[News] First Intel 18A-Based Panther Lake Laptop Unveiled: Acer Leads with 16-Inch Ultralight Model

While Intel’s 18A process continues to face speculation over yield issues—casting doubt on whether it can enter mass production by late 2025 as planned—Taiwan’s Acer has unexpectedly become the first laptop brand to unveil a device powered by Team Blue’s 18A-based Panther Lake processor, according to Tom’s Hardware and the Economic Daily News.

Swift 16 AI, unveiled at IFA 2025 in Berlin, reportedly features Intel’s Panther Lake processor. The Economic Daily News notes that the device is Acer’s first 16-inch ultrathin laptop weighing under 1kg, potentially targeting the European market. According to Tom’s Hardware, Acer has confirmed the device won’t launch until 2026.

Meanwhile, Tom’s Hardware also highlights the laptop’s standout feature: what’s described as the “largest haptic trackpad with stylus support.” Although exact measurements weren’t revealed, the trackpad is noticeably larger than typical models, and its stylus functionality is rare, allowing users to write directly on the touchpad, the report adds.

As per Tom’s Hardware, the system features a 16-inch 3K OLED display—likely at 2880 x 1800 resolution—with a 120Hz refresh rate. It reportedly supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and includes the latest connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while sticks with Thunderbolt 4 rather than adopting Thunderbolt 5.

However, as Tom’s Hardware points out, the system received little attention during Acer’s press conference, which showcased an AMD-powered Swift Air 16 and several gaming laptops.

Intel’s 18A Progress

Acer’s Swift 16 AI debut aligns closely with Intel’s recent updates on its 18A process and Panther Lake chip. According to Tom’s Hardware, at last week’s Deutsche Bank 2025 Technology Conference, Intel CFO David Zisner reaffirmed that Panther Lake is still on schedule for launch this year. He noted the first processor SKU will arrive by year-end, with additional SKUs following in early 2026, and volume production expected to ramp up throughout 2026.

Shortly before 18A made its appearance with Acer’s latest laptop, Intel, at Hot Chips 2025 in late August, also unveiled its next-generation Xeon processor, Clearwater Forest, which is built on 18A and scheduled for mass production in 2026, according to the Commercial Times. Clearwater Forest, as per Tom’s Hardware, marks one of the first deployments of Intel’s 18A node, built on RibbonFET transistors and backside power delivery.

As the Economic Daily News explains, previously, due to yield challenges with the 18A process, Intel outsourced production of its Lunar Lake mobile chips and Arrow Lake desktop processors to TSMC. However, Panther Lake marks a return to Intel’s own fabs, and whether Intel can meet its timeline to begin volume shipments in early 2026 would be a key milestone that the industry is watching closely.

Read more

• [News] Rapidus 2HP Reportedly Surpasses Intel 18A Logic Density Impacted by BSPDN, Rivals TSMC
• [News] Intel’s Clearwater Forest Unveils 18A Backside Power at Hot Chips; TSMC’s Super Power Rail to Follow

(Photo credit: Acer)