Intel has announced two new members of its processor , just ahead of the IFA 2018 exhibition.
The U-series and Y-series processors, formerly known as Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake, are designed specifically for midrange laptops and 2-in-1 devices respectively.
The 8th generation processor series will improve connectivity and performance of laptops expected to be unveiled later this week at IFA.
The U series includes three new processors that operate at 15 W.
- i7-8565U — 1.8 GHz base clock, four cores, eight threads
- i5-8265U — 1.6 GHz base clock, four cores, eight threads
- i3-8145U — 2.1GHz base clock, two cores, four threads
While the Y series is designed for low power consumption at a TDP of 5W and is less powerful than the U series above.
- i7-8500Y — 1.5 GHz base clock, two cores, four threads
- i5-8200Y — 1.3GHz base clock, two cores, four threads
- m3-8100Y — 1.1GHz base clock, two cores, four threads
The top feature of these processors is the integration of Gigabit Wi-Fi support (Wireless-AC 160 MHz) that achieves up to 12 times faster connection, especially in low-cost laptops.
With these processors, Intel wants to increase the performance of low- and mid-cost laptops, which may not have been able to provide such speed until now.
In addition to that, the new Y and U series have built-in support for virtual assistants like Cortana and Alexa. We can also expect better add-ons like stylus and touch that will enhance the experience of the more affordable laptops.
Hardware manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, and Asus are likely to show off their latest laptops powered by the U-series and Y-series chips at IFA 2018 and eventually find their way to the market later this fall.
