Intel has announced eight new mobile processors as part of its 10th-generation ‘Comet Lake’ architecture, boasting improved performance and features.
The newly-announced parts range from Core i3 to Core i7, with a maximum of six cores and a maximum boost clock of 4.9GHz at the top end. But this time around, a more powerful top-end processor has been introduced, the Core i7-1071U. The chip marks the first time we’ve seen a six-core processor in a 15-watt envelope. The lineup includes four U-Series chips, typically found in high-end ultrabooks such as the Dell XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Pro, and four lower-powered Y-Series chips, which are often used in more thermally-conservative fanless designs.
Unlike with Ice Lake which focuses on graphics capability, Comet Lake processors use a more traditional nomenclature. The U or Y designation is tagged on the end, clearly splitting the two series apart from one another.
Intel claims that compared to the previous generation, the new chips will offer 16% better overall performance and 41% better productivity when using Microsoft Office 365, as well as faster memory support.
“Our 10th Gen Intel Core mobile processors provide customers with the industry-leading range of products that deliver the best balance of performance, features, power and design for their specific needs,” said Chris Walker, Intel’s corporate vice president and general manager of Mobility Client Platforms in the Client Computing Group.
“From multitasking to everyday content creation, the newest additions to the family scale performance for even higher levels of productivity in addition to offering best-in-class platform connectivity via Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 3 that people expect with 10th-Gen.”
Intel says that they’ll be in machines by the time the holiday season rolls around. And while its more efficient, performant 10nm chips will land in pricier machines, these new processors will likely lead to an influx of slightly cheaper Ultrabooks, 2-in-1 laptops, and other slim form-factor PCs, which could even potentially include future Surface and MacBook products.
