Intel has recently made an important announcement regarding the rebranding of its processors. Starting with Meteor Lake CPUs, Intel’s consumer processors will now be known as Intel Core and Intel Core Ultra. The most significant change is the removal of the iconic “i” from the naming scheme.
Although the change may seem subtle on the surface, it reflects the evolving state of the industry and Intel’s role within it.
With the new naming convention, Intel’s branding seems to be borrowing elements from both AMD and Apple. Considering that Apple computers previously relied on Intel silicon but have since transitioned to their own M2 chips, including in the Mac Pro, it appears that Intel is losing ground in the competition. At the very least, Intel no longer believes its brand holds the same significance for the average consumer.
This new branding approach combines aspects of AMD (which may have originally drawn inspiration from Intel) and Apple. The 3/5/7/9 tiers, similar to AMD, remain unchanged. The generation is no longer mentioned, and the use of “Ultra” in the Intel Core Ultra name coincidentally aligns with Apple’s use of the term for their top chips. It remains to be seen how consumers will adapt to these changes, but Apple seems to be the brand retaining a more distinctive naming scheme.
Intel is also removing references to generation.
Under the new branding, Intel focuses on the “Core” element and eliminates the “i” in the processor tiers (e.g., i3 and i9). Consequently, a CPU that would have previously been identified as “Intel Core i5-14600K” will now be known as “Intel Core 5 14600K.”
The tiering structure of 3/5/7/9 remains the same, mirroring AMD Ryzen CPUs, but the distinctive “i” is now absent. However, Intel seeks to highlight the differentiation between its mainstream chips and the high-end segment.
Going forward, Intel’s future CPUs will fall under either the Intel Core family or the Intel Core Ultra family. There is some overlap between the two families, as both Core and Core Ultra offer tier 5 and 7 chips. The distinction can be confusing, but the general idea is that Core Ultra chips deliver premium performance. Intel has not provided specific details on how overclocking ties into this, but according to Tom’s Hardware, a chip does not need to belong to the current K-series to be branded as Intel Core Ultra.
Intel is also eliminating mentions of generation. Previously, CPUs were referred to as, for example, “Intel 13th Generation Core i9-13900K Processor.” Now, the generation can be determined solely by the numbers following the tier. This is not entirely new, though.
The company also suggests that the word “processor” should follow the processor number. Therefore, the full name of the next-gen CPU would be “Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 14700K.” However, it is likely that most people will omit the word “processor,” similar to how Intel dropped the “i.” As a result, references to the product are expected to be “Core Ultra 7 14700K” instead.
These changes do not apply retroactively, so the existing Raptor Lake (and older) chips will continue to use the old naming convention. However, it remains unclear how the new products will be named. Meteor Lake is anticipated for mobile devices first, and desktop users will likely only receive a Raptor Lake refresh.
Intel’s decision to alter its well-established branding is a bold move, and its necessity is debatable. It is interesting how small details can have a significant impact — without the “i,” Intel no longer stands out as prominently as before.
We predicted this change over a month ago, yet it still feels somewhat unfamiliar. The alterations will not render Intel’s products unrecognizable, but they do indicate the dawn of a new era in the realm of processors.
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Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.
