Intel Core G3 ‘Panther Lake’ handheld chips reportedly delayed — here’s why that’s bad news for gamers

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We might have to wait longer for Panther Lake handhelds if this report is true

MSI Claw 8AI+ - Playing Cyberpunk 2077
(Image credit: Future)

Given the impressive performance we’ve seen from laptops running on the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” CPU, I’ve been wondering how this chip would benefit the best handheld gaming consoles. We heard rumors of an Intel Core G3 Panther Lake chip for handhelds at CES, but nothing was official. Well, it seems the chip may have hit a snag.

A new report from Videocardz, citing the well-known leaker Golden Pig Upgrade on Weibo, claims that this handheld version of the Panther Lake chip has been delayed until the second quarter of 2026. If true, it means AMD’s dominance over the handheld landscape — led by the Ryzen Z series — will remain uncontested for a while longer.

A disappointing delay

Intel Panther Lake

(Image credit: Future)

Videocardz was the site that first broke the story about the Intel Core G3 chip. According to their reports, the Core G3 series is specifically designed for low-power, ultra-portable form factors — like gaming handhelds. A shift to Q2 means we likely won’t see hardware hitting shelves until the summer or perhaps even the 2026 holiday season.

This reported delay is particularly painful because Panther Lake represents a massive architectural leap for Intel. Built on the 18A process, these chips promised to deliver the kind of efficiency that could finally rival AMD-driven handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go 2, and the Steam Deck OLED.

Again, based on the impressive performance and battery life we’ve seen from Panther Lake in laptops like the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro and the Asus Zenbook Duo (2026), I’m naturally excited about what a handheld iteration could offer. This is especially true given the generational improvements we've already seen, moving from Meteor Lake chips in the original MSI Claw to Lunar Lake in the more recent Claw 8 AI+.

Why the delay matters

MSI Claw 8 AI+

(Image credit: Future)

With AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series already gaining momentum, this reported delay could set back Intel’s handheld ambitions even further. Golden Pig Upgrade suggests that while the laptop-class chips are rolling out fine, the specific binning and power tuning required for the G3 handheld variants are taking longer than anticipated.

To be clear, we haven’t heard official word of any handhelds that would have used this G3 chip. However, if companies like MSI—which so far has been the only major manufacturer to go all-in on Intel handhelds—were planning a Panther Lake device, it stands to reason that device is now pushed back as well. Of course, that’s just speculation on my part, given how none of this is official.

Outlook

Healthy competition is always a good thing. While I find handhelds with AMD chips to be the best options currently on the market, I’m eager to see how Intel could shake things up with a chip that’s a true powerhouse for gaming handhelds. Panther Lake chips for laptops have impressed me so far, so it makes me wonder just how much a dedicated handheld processor could change the game.

As always with these types of reports, take everything with a healthy dose of skepticism. Stay tuned for more as we hear it!

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Tony Polanco
Tony Polanco
Senior Computing Writer

Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.

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