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Intel says it’s selling every affordable laptop chip it can make
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Intel is selling every affordable laptop chip it can make, CEO Lip-Bu Tan said on the company’s latest earnings call. Demand for its budget-focused Wildcat Lake processors is outstripping supply, and CFO David Zinsner confirmed the chips are sold out. The shortage highlights pressure on low-end PCs.
Wildcat Lake chips power lower-cost Windows laptops such as the new Dell XPS 13 and HP Omnibook 5 14. These machines have budget-friendly prices but often ship with only 8GB of RAM, which can strain Windows performance. Their launch comes as RAM and component shortages have pushed PC prices higher.
Zinsner said Intel has “seen significant growth in Wildcat Lake,” calling the timing right because the chip is “cost-optimized.” He added that Intel is seeing “a lot of focus in that regard.” The sold-out status means Intel cannot currently meet demand for low-cost laptop silicon.
Intel does not expect the memory shortage to ease soon. “Make no mistake, we are not optimistic about next year in terms of memory,” Zinsner said. He expects no improvement in 2027 and will have to see whether conditions improve in 2028, a view more optimistic than SK Hynix’s prediction of shortages through 2030.
Tan acknowledged a PC demand slowdown, saying the industry is navigating “one of the most significant supply shortages” in history, driven by unprecedented demand for super intelligence, or AI. Zinsner offered a more hopeful view: “We do think the PC is going to go through a renaissance despite this.” Intel sees both near-term strain and long-term opportunity.
The comments leave Intel balancing strong demand for affordable chips against a memory market that could keep laptop prices elevated. For budget-conscious buyers, Wildcat Lake’s sold-out status signals limited options. Intel’s ability to ramp supply will be key as the PC industry manages constraints.
