Intel’s New CPU Branding: Streamlining for Simplification or Confusion?
Intel’s announcement of new branding for its flagship processor lineups has raised eyebrows and questions alike. While the new branding structure aims to help buyers better differentiate Intel’s latest technology, concerns remain as to whether it will indeed simplify or confuse the purchasing experience.
Intel’s CPU Branding Over the Years
The Pentium Era
Intel’s processor lineup used to be all about the Pentiums, a branding legacy that began in the mid-90s. Pentium soon became an umbrella term for all processors manufactured by Intel, regardless of their microarchitecture, and remained a significant part of desktop and laptop CPUs until the mid-2000s.
The Core Era
Intel’s Core branding came to be in 2006, emphasizing Intel’s offer of multi-core processors. The Core branding has been the centerpiece of Intel CPU marketing ever since and has been in use for over a decade.
The AI Era and the New Branding Strategy
In response to the current AI craze, Intel plans to phase out the ‘i’ in their Core CPUs and introduce a new branding architecture that would help buyers differentiate and simplify the purchasing experience. The new CPU branding strategy will introduce the Intel Core and Intel Core Ultra brands.
The New Branding: What You Need to Know
The End of ‘i’?
Starting with the new Meteor Lake releases later this year, Intel CPU’s will officially be named either Core 3, 5, 7, 9 or Core Ultra variants thereof. The new branding will drop the ‘i’ in Core i3, i5, i7, and i9. The sub-brand labels like Intel Evo Edition laptops and vPro Enterprise and vPro Essentials devices will retain their current labels.
The ‘Intel Processor’ Brand Name
The Intel Processor will serve as the brand name for multiple processor families, helping to simplify the product purchase experience for consumers. Intel will continue to deliver the same products and benefits within segments. Intel’s current product offerings and Intel’s product roadmap will remain unchanged.
Introducing the Intel Core Ultra
The Intel Core Ultra brand will debut in the second half of 2023 and will differentiate the high-end enthusiast market and enterprise users while the vanilla Intel Core processors are more mainstream-facing chips. The Core Ultra series will be the highest tier of processors.
Pros and Cons of the New Branding Strategy
Pros:
The new branding structure aims to simplify the product purchase experience for consumers and help buyers differentiate Intel’s latest technology.
Cons:
The new branding structure may confuse some buyers as there will be both Intel Core 5 and Intel Core 7 processors, but also Intel Core Ultra 5 and Intel Core Ultra 7. Additionally, the difference between a Core and a Core Ultra processor might not be clear to most mainstream buyers, and it may not add clarity to purchasers looking to buy an individual Intel processor from Newegg.
Conclusion
The new Intel CPU branding strategy raises as many questions as it aims to answer. The decision to phase out the ‘i’ in their Core CPUs and introduce new CPU branding architecture may simplify or confuse the purchasing experience. Consumers may require additional guidance, not just from retailers, but from Intel as well.
FAQ
Q1. Will the new branding architecture impact the performance and quality of Intel processors?
No. The new branding architecture will not affect the performance and quality of the Intel processors. The products and benefits within the CPU segments will remain consistent across the new branding architecture
Q2. Will the new Intel CPU branding affect vPro and Intel Evo Edition Laptops’ performance?
No. The new branding architecture will not affect vPro and Intel Evo Edition Laptops’ performance. These devices will retain their current labels.
Q3. How will the new branding structure simplify the product purchase experience for consumers?
The new branding structure introduces the Intel Processor brand name for multiple processor families, helping to simplify the product purchase experience for buyers.
Q4. Will the new branding strategy clarify the difference between the Core and Core Ultra series?
The difference between Core and Core Ultra processors will be opaque to most mainstream buyers. It may not add clarity to buyers looking to buy from a particular retailer such as Newegg.
Q5. When will the Intel Core Ultra processors be available?
The Intel Core Ultra processors are set to debut in the second half of 2023.