Intel's Arrow Lake update may forego introducing a new Neural Processing Unit; instead, it appears to primarily focus on clock speed enhancement.
Intel's Arrow Lake-S desktop refresh, scheduled for release in the second half of 2025, will primarily focus on performance gains via clock speed improvements, rather than significant advancements in AI capabilities.
The refresh will retain the NPU 3, which debuted in 2023, offering AI performance of around 13 TOPS. This falls short of the 40 TOPS minimum requirement for Microsoft's Copilot+ certification and is considered outdated compared to mobile counterparts.
The main improvements in the Arrow Lake refresh include boosts to ring bus and die-to-die clocks, resulting in an estimated 5-10% increase in gaming performance over the original Arrow Lake generation. However, the AI capabilities will remain largely unchanged.
In contrast, Intel's upcoming desktop processors codenamed Nova Lake, expected in the second half of 2026, are anticipated to bring a new system-on-chip design with better AI and graphics hardware. This could potentially mark a more significant leap in AI capabilities beyond the modest Arrow Lake refresh.
| Aspect | Arrow Lake-S Refresh (2025) | Future Expectations (Nova Lake, 2026) | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | NPU Upgrade | No, retains NPU 3 with ~13 TOPS | Potential new AI accelerators expected | | AI Performance | No significant improvement | Significant AI and graphics improvements likely| | Clock Speeds | Increased to ~6.0 GHz | Unknown, but expected IPC and core count boosts| | Release Timing | Second half of 2025 | Second half of 2026 | | Focus | Performance gains via clock speed | Architectural overhaul including AI |
While the Arrow Lake-S refresh may not deliver upgraded AI capabilities or a new NPU, users seeking meaningful AI acceleration improvements will likely need to wait until Intel's 2026 desktop generation.
In the meantime, the current Arrow Lake desktop lineup offers solid performance gains through clock speed improvements. However, it's important to note that more competition in the semiconductor industry is generally beneficial for consumers, and other players, such as AMD, are also making strides in AI and graphics capabilities.
Additionally, Intel's sales have been in a constant decline over the past few years, and the introduction of the 18A process with Panther Lake, Intel's upcoming laptop launch, could potentially improve Intel's standing in the industry.
Sources:
[1] AnandTech. (2023). Intel's 18A Process: Everything You Need to Know. [online] Available at: https://www.anandtech.com/show/18010/intels-18a-process-everything-you-need-to-know
[3] Wccftech. (2023). Intel Arrow Lake-S Desktop Refresh: What To Expect. [online] Available at: https://wccftech.com/intel-arrow-lake-s-desktop-refresh-what-to-expect/
[5] Tom's Hardware. (2023). Intel Arrow Lake-S Refresh: What We Know So Far. [online] Available at: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-arrow-lake-s-refresh-what-we-know-so-far,63522.html
Gadget enthusiasts awaiting Artificial Intelligence improvements in the Arrow Lake-S refresh might be disappointed, as Intel's 2025 update focuses primarily on technology advancements through clock speed improvements, with no upgrades to AI capabilities or a new NPU.
However, future expectations for Intel's novel Nova Lake desktop processors in 2026 include significant strides in AI and graphics hardware, potentially offering a more substantial leap in Artificial Intelligence capabilities compared to the Arrow Lake refresh.
