Intel's next-generation processor, known as "Nova Lake" (NVL), was first spotted in an import-export listing over a month ago, reportedly dispatched from Intel's headquarters to India for additional R&D testing.

The listing also mentions an "i3" variant, which appears to be a lower-spec version, although no further details are provided.

We are aware that Intel's upcoming processor, codenamed Panther Lake, will be introduced with the Intel 18A manufacturing process. It is expected to enter mass production and launch in the latter half of this year but will be initially available for notebook mobiles only.

For desktops, Intel had initially planned to release the Arrow Lake Refresh. However, it was canceled as it did not meet set standards. Subsequently, the next desktop debut will be the Nova Lake, anticipated to arrive next year. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether a mobile version exists.

Currently, very little information is available about Nova Lake. It is rumored to feature upgraded small and large core architectures, codenamed Coyote Cove and Arctic Wolf. Some sources also suggest the presence of new interfaces, though none of this has been confirmed yet.

According to Intel's typical product development timeline, a processor requires approximately 15-24 months to transition from the initial phase to lighting up and eventual release. The earliest ES1 engineering samples generally undergo about a year of testing before the final release, but Nova Lake's current development stage remains unclear.

The successor to Nova Lake is Razer Lake, about which even less is known. There are rumors of an upgraded Intel 14A process or utilizing TSMC's 2nm technology, though both remain speculative.