Intel Panther Lake in 2026: What the Asus Zenbook 14’s Specs Reveal

Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) is not a single laptop specification. The Asus Zenbook 14 UX3480AA makes that distinction concrete: processor names, graphics capability, OLED specifications and even reported model numbers can vary between configurations and markets. For buyers, the useful comparison is the exact laptop SKU—not simply the Panther Lake label.

The Zenbook 14’s processor and price listings don’t fully line up

Asus’s specification page lists three processor options for the UX3480AA: Core Ultra 5 325, Core Ultra 7 355 and Core Ultra 9 386H. It identifies the Ultra 5 325 and Ultra 7 355 as eight-core, eight-thread processors.4

Reports of Chinese listings give prices of CNY 7,999 for a Core Ultra 5 325 configuration and CNY 8,999 for the higher-priced configuration. Those reports describe both machines as having 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 1TB SSD, but identify the higher-priced processor as a Core Ultra 7 365—not the 355 on Asus’s specification page.10 That difference is unresolved in the available reporting. Check the retailer’s exact model number and processor rather than assuming the reported price refers to the official 355 configuration.

OLED is a family feature, not a guarantee of one panel

Asus lists a 14-inch, 2880 × 1800 OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate among the UX3480AA specifications.4 But configurations can differ: a retailer listing for an Ultra 5 325 model specifies a 1920 × 1200 OLED screen at 60Hz.8 The existence of a higher-end panel option does not mean every version has it.

Before ordering, compare the listing’s resolution and refresh rate alongside the processor, memory and storage. Regional availability and product pages may describe a range of configurations rather than the exact unit being sold.48

Panther Lake does not guarantee Arc B390 graphics

The reported Zenbook configurations with the Ultra 5 325 and Ultra 7 365 do not include the higher-capability Arc B390 graphics option, according to Notebookcheck.10 The teardown coverage also distinguishes Panther Lake GPU configurations: a smaller four-core GPU tile and a larger 12-core option associated with Arc B390.20 In other words, “Panther Lake” or “Intel graphics” alone does not tell you which integrated GPU a laptop has. Look for the named GPU and its configuration.

What the Panther Lake teardown shows about Intel 18A

SemiAnalysis describes Panther Lake as separate compute, GPU and I/O tiles assembled on a passive base using Intel’s Foveros-S packaging.20 The compute tile uses Intel 18A, while the smaller four-core GPU tile uses Intel 3, the larger 12-core GPU tile uses TSMC N3E, and the I/O tiles use TSMC N6.20

Intel 18A incorporates RibbonFET gate-all-around transistors and PowerVia backside power delivery.22 The important distinction is that Intel 18A applies to the compute tile—not every tile in the package. Intel describes 18A as developed and manufactured in the United States,28 but that does not establish that the entire Panther Lake package is made there. The teardown’s process breakdown shows why “built on Intel 18A” should not be read as “entirely US-made.”2028

Pricing reports and laptop competition are still moving targets

A roughly 10% Intel PC-CPU price increase in October has been reported, but it has not been officially confirmed, and the scope—including whether notebook processors are affected—remains unclear.46 Treat it as a report, not a settled change to laptop prices. The available reporting also does not establish that memory costs are the direct cause of the proposed increase.

Meanwhile, five Googlebook models from major laptop brands are scheduled to reach retail in early October, with Intel or Qualcomm chips in the first group.34 That adds to the options facing laptop makers and buyers, but a launch date alone does not establish how those models will compare in price or performance with a particular Zenbook configuration.

What to check before you buy

Use the full retailer SKU to verify:

• Processor: Confirm whether the laptop has the Ultra 5 325, Ultra 7 355, or another chip. Pay particular attention to the 355-versus-365 discrepancy in Chinese price reporting.410
• Graphics: Check whether the listing names Arc B390 or a different integrated GPU; the Panther Lake family name is not enough.1020
• Display: Confirm the resolution and refresh rate for the exact configuration. The range includes 2880 × 1800 at 120Hz, while a listed Ultra 5 configuration has a 1920 × 1200, 60Hz OLED.48
• Memory and storage: Match the listed RAM and SSD to the seller’s specific model, not a headline or another region’s configuration.810
• Price and region: Confirm the final price, availability and applicable regional listing. Reported Chinese prices and an unconfirmed CPU-price story should not be treated as universal laptop pricing.1046

The Zenbook 14 is a useful example of the broader Panther Lake buying lesson: a processor generation describes a platform, not a complete laptop. The actual CPU, GPU, screen and price depend on the configuration in the cart.