Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
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Intel Announces 8th-Generation Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake Processors Suitable for MacBook and MacBook Air
Intel this afternoon officially debuted its new eighth-generation U-series "Whiskey Lake" and Y-series "Amber Lake" chips, which are designed for use in thin, light notebooks like the MacBook and the MacBook Air.
The new "Amber Lake" Y-series processors, which include the i7-8500Y, i5-8200Y, and the m3-8100Y, are successors to the current chips that Apple uses in the 12-inch MacBook lineup. Apple is working on updated 12-inch MacBook models set to come out this fall that could use the new Amber Lake processors.
Intel's new 15W U-series "Whiskey Lake" chips, which include the i7-8565U, i5-8265U, and i3-8145U, would be appropriate for a refreshed MacBook Air, and rumors have suggested that such a machine is perhaps in the works.
While details haven't been entirely clear, Apple is working on a followup to the MacBook Air that features a 13-inch Retina display, and if this machine uses chips similar to the chips that MacBook Air models have used for years, the new Whiskey Lake chips are suitable.
According to Intel, its new Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake chips "raise the bar for connectivity, performance, entertainment, and productivity." The U-series chips introduce support for integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi for up to 12-times faster connectivity speeds, support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 transfer speeds, and built-in support for voice services like Alexa and Cortana.
Intel says that compared to a 5-year-old PC, the new U-series processors offer two times better performance and double-digit gains in office productivity for everyday web browsing and content creation over previous-generation chips.
The high-end Intel Core i7 8565U processor enables Intel Thermal Velocity Boost for additional single core performance, while all the U-series chips offer 16 PCIe lanes, up from 12.
Using these new chips, 2 in 1 machines can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, while power optimized systems can last as long as 19 hours. Intel says "many systems" using the U-series chips will offer over 10 hours of battery life.
Intel's Y-series chips offer faster Wi-Fi and LTE capabilities and double-digit gains in performance compared to the previous-generation, enabling new, compact notebook designs with better battery life. The chips offer Gen 3 PCIe support for higher data transfer rates, along with NVMe PCIe x4 solid state drives.
Both the new Y-series and U-series chips are considered 8th-Generation, a designation that also includes Intel's previously-announced Kaby Lake Refresh processors.
Intel says that laptops and 2 in 1s powered by the new chips will be available starting this fall.
The new "Amber Lake" Y-series processors, which include the i7-8500Y, i5-8200Y, and the m3-8100Y, are successors to the current chips that Apple uses in the 12-inch MacBook lineup. Apple is working on updated 12-inch MacBook models set to come out this fall that could use the new Amber Lake processors.
Intel's new 15W U-series "Whiskey Lake" chips, which include the i7-8565U, i5-8265U, and i3-8145U, would be appropriate for a refreshed MacBook Air, and rumors have suggested that such a machine is perhaps in the works.
While details haven't been entirely clear, Apple is working on a followup to the MacBook Air that features a 13-inch Retina display, and if this machine uses chips similar to the chips that MacBook Air models have used for years, the new Whiskey Lake chips are suitable.
According to Intel, its new Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake chips "raise the bar for connectivity, performance, entertainment, and productivity." The U-series chips introduce support for integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi for up to 12-times faster connectivity speeds, support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 transfer speeds, and built-in support for voice services like Alexa and Cortana.
Intel says that compared to a 5-year-old PC, the new U-series processors offer two times better performance and double-digit gains in office productivity for everyday web browsing and content creation over previous-generation chips.
The high-end Intel Core i7 8565U processor enables Intel Thermal Velocity Boost for additional single core performance, while all the U-series chips offer 16 PCIe lanes, up from 12.
Using these new chips, 2 in 1 machines can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, while power optimized systems can last as long as 19 hours. Intel says "many systems" using the U-series chips will offer over 10 hours of battery life.
Intel's Y-series chips offer faster Wi-Fi and LTE capabilities and double-digit gains in performance compared to the previous-generation, enabling new, compact notebook designs with better battery life. The chips offer Gen 3 PCIe support for higher data transfer rates, along with NVMe PCIe x4 solid state drives.
Both the new Y-series and U-series chips are considered 8th-Generation, a designation that also includes Intel's previously-announced Kaby Lake Refresh processors.
Intel says that laptops and 2 in 1s powered by the new chips will be available starting this fall.
Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Tag: Intel
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Air (Buy Now), MacBook (Don't Buy)
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Top Rated Comments
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14 months ago
"compared to a 5-year-old PC". Why would you compare a new system to one from 5 years ago!? Shouldn't it be compared to the processors it's replacing?
Compared to the laptops that were available when I was in high school, my current MBP is a million times faster!
Compared to the laptops that were available when I was in high school, my current MBP is a million times faster!
14 months ago
You gotta love Intel's naming scheme for their CPUs.
Here's our new architecture - we're going to shoot for the sky! Lets call it Sky Lake.
Uh, oh, our 10nm shrink is delayed - the boss is getting crabby. Lets call a minor revision Kaby Lake.
Oh no - 10nm isn't working - bring on the coffee so everyone can work 80 hour weeks. Lets "rearrange the deck chairs" and call it Coffee Lake.
10nm is DOA - time to start drinking. Lets call this minor change Whiskey Lake.
14 months ago
Intel really needs to re-think their marketing. A girl in University or a lecture room is gaming when she should be focused on the work/lecture at hand? This is a reason to upgrade?
14 months ago
Intel says that compared to a 5-year-old PC, the new U-series processors offer two times better performance
WTF Intel? This is pathetic.
14 months ago
14nm still? No buy until node shrink.
I love people like this... After years of process improvements as a means to an end, the market now sees the process as an end in itself. "I don't care if it's faster, cheaper and lower power, I won't be seen in public with gates that wide! It would be embarrassing!"
14 months ago
Remember when Whiskey Lake was a joke on the Waiting for Skylake MBP thread. It is now real.
14 months ago
"compared to a 5-year-old PC". Why would you compare a new system to one from 5 years ago!? Shouldn't it be compared to the processors it's replacing?
Compared to the laptops that were available when I was in high school, my current MBP is a million times faster!
Because 5 years is the average replacement cycle for PCs.
[ Read All Comments ]
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