Intel is preparing a special series of processors called Core G3 aimed at portable gaming consoles, according to reporting by VideoCardz. The company did not disclose the lineup’s name during its Panther Lake mobile-processor presentation, but it confirmed plans to introduce a dedicated series for handheld devices.
Although Intel provided no formal specifications for these handheld-focused chips at the Panther Lake reveal, it did name a number of potential manufacturing partners and device makers that could adopt the platform, including Acer, MSI, OneXPlayer, GPD and Microsoft. Microsoft’s inclusion on the list has sparked speculation that the company may be working on a new portable Xbox design or is otherwise preparing to support the platform at the software level.
Sources cited by VideoCardz say the handheld-oriented Intel chip may ship with an integrated Arc B380 GPU built on the Xe3 architecture and featuring 12 graphics cores. That iGPU would differ from the Arc B390 integrated in some Panther Lake mobile processors, likely by having a lower GPU clock speed. Internally, the project is reportedly designated Arc G3 and is described by sources as a mid-range solution. The same reporting also references a second integrated GPU option, the Arc B360, though details such as its core count have not been disclosed. The expected CPU configuration for the Core G3 family is cited as 2 performance (P) cores, 8 efficiency (E) cores and 4 low-power E (LPE) cores.
If Intel follows through with a dedicated Core G3 family, the move would mark a significant push into the handheld gaming market and set Core G3 products up to compete directly with AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series. In recent public comments, Intel representatives characterized AMD’s mobile offerings as "dated silicon". For context, AMD’s most recent mobile family, Strix Point, arrived roughly 19 months ago.
At CES 2026, observers noted an absence of new AMD-based handheld gaming systems on show, with the Lenovo Legion Go 2 running SteamOS one of the few exceptions; that device is effectively a variant of an already available Windows-based handheld. There were likewise no public signs at the show of a forthcoming Ryzen Z3 series from AMD.
Given the possibility of two different integrated GPU variants (Arc B380 and B360), it is reasonable to expect Intel to offer at least two processor SKUs in the Core G3 family to match those graphics options. Intel has not announced a launch date or provided further details about when the Core G3 series will be officially revealed. The development nonetheless signals growing attention from both chipmakers and OEMs to the handheld gaming segment and suggests more choice for consumers in the months ahead.