A recently leaked roadmap from notebook OEMs sheds light on Intel's and AMD's upcoming product strategies, providing a clearer picture of the future processor landscape. According to the roadmap, Intel's Nova Lake is set to be introduced as the Core Ultra 400 series, following its predecessor, Panther Lake, which will be branded as the Core Ultra 300 series. This series is anticipated to become central to laptops by 2026. Meanwhile, AMD's Medusa Point APU, marking its initial appearance in OEM documents, is based on the Zen 6 architecture and will succeed the Strix Point.

Intel’s product strategy indicates a transition whereby desktops will bypass one generation. Panther Lake is slated for release in the mobile sector by the end of 2025, with a comprehensive launch expected in 2026. Desktops, however, will advance straight to Nova Lake, the Core Ultra 400 series, succeeding the Arrow Lake or Core Ultra 200 series. Consequently, desktop users will leapfrog over the Core Ultra 300 series to adopt Nova Lake by 2027. Notably, Panther Lake will introduce Intel's 18A process node, a significant step in reestablishing Intel’s prominence in cutting-edge manufacturing. This process node, paired with innovations like RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia backside power supply, promises advancements in power efficiency and frequency capabilities. Further, the OEM roadmap hints at a potential unveiling of a mobile Nova Lake version at CES 2026, indicating Intel’s accelerated efforts in presenting its next-generation architecture on mobile platforms.

AMD’s position in this roadmap is equally intriguing. The document confirms that the Medusa family, comprising Medusa Point and Medusa BB, will entirely replace Strix Point as AMD’s forthcoming APU platform. The Medusa line will feature Zen 6 CPU cores, an enhanced RDNA graphics architecture, and a refined XDNA NPU module for improved AI acceleration. Preliminary evaluations show AMD testing a 45W TDP Medusa Point APU on a platform named "PLUM" with an FP10 package, suggesting a target at the high-performance notebook market. Through a synergistic combination of CPU, GPU, and NPU, the Medusa series is expected to offer a robust single-chip solution.

According to the timeline, Intel will have a limited release of Panther Lake by the end of 2025, with Panther Lake and AMD’s Medusa Point set to dominate the notebook market in 2026. By 2027, Intel will unveil the Core Ultra 400 Nova Lake, and AMD will update the Medusa family, positioning both companies for renewed competition. The roadmap delineates distinct product strategies, where in the high-end sector, Panther Lake-H and Medusa Point will directly compete, and in the enthusiast realm, Nova Lake-HX and AMD's Gator Range are expected to engage head-to-head post-2027.

The roadmap highlights two critical trends for the market. Firstly, process innovation is pivotal. Whether Intel’s 18A process meets expectations will directly impact the power efficiency and capabilities of Panther Lake, playing a crucial role in Intel's IDM 2.0 strategy. Secondly, the integration of AI acceleration and GPUs will be a focal point of rivalry. AMD aims to harmonize AI tasks with multimedia processing by integrating CPU, GPU, and NPU within a single chip through Zen 6 and APU technologies. Meanwhile, Intel seeks to enhance core performance and showcase the potential of its future platforms in mobile computing through process superiority and architectural enhancements.

For consumers and OEMs, the years 2026-2027 will mark a significant turning point in the notebook CPU industry. By this period, both Intel and AMD are expected to present new core architectures and processing technologies, buoyed by early-stage planning and validation from OEMs. It is anticipated that the notebook market will witness a surge in performance, energy efficiency, and AI integration, driven by these innovations. The ultimate victors will be those who can secure steady supply chains, build robust ecosystems, and gain developer support, thus taking the lead in the next-generation mobile computing arena.