Intel Refutes Panther Lake & 18A Delay Rumors, Confirms Everything is On Track

Intel has directly addressed recent rumors regarding delays and yield issues for its highly anticipated Panther Lake (PTL) CPUs and the advanced 18A fabrication process. During the recent Morgan Stanley conference, Intel’s Corporate Vice President of Investor Relations, John Pitzer, provided a clear update, reassuring the market that both Panther Lake and the 18A node remain firmly on schedule. This announcement comes after speculation emerged that Panther Lake's production had been delayed to late Q4, pushing consumer product availability into the following year and suggesting potential yield challenges.

Panther Lake Remains on Schedule

According to Pitzer, rumors of Panther Lake’s delays are entirely unfounded. In fact, current yield rates for Panther Lake processors are reportedly even ahead of where Intel's Meteor Lake processors stood at the same development phase, indicating smooth progress toward mass production.

"Panther Lake is on track to launch in the second half of this year. That launch date has not changed," said Pitzer. "We feel really good about the progress we are making. In fact, if you look at where our yields are on Panther Lake today, they’re actually slightly ahead at a similar point in time to Meteor Lake."

Panther Lake is especially significant for Intel as it represents the first in-house CPU built on the 18A manufacturing process. Its success will be pivotal in solidifying Intel's competitive edge and the overall confidence in Intel Foundry Services (IFS).

Pitzer further clarified that while Panther Lake will debut in the second half of 2025, substantial volume production is expected to ramp significantly in 2026, paralleling previous launches like Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake.

"We launch Panther Lake in the second half of this year, but it’s really not until next year that we get to volumes," added Pitzer.

Intel’s 18A Process Progressing Well

Addressing the 18A node itself, Pitzer emphasized that Intel is confidently positioning 18A against TSMC's N2-class offerings, with SRAM density results meeting or exceeding expectations. Intel plans to begin sending customer samples based on 18A in the second half of 2025, reinforcing the narrative that Intel is achieving the necessary yield rates and readiness for broader manufacturing.

Intel's clarification ends weeks of uncertainty in the market, reflecting positively on Intel’s credibility as it attempts to regain manufacturing leadership from rivals like TSMC and Samsung. The successful deployment of the 18A process is essential, not just technologically, but politically, as Intel seeks to capitalize on renewed domestic production initiatives within the United States.

For further insights and the full conference details, visit Morgan Stanley’s conference transcript.

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