Intel steps deeper into handheld gaming
Intel is preparing a major push into the handheld gaming market with a new platform built specifically for portable gaming devices. The company confirmed the move during CES, signaling a clear shift beyond traditional PCs and laptops.
Daniel Rogers, the company’s vice president and general manager of PC products, announced that Intel is developing both hardware and software tailored for handheld gaming. The platform will be powered by Intel Core Series 3 processors, also known as Panther Lake.
More importantly, Intel is designing a chip made specifically for handheld gaming devices. Reports from IGN, suggest this chip will target performance, efficiency, and portability.
Panther Lake becomes the foundation
Intel’s upcoming handheld gaming platform is built on Panther Lake, the company’s next-generation processor family. Panther Lake chips mark a significant milestone because they are the first Intel processors manufactured using the company’s 18A process.
Production for the 18A process began in 2025. Intel positions it as a major leap in performance per watt, which matters deeply for handheld gaming systems. Better efficiency means longer battery life and sustained performance during extended gaming sessions.
As Panther Lake rolls out across laptops and desktops, the company now plans to scale the architecture into smaller, gaming-focused form factors.
Challenges AMD’s stronghold
The handheld gaming market is currently dominated by AMD-powered devices. Popular gaming handhelds rely heavily on AMD chips designed for balanced performance and power efficiency.
Intel’s entry could reshape this space. The company already has strong gaming credentials, having supplied CPUs for gaming PCs since the 1990s. It expanded its gaming push further in 2022 with the launch of Intel Arc GPUs.
At CES, AMD also revealed new gaming hardware, including the Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor. This sets the stage for renewed competition in both traditional and handheld gaming segments.
More details coming later this year
Intel has not yet revealed specifications, performance targets, or partner devices for its handheld gaming platform. However, Rogers confirmed that the company will share more information later this year.
With a dedicated chip, modern manufacturing, and a full platform approach, Intel is clearly signaling long-term intent. The handheld gaming space could soon see more choice, stronger competition, and faster innovation.
