Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake flagship, the Core Ultra X9 388H, just showed up in early benchmarks with its Xe3 integrated GPU delivering up to 50% better performance than current Lunar Lake processors. This leak confirms Intel’s next-generation mobile chips are bringing serious graphics upgrades.
Intel Core Ultra X9 388H: Leaked Specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Panther Lake (Core Ultra 300 series) |
| iGPU | 12-core Xe3 graphics |
| Boost Clock | Up to 5.1 GHz (P-cores) |
| GPU Clock | Up to 2.5 GHz |
| 3DMark TimeSpy | ~6,300 points |
| Performance Gain | 45-50% vs Lunar Lake |
Xe3 Graphics Breakthrough
The Core Ultra X9 388H scored around 6,300 points in 3DMark TimeSpy, representing a 45-50% improvement over the Arc 140V iGPU in Lunar Lake processors. This 12-core Xe3 GPU architecture delivers integrated graphics performance approaching entry-level discrete GPUs.
The massive performance jump comes from Intel’s refined Xe3 architecture paired with GPU clocks reaching up to 2.5 GHz. Expect smoother gaming at 1080p medium settings and better creative workloads without needing dedicated graphics.
Flagship Performance Specifications
The Panther Lake flagship pushes P-core boost clocks to 5.0-5.1 GHz, combining CPU and GPU performance improvements into one compelling package. This suggests Intel is targeting both productivity and gaming users with its next mobile platform.
The new “Core Ultra X” branding indicates fully-specced iGPU configurations, differentiating top-tier models from standard variants.
For official Intel product information, visit Intel’s newsroom for upcoming announcements.
Explore more laptop processor guides on our mobile CPU comparison covering performance benchmarks.
Release Timeline & Availability
Panther Lake processors are expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026, giving Intel time to refine performance and address any early engineering samples’ limitations. Laptops featuring these chips should arrive shortly after the official announcement.
The Bottom Line: The 50% iGPU performance boost over Lunar Lake positions Panther Lake as Intel’s most graphics-capable mobile platform yet. If benchmarks hold true, thin-and-light laptops could finally handle light gaming without dedicated GPUs.
FAQs
When will Intel Core Ultra X9 388H laptops be available?
Expected launch is late 2025 or early 2026 with laptops arriving shortly after.
Can the Xe3 iGPU replace entry-level discrete GPUs?
For light gaming and creative work, yes—it approaches entry-level discrete GPU performance.
