Intel’s long-awaited 18A process node is once again making headlines – and not entirely for the reasons fans had hoped. According to fresh reports from Hankyung citing internal sources, full-scale high-volume manufacturing (HVM) of the 18A chips might not arrive until 2026. 
The culprit? Yield rates hovering around 55%–65%, which make large-scale production economically impractical right now.
Originally, Intel planned to roll out its first 18A-based consumer product, the “Panther Lake” laptop CPU, toward the end of 2025, followed by courting external foundry clients. However, insiders suggest the company has quietly aligned its roadmap so that meaningful production only ramps up in early 2026. In other words, the so-called delay may simply be a shift toward a more realistic target – one Intel had internally in mind all along.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan appears determined not to repeat past mistakes, where Intel rushed products with poor yields into mass production, leading to operating losses and underwhelming performance. This time, the goal is to meet higher yield thresholds before going all-in, positioning Intel to better compete against TSMC and others in the foundry business. In a market still shaken by political and economic instability, the strategy could help safeguard shareholder value and long-term competitiveness.
Still, the uncertainty surrounding Intel’s foundry ambitions leaves room for skepticism. Some enthusiasts see this as yet another chapter in a history of overpromising and underdelivering. Others, however, view it as a smart pivot toward quality over speed – a painful but potentially rewarding decision that could mark a turning point for Team Blue’s manufacturing future.