At CES 2026, AMD will unveil the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and new APUs focused on gaming and AI, while Intel will launch its Core Ultra Series 3 Panther Lake mobile CPUs with improved integrated graphics and a refreshed Core Ultra 200 desktop lineup. Intel may also introduce a competitive mid-range B770 GPU, whereas Nvidia is expected to have a low-key presence without major new hardware announcements.
The upcoming CES 2026 promises significant announcements from AMD and Intel, particularly in the realm of APUs, which are expected to push the relevance of entry-level discrete GPUs. AMD will kick off with a keynote on January 5th, led by CEO Lisa Su, unveiling the Ryzen 7 9850X3D. This CPU builds on the success of the 9800X3D, featuring eight Zen 5 cores, 16 threads, and a boosted clock speed up to 5.6 GHz, promising a 5-10% gaming performance uplift without increasing power consumption. AMD is also expected to release the Ryzen AI 400 series for mobile, offering modest improvements in clock speeds and efficiency, with a strong focus on AI capabilities and integrated graphics that could challenge low-end discrete GPUs.
On the desktop front, AMD might introduce the 9000G series APUs, potentially featuring up to 12 cores and 24 threads with integrated graphics capable of delivering solid 1080p gaming performance within a 65W power envelope. However, concrete details on Zen 6 and RDNA 5 architectures are unlikely, with AMD probably only providing roadmap updates and confirming that development is on schedule. This cautious approach suggests that any major breakthroughs or demos will be reserved for later in the year.
Intel’s big reveal at CES will be the launch of the Core Ultra Series 3 Panther Lake mobile CPUs, successors to Luna Lake. These processors will feature a hybrid design with three types of cores aimed at balancing energy efficiency and multi-threaded performance. A highlight is their improved integrated GPU, scaling up to 12 execution units with a 50% performance boost, positioning Intel competitively against AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple in the premium ultrabook and handheld PC markets. Panther Lake chips will be manufactured on Intel’s 18A process, giving Intel a volume production advantage over AMD, which relies on external foundries.
For desktop CPUs, Intel might refresh its Core Ultra 200 series with the 385K flagship featuring 8 performance and 16 efficiency cores, offering slight clock speed improvements and better power limits. While Intel is unlikely to close the gap with AMD’s top-tier 9850X3D in gaming, the 385K could appeal to users who prioritize productivity but still want decent gaming performance. Intel is expected to maintain premium pricing on its high-end chips due to fab capacity prioritization for servers, indicating no major price cuts in the enthusiast segment.
Regarding discrete GPUs, Intel might reveal the B770, a mid-range card potentially rivaling Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti or even the RTX 4070 in performance. This could invigorate the mid-range GPU market with more competition and possibly price reductions. Nvidia, however, is expected to have a quiet showing at CES 2026, with no major consumer product announcements or keynotes. Their focus will likely be on showcasing hybrid graphics and power management features in laptops rather than launching new hardware, leaving enthusiasts to await updates at Computex.