Intel Arrow Lake‑S Refresh: Clock Speed Bump Coming Early 2026 to Plug Desktop Gaps

Intel has confirmed that the Arrow Lake‑S Refresh will launch in early 2026, bringing modest clock speed increases and additional E-cores to select models while keeping the same LGA1851 socket and architecture. The company admits the refresh is meant to “fill holes” in its desktop lineup until the true next‑gen Nova Lake arrives later that year.

What Arrow Lake Refresh Actually Is

• Launch window: Q1–Q2 2026 (CES 2026 announcement likely)
• Socket: LGA 1851 – no board upgrade required for existing 800‑series motherboards
• Core architecture: Same Arrow Lake P‑cores and E‑cores; no redesign
• Focus: Higher boost clocks, refined power limits, and additional E‑cores on “Plus” models
• SKUs: Only unlocked K and KF variants expected to receive updates

Intel executives have stated the refresh will help stabilize the desktop portfolio while the company prepares Nova Lake for a late‑2026 launch. The move acknowledges that Arrow Lake’s first generation “did not meet expectations” and left performance gaps versus AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series.

Leaked SKUs: Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus

Two flagship models have already surfaced in Geekbench results:

The 270K Plus scores roughly 10% faster in multi‑core than the 265K despite the same boost clock, thanks to four additional E‑cores and 6 MB more L3 cache. Clock speed bumps for the 290K Plus remain unconfirmed but are expected to be modest.

No NPU Upgrade – Copilot+ Still Out of Reach

The Arrow Lake Refresh NPU will stay capped at 13 TOPS, well below the 40 TOPS required for Microsoft Copilot+ certification. That means desktop users will miss out on on‑device AI features until Nova Lake arrives with a more capable NPU. Intel is clearly prioritizing mobile (Lunar Lake, Panther Lake) for AI workloads.

What’s Missing – Core Count on Flagship May Not Change

Early rumors suggested the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus might jump to 24 cores, but Intel's own statements and recent leaks indicate the refresh is primarily a frequency tweak for flagship models. The "Plus" suffix appears to denote higher clocks on existing core counts, while mid-range SKUs like the 270K Plus do gain additional E-cores.

The Competition Problem – Facing Zen 5 and Zen 6

By the time Arrow Lake Refresh ships, AMD will have Zen 5 X3D parts on shelves and will be previewing Zen 6 desktop chips. A modest clock bump alone won’t close the gaming performance gap, especially against X3D’s massive cache advantage. Intel is essentially buying time until Nova Lake can deliver a true architectural leap.

When Nova Lake Arrives – Late 2026 Into 2027

Nova Lake will be Intel’s first 18A-based desktop CPU, sporting a new LGA1954 socket and up to 52 cores (16P+32E+4LP-E) on flagship SKUs. It will launch in late 2026, with mainstream variants ramping through 2027. AMD’s Zen 6 is also expected around late 2026, setting up a direct head-to-head battle for the performance crown.

Bottom Line – Who Should Buy Arrow Lake Refresh?

Consider it if:

• You’re already on LGA1851 and need a modest boost for content creation
• You missed the initial Arrow Lake launch and want the refined “Plus” variant

Skip it if:

• You want a meaningful gaming upgrade—wait for Zen 5 X3D or Nova Lake
• You need Copilot+ AI features—Arrow Lake Refresh doesn’t qualify

Arrow Lake Refresh is a stop-gap, not a game-changer. Intel is transparent about its role: plug the desktop portfolio holes, keep OEMs supplied, and hold the line until Nova Lake can truly compete. For most builders, patience will be the better strategy.

All details are based on Intel statements, Geekbench leaks and industry reporting as of November 2025. Specifications and release dates are subject to change.