Intel Arrow Lake Refresh: Unveiling the Future of Team Blue’s Desktop CPUs

Intel’s Arrow Lake CPU series hasn’t seen much success in the market. However, there’s a buzz about a refresh in the works. Dubbed the Arrow Lake Refresh “Core Ultra 200S Plus” lineup, this is set to be Intel’s next major push in the desktop CPU arena. Following the approach of the Raptor Lake Refresh models, it aims to offer higher clock speeds with minimal changes in core configurations.

Intel’s Arrow Lake “Refresh” Lineup: The Intent

Intel’s Core Ultra 200 series has faced criticism, particularly when compared to AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series. Initial performance results fell short of expectations, prompting Intel to release new microcode updates. Unfortunately, AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D quickly became a favorite among gamers. The Arrow Lake “Refresh” isn’t likely to offer a major performance leap, but a smoother launch might enhance its market performance compared to its predecessor. Previous refresh models, like the 13th and 14th Gen releases, have shown that even minor updates can appeal to consumers.

This refresh acts as a transitional phase before Intel’s big release: the Nova Lake-S lineup, which promises significant upgrades. The ARL-Refresh serves more as a ‘placeholder’, setting the stage for the advanced Nova Lake CPUs.

Intel’s Arrow Lake “Refresh” Lineup: Three SKUs Revealed For Now, Including Core Ultra 9, Ultra 7, And Ultra 5 Models

The Core Ultra 200S Plus lineup introduces the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, following the Core Ultra 9 285K. It retains 24 cores and 24 threads but boosts its clock speeds, featuring a 100 MHz higher Max P-Core frequency and up to 5.8 GHz Thermal Velocity Boost. Meanwhile, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus comes with an enhanced core count. It includes four more E-cores, bringing the total to 24 (8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores), making it an attractive choice over the Arrow Lake variant.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Sold Out In a Flash In Japan & Out of Stock In US Too, Retailers Confirm Supply Is Low 1

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in the Arrow Lake Refresh adds four more E-cores and a 100 MHz increase in Max P-core frequency, making it an 18-core CPU. These models are targeted towards mainstream consumers, with improved E-core counts enhancing gaming performance. Additionally, the Arrow Lake Refresh lineup will support better memory, officially accommodating 7200 MT/s, an 800 MT/s improvement over current models, pushing DDR5 memory further.

Intel’s Arrow Lake “Refresh”: A Look at Launch Timeline & Rumored Prices

Set for a grand unveiling at CES 2026, Intel’s Core Ultra 200S Plus lineup will debut alongside the powerful Panther Lake. Pricing details remain undisclosed, but expectations suggest they will align closely with ARL counterparts. The additional E-cores in the Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 5 models might justify a higher price point, although Intel may choose to keep prices steady to stay competitive.