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| The first Intel Panther Lake laptops are expected to debut in January 2026. |
CES 2026 is shaping up to be the stage for Intel’s next major mobile push, with the first Panther Lake-based devices reportedly set to debut in Las Vegas next month. While the official launch is still on the horizon, a new benchmark leak has given us our clearest look yet at the performance of what could be Intel’s flagship mobile processor.
A First Look at the Core Ultra 9 X9 388H
The star of the latest leak is the Intel Core Ultra 9 X9 388H, spotted on the Geekbench 6 benchmarking platform. According to the listing, this chip is configured with 16 cores and achieved a boost clock speed of up to 5.1 GHz during testing. While Geekbench doesn’t break down the core architecture, previous rumors suggest this top-tier SKU will feature a hybrid design with 4 Performance cores, 8 Efficient cores, and 4 new Low Power cores.
Accompanying the CPU is Intel’s next-generation integrated graphics. The benchmark listing references the Intel Arc B390 iGPU, which is built on the new Xe3 architecture and features 12 cores. This marks a significant generational step up from current Arc graphics and could signal a major boost for thin-and-light gaming and creative workloads.
You can view the official Geekbench 6.5.0 listing for the Core Ultra 9 X9 388H here: Geekbench Result.
Performance Benchmarks: How Does It Stack Up?
Tested with 64 GB of RAM, the engineering sample of the Core Ultra 9 X9 388H posted a single-core score of 3,057 and a multi-core score of 17,687 in Geekbench 6.5.0.
Here’s how that compares to some of today’s top mobile CPUs:
- Multi-core performance places the X9 388H roughly on par with AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and ahead of the Core Ultra 9 285H and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. It should be noted that it trails the current desktop-replacement champion, the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
- Single-core performance is particularly strong. The leaked score edges out the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and the standard Core Ultra 9 285H, matching the high bar set by the 285HX.
The leak, originally shared by hardware tracker BenchLeaks on X, provides the raw data fueling these early comparisons. You can see the post here: BenchLeaks on X.
Power and Product Expectations
The listing doesn’t confirm thermal design power (TDP), but prior reports suggest the Core Ultra 9 X9 388H will operate within a 65W to 80W power envelope. This positions it as a high-performance chip for premium gaming laptops and mobile workstations.
The timing of this leak aligns perfectly with the upcoming CES 2026 tech expo. Industry whispers point to several high-profile devices launching with Panther Lake inside. Two of the most anticipated are:
The Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable, a concept gaming laptop with an expandable display.
A refreshed OneXPlayer X1 handheld gaming PC. The current model is available for $1,399 on Amazon, and a Panther Lake upgrade would represent a massive generational leap in both CPU and iGPU performance for the handheld segment.
What This Means for Buyers
For anyone considering a new high-performance laptop in early 2026, this leak suggests it may be worth the wait. Intel’s Panther Lake architecture appears to deliver a meaningful single-core performance uplift and a next-generation integrated GPU. When combined with the efficiency gains expected from its new manufacturing process, Panther Lake could offer a compelling blend of power and battery life.
The official unveiling at CES will reveal the full product stack, pricing, and availability. If these early benchmarks are representative of final performance, Intel is preparing a robust response to AMD’s recent Ryzen AI lineup, setting the stage for an incredibly competitive year in mobile computing.
Are you excited about Intel's Panther Lake laptops? Let us know what kind of device you're hoping to see first in the comments below.
