Intel’s new Core Series 3 processors bring AI Smarts to budget laptops

Intel has launched its Core Series 3 mobile processors, targeting students, small businesses, and everyday users who want modern features without paying premium prices. The new chips deliver up to 47% better single-thread performance and 2.8x better GPU AI performance compared to a five-year-old PC—a meaningful jump for anyone still running hardware from 2020 or earlier.The lineup spans six SKUs, from the Core 3 Processor 304 at the entry level to the Core 7 Processor 360 at the top. All models support Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports—connectivity features that were previously reserved for higher-end machines. The processors are built on Intel's 18A process node, the company's most advanced manufacturing technology, which is produced entirely in the United States.

Finally, an NPU for the masses

For the first time in Intel's mainstream lineup, Core Series 3 includes a dedicated Neural Processing Unit—specifically the NPU 5 architecture—delivering up to 40 platform TOPS of AI performance. That opens the door to over 250 AI-capable apps and 400-plus AI-optimized features, from smarter video calls to faster photo editing. The Xe3 GPU architecture handles graphics, supporting up to three 4K displays simultaneously at 60Hz.

Battery life gets a boost from a new combination of up to 2 Performance-cores and 4 Low Power Efficient-cores, which Intel says cuts processor power consumption by up to 64% compared to the previous Core 7 150U generation during video streaming.Over 70 laptop designs are coming from partners including Acer, ASUS, HP, Honor, Lenovo, and MSI, with some—like the Acer Aspire Go series—available starting today.