Intel may be cooking up a budget Panther Lake chip for gaming handhelds

Intel may be developing a more cost-effective processor for gaming handhelds, according to leaker Jaykihn. The company is reportedly working on a Panther Lake-based chip featuring eight CPU cores and four Xe3 GPU cores. This configuration, already existing in Intel's lineup, is speculated to be tailored for handheld gaming PCs as an affordable alternative to the dedicated Arc G3 lineup.

While the trade-off would be reduced graphics performance, Intel's current Arc G3 Extreme costs around $1,799, making a lower-cost option an appealing prospect. However, memory and storage costs still impact the overall price, and even Intel G3-powered handhelds are expected to retail for around $1,000. Therefore, while a Panther Lake chip could be a positive sign, a genuinely inexpensive handheld remains a challenging prospect.

Intel's strategy of combining high-end premium handhelds with more mainstream machines could help solidify its position in the market.