Just in time for IFA 2018, Intel has today announced that it is expanding its 8th-gen processor lineup to improve the mobile connectivity and performance of forthcoming laptops that we expect to be announced at the electronics expo.
Intel has taken the wraps off six processors, three U-series processors (codename Whiskey Lake) for midrange laptops, and three Y-series chips (codename Amber Lake), which for the first time will find their way into thin and lightweight 2-in-1 laptops.
All of these new processors are built on the same 8th-gen architecture as the previous chips, with the highlight being the integration of Gigabit Wi-Fi support. This allows them to deliver up to 12x faster connectivity speeds, especially in cheaper, mainstream laptops.
The chipmaker is focused on furthering the performance of portable laptops via its new processors, which offer double-digit uptick in performance as compared to previous-gen chips. Speaking of the launch of its new processor lineup, Chris Walker, VP of the Client Computing Group and GM of Intel Mobile Client Platform said,
“The new 8th Gen Intel Core processors extend once again our leadership in delivering exceptional performance. Now with Gigabit Wi-Fi, we’ve enabled faster PC connectivity, added more intuitive voice experiences and enabled longer battery life needed for the next wave of mobile computing.”
Further, Intel’s official blog post highlights that the U- and Y-series processor will come baked with better support for voice assistants, like Alexa and Cortana. You can expect to see advances in natural input options like touch and stylus as well, which will only better the experience in the cheaper laptop segment.
Jumping into the specifics, here’s a quick rundown of the Intel 8th-gen U-series and Y-series processors:
- i3-U145U (two cores, four threads, clocked at 2.1GHz)
- i5-8265U (four cores, eight threads, clocked at 1.6GHz)
- i7-8565U (four cores, eight threads, clocked at 1.8GHz)
Even the Y-series processors offer 2 and 4-core configurations but are less powerful than the aforementioned U-series processors.
- m3-8100Y (clocked at 1.1GHz)
- i5-8200Y (clocked at 1.3GHz)
- i7-8500Y (clocked at 1.5GHz)
While we can expect hardware makers, like Asus, Dell, and Lenovo among others to show off their latest offerings at IFA 2018, the laptops powered by U-series and Y-series chips will find their way to the market later this fall.
