Intel’s pivotal 18A process is making steady progress, but still lags behind — yields only set to reach industry standard levels in 2027

Intel’s management revealed during the company’s Q3 2025 earnings call that while its 18A fabrication process is progressing predictably, with usable yields, enabling the company to begin ramping production of the Core Ultra 300-series processors, codenamed Panther Lake. However, the ramp-up of 18A processors will be slow due to relatively low yields, and Intel will not expand available 18A capacity at a rapid pace. Currently, 18A’s yields are not yet comfortable from a commercial point of view.

“We are…