dedicated graphics hardware, a constraint that has traditionally defined the category.
Intel attributes this to its latest integrated Intel Arc graphics, which it states can reach performance levels comparable to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050. This positions the laptops for a mix of gaming, content creation and everyday multitasking within a thinner and lighter form factor.
Top-tier configurations feature up to 16 CPU cores and 12 Xe-cores. Intel states these processors can deliver up to 60% faster CPU performance and up to 77% faster gaming performance, alongside up to 27 hours of battery life under specific streaming conditions.
“The Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors enable a new class of thin-and-light laptops with exceptional performance and efficiency — ultra-portable devices that can handle demanding tasks such as playing AAA games and running AI chatbots locally, while still delivering all day battery life.” said George Chacko, General Manager of South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Sales Group, Intel.
Local AI moves onto the device
Alongside performance gains, the processors are designed to run AI workloads directly on the device rather than relying on cloud-based services. Intel positions this as a response to both reliability and data concerns tied to always-online AI tools.
The processors can support local large language model workloads, with Intel stating up to 1.9x higher LLM performance compared to prior benchmarks referenced in the release. This enables applications such as AI chatbots to operate without an internet connection.
A dedicated Neural Processing Unit provides up to 50 trillion operations per second, giving the system specialised hardware for AI tasks. Running these workloads locally reduces latency and limits the need to transmit sensitive data externally, which may be relevant for both personal and enterprise use cases.
The shift also addresses a practical constraint in current AI usage. Cloud-dependent tools can become unavailable during connectivity issues, while local processing allows continued operation regardless of network conditions.
Broad availability across PC brands
Intel’s announcement is tied to a broad ecosystem rollout rather than a single device launch. Laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors are already available from major PC manufacturers including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and MSI.
These systems are positioned across thin-and-light categories, indicating a push to standardise higher-performance and AI-ready capabilities within mainstream laptop designs rather than limiting them to niche or premium segments.
The release focuses on enabling a wider range of use cases within portable devices, combining gaming performance, AI processing and extended battery life in a single class of hardware.
