Early benchmark results for Intel's next-generation mobile flagship processor have surfaced, offering a first glimpse at the performance potential of the upcoming Panther Lake architecture. The leaked scores suggest a significant leap over current-generation parts and a highly competitive position against AMD's top offerings, setting the stage for an intriguing battle in the high-performance laptop segment.
Leaked Geekbench Scores Reveal Strong Performance
The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, an early engineering sample, was recently spotted in the Geekbench database. It achieved a single-core score of 3,057 points and a multi-core score of 17,687 points in Geekbench 6. These figures are particularly impressive for a chip in its early stages of development. The single-core performance is nearly on par with AMD's current flagship mobile CPU, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, which scored 2,792 points in the same test. This indicates that Intel's new architecture is highly competitive in tasks that rely on fast individual core speeds.
Geekbench 6 Benchmark Comparison (Single-Core / Multi-Core)
| Processor | Cores | Single-Core Score | Multi-Core Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra X9 388H | 16 (4P+8E+4LP) | 3,057 | 17,687 |
| AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | 16 | 2,792 | 17,669 |
| Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | 16 | 2,604 | 14,796 |
| Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | 16 | 2,229 | 11,915 |
Significant Generational Improvement Over Predecessors
When compared to its direct predecessor, the Core Ultra 9 285H, the new X9 388H shows a substantial performance uplift. The single-core score represents an improvement of approximately 15%. More notably, the multi-core performance sees a jump of around 21%, despite both chips sharing a 16-core count. This suggests that Intel has made meaningful architectural and efficiency improvements with Panther Lake, allowing its hybrid core design to deliver more computational power within a similar thermal envelope.
Core Configuration and Power Details
The Core Ultra X9 388H utilizes a hybrid core architecture, a strategy Intel has refined over several generations. This particular configuration comprises 4 Performance cores (P-cores), 8 Efficiency cores (E-cores), and 4 new Low-Power Efficiency cores (LP E-cores), for a total of 16 cores. The chip is reported to have a default TDP of 45 watts, with a maximum turbo frequency reaching up to 5.1 GHz. While its full TDP range is not yet confirmed, it is expected to be similar to its predecessor's 45W-115W range. This places it in direct competition with AMD's Strix Halo chips, which operate at a default 55W TDP.
Reported Specifications: Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
- Architecture: Panther Lake (Intel 18A)
- Core Configuration: 4 Performance Cores + 8 Efficiency Cores + 4 Low-Power Efficiency Cores (16 total)
- Max Turbo Frequency: 5.1 GHz
- Default TDP: 45W
- Expected TDP Range: ~45W-115W (similar to predecessor)
- Status: Early Engineering Sample
Context and Cautions for Early Benchmarks
It is crucial to interpret these early results with appropriate caution. The tested unit is an engineering sample, and final retail silicon often undergoes optimizations that can affect performance, both positively and negatively. Furthermore, Geekbench provides a useful snapshot of CPU capability but does not always translate linearly to real-world application performance, especially in sustained workloads or gaming. The true test for Panther Lake will be how it performs in a wide array of professional applications, creative suites, and games under various thermal conditions.
The Competitive Landscape and What's Next
The leaked performance paints a picture of a much more competitive Intel in the mobile CPU space. If these results hold for final products, the Core Ultra X9 388H will challenge AMD's dominance in high-performance laptops. Beyond the CPU, previous leaks have also highlighted the integrated Arc B390 graphics, which is rumored to offer performance comparable to a discrete laptop RTX 3050. A successful launch of Panther Lake, built on the advanced Intel 18A process node, would mark a critical comeback for Intel, offering users compelling performance and efficiency. The tech community will be watching closely for official announcements, detailed reviews, and broader availability in the coming months.