CES 2026 has quickly turned into a high-stakes showdown for AI PC leadership. In response to Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra 300) launch, AMD delivered a sharp, no-frills presentation asserting that it now leads the AI PC market across most laptop segments.
While Intel emphasizes process-node efficiency and architectural refinement, AMD’s messaging is direct: performance wins matter more than promises—and AMD claims to have the data to prove it.
⚔️ Flagship Showdown: Ryzen AI Max vs. Core Ultra X9 #
AMD’s strongest statements target the premium mobile segment, comparing the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (Gorgon Halo) directly against Intel’s Core Ultra X9 388H.
Key claims from AMD include:
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Integrated GPU Lead
AMD asserts up to a 37% advantage in iGPU performance, leveraging as many as 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units. According to AMD, Intel’s Xe3-based Arc B390 iGPU cannot match this level of graphics scale. -
Thread Count Advantage
AMD highlights a 16-core / 32-thread configuration versus Intel’s 16-core / 16-thread Panther Lake design, emphasizing superior throughput in heavily parallel workloads. -
Efficiency Counterpunch
AMD points to Intel’s own disclosures to argue that Panther Lake shows no meaningful battery-life gains over Lunar Lake, undercutting Intel’s efficiency-first narrative.
🧬 The “Gorgon” Platform Strategy #
AMD is consolidating its mobile and desktop roadmap under the Gorgon codename, refining Zen 5 rather than introducing a clean-slate architecture. The focus is on frequency headroom, GPU scaling, and power optimization.
| Platform | Codename | Branding | Target Segment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream Mobile | Gorgon Point | Ryzen AI 400 | Thin & Light Laptops |
| Flagship Mobile | Gorgon Halo | Ryzen AI Max 400 | Mobile Workstations & Gaming |
| Desktop APU | Gorgon Ridge | Ryzen AI 400 (Desktop) | SFF & Office PCs |
Rather than a full redesign, Gorgon Halo builds on the existing Strix Halo foundation, retaining Zen 5 CPU cores and RDNA 3.5 graphics, while pushing GPU clocks beyond 3.0 GHz and adding support for faster LPDDR5X-8533 memory.
📊 Competitive Positioning Across Segments #
AMD’s tone softens slightly outside the flagship tier but remains confident overall:
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Mainstream Laptops
Ryzen AI 400 versus Core Ultra 200 is described as largely even in CPU and NPU performance, with AMD acknowledging that Intel may hold a small advantage in certain graphics-focused workloads. -
The AI PC Label
AMD’s central claim revolves around its XDNA 2 NPU, delivering 55–60 TOPS. The company argues that this provides more consistent real-world AI acceleration than Intel’s competing NPU implementations.
AMD’s closing message is blunt: marketing definitions aside, it believes AMD silicon delivers the strongest AI PC performance today.
🧪 Benchmarks vs. Slideware #
Early third-party data paints a more balanced picture. Leaked Geekbench 6 results suggest:
- AMD leads in multi-core workloads and GPU-heavy tasks
- Intel’s Core Ultra X9 388H shows an ~8.7% single-core advantage, reinforcing its strength in lightly threaded applications
As with every January hardware cycle, vendor slides reflect ideal conditions. The real verdict will arrive in Q2 2026, when retail systems from ASUS, Dell, Razer, and others reach end users.
Until then, the AI PC performance war remains very much unresolved.