INTC · 10-K · 2025A · Full report
Process Technology Roadmap
INTEL CORP · 2026-01-23 · Importance 43 · Surprise 32
Intel's technology development group in Oregon designs and develops process nodes from conception to high-volume production and supports transitions to other high-volume manufacturing sites. Intel 7 remained the node utilized for the majority of internal processor production and by revenue in 2025 and is expected to be utilized for almost half of internal processor production and products by revenue in 2026. Intel 18A reached high-volume manufacturing in late 2025, is used for Intel Core Ultra Series 3, and is expected to represent an increasing portion of processor production in 2026; Intel 14A is in active development but Intel stated in 2025 it may pause or discontinue pursuit of 14A if it cannot secure a significant external foundry customer. Intel continues to use third-party foundries (including TSMC) for certain tiles and has a strategic collaboration with UMC for a 12 nm platform with production expected to begin in 2027.
Key facts
- Intel expects Intel 7 to be utilized for almost half of its internal processor production and products by revenue in 2026.
- Intel 18A, described as Intel's most advanced leading-edge node, first went into high-volume manufacturing in late 2025.
- Intel 18A introduces two industry firsts in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing: gate-all-around transistors (RibbonFET) and backside power delivery (PowerVia).
- Intel 18A delivers improvements in performance per watt and density scaling over Intel 3 and introduced RibbonFET and PowerVia technologies.
- Intel expects the percentage contribution of Intel 4 to internal processor production and products by revenue to decrease in 2026 as sales of processors using more advanced technologies increase.
- Intel 3 represented a modest portion of internal processor production and products by revenue in 2025 and its percentage contribution is expected to increase in 2026.
- Intel 7 was utilized for the majority of Intel's internal processor production and products by revenue in 2025.
- Intel 18A is utilized for Intel's first Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor and was expected to represent an increasing portion of processor production and products by revenue in 2026 and subsequent years.
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| revenue | unclear | probable | — | Intel expects Intel 7 to be utilized for almost half of its internal processor production and products by revenue in 2026. |
| margin | unclear | probable | — | Intel expects the percentage contribution of Intel 4 to internal processor production and products by revenue to decrease in 2026 as sales… |
| revenue | positive | probable | — | Intel 3 represented a modest portion of internal processor production and products by revenue in 2025 and its percentage contribution is… |
| revenue | positive | probable | — | Intel 18A is utilized for Intel's first Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor and was expected to represent an increasing portion of… |
| cash | unclear | contingent | — | In 2025 Intel announced that if it cannot secure a significant external foundry customer for Intel 14A, it may pause or discontinue… |