Intel 18A process
18A is in high-volume manufacturing in Arizona and Oregon, and the 18A-P variant entered risk production in Q2 2026.
The numbers
What it is
Intel's current leading-edge node, using gate-all-around transistors (RibbonFET) and backside power delivery (PowerVia). It is used for Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest.
Why it matters to the stock. 18A is the test of whether Intel is back on process leadership. Yield and cost on 18A determine its margins and its ability to win outside customers.
News
Intel Foundry and ASML say High NA EUV is in high-volume use
Intel Foundry and ASML said High NA EUV lithography is already in high-volume production at Intel Foundry, with over one million wafers processed and use on select layers of Panther Lake chips.
Intel commits EUR 5 billion to expand Intel 3 capacity for Xeon 6
Intel announced a 5 billion euro investment to expand manufacturing capacity on Intel 3, which will increase production of Xeon 6 and next-generation Xeon processors.
Intel says 18A-P has entered risk production, with 9% higher performance at equal power
At the VLSI Symposium on June 16, 2026, Intel Foundry said 18A-P, the first performance enhancement of the 18A family, has entered risk production on the timeline it gave customers in 2025.
Intel unveils Xeon 6+ Clearwater Forest, its first 18A server CPU
Intel introduced Xeon 6+ (Clearwater Forest) at Mobile World Congress, its first server processor built on 18A.
Intel unveils Panther Lake, its first Core Ultra chips built on 18A
Intel launched Core Ultra Series 3 (codename Panther Lake) at CES, the first client processors made on its 18A process.