- Intel reference laptop spotted with Wildcat Lake processor
- Its design is very inspired by the MacBook and it looks like a laptop that will take inspiration from the Neo.
- However, you’ll get more energetic performance here, with a faster processor and twice the RAM of the Neo.
The sighting of an Intel reference laptop with a new Wildcat Lake processor has caused a stir, as it appears to take on Apple’s popular new MacBook Neo squarely.
Tom’s Hardware highlighted an article about
The device is a thin and light 14-inch laptop with an aluminum chassis and sleek MacBook-style lines, with a bright green colorway that also follows in the footsteps of the Neo’s glossy appearance.
Article continues below
The processor inside is a Wildcat Lake chip, as mentioned, which is a budget offering and effectively a scaled-down version of the new Panther Lake silicon. The processor used is apparently the Intel Core 7 360 or Core 7 350, based on the presence of a 17 TOPS NPU, alongside the CPU, which has two performance cores and four low-power cores (smaller than the normal efficiency cores, of which this chip does not have any).
The CPU offers what should be a pretty decent level of performance, with a PL1 of 17W (22W maximum) and a PL2 of 35W (which can be used for very brief bursts). Interestingly, there is also the option to run at 11W, which allows the laptop to run in fanless mode, requiring no active cooling, so it will be perfectly silent in this case.
There is 16GB of system RAM soldered next to the processor.
Analysis: a more recent Neo?
Since the MacBook Neo runs at lower wattages (typically less than 10W), it should be a capable rival, especially since it packs twice as much RAM as Apple’s laptop.
Keep in mind that the Neo is limited to 8GB of system memory, although Apple has done a good job of making sure this isn’t a hindrance to typical day-to-day use.
Future-proofing, however, is more of a concern for me with the MacBook Neo due to that RAM load. Still, we don’t know what price a Wildcat laptop, like the one presented by Intel, will demand. Apple has, of course, made the Neo very competitive, and that value has been clearly demonstrated by the way it has been marketed.
I’ve been talking about the threat the MacBook Neo poses to Windows 11’s dominance in the laptop world since Apple launched its budget laptop, while wondering what Microsoft’s response might be. Fixing Windows 11 is one thing, but it looks like Intel could step in to lend its processing forces in the fight against Apple with Wildcat Lake, even if there are still a lot of unknowns to sort out.
It’s worth noting that the Intel laptop looks great in photos taken and shared, but according to Subramaniam, its appearance is even more impressive in real life. Watch this space, as they say.
The best laptops for every budget
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube And TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp Also.
