Intel is set to release its first laptops powered by the new Meteor Lake Core Ultra CPUs in the coming weeks. Retailers in the US have begun listing the MSI Prestige 16 and 13 models, giving us a first look at pricing and specifications.
The star of the show is Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H processor, part of the Meteor Lake family. It features a 6+8+2 architecture with 6 high-performance Redwood Cove cores, 8 energy-efficient Crestmont cores, and 2 additional E-cores on the SOC tile. Clock speeds can reach up to 3.8GHz base and 4.8GHz boost within the 28-35W TDP range. The CPU also provides 24MB of L3 cache.
For the MSI Prestige laptops, the base model with a Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, 16GB LPDDR5-6400 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, and integrated Arc graphics is priced starting at $1049. You get a 13.3″ QHD OLED display in a sleek 2.18 pound chassis with Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 7, and 65W USB-C charging.
Higher-end configs with the Core Ultra 7 155H and more storage will cost $1299 and $1649. Discrete GPUs are not offered since the Arc iGPU integrated into Meteor Lake is capable for most users, with ray tracing and DX12 support. Battery life is a focus too.
MSI will launch over 10 new models with Meteor Lake, spanning its Prestige, Stealth, and Creator lines. The Prestige AI EVO series will debut on December 14th, with retail availability on the 18th. Other manufacturers like Lenovo also have Meteor Lake laptops incoming soon.
The Core Ultra architecture is the main attraction here. The hybrid 6+8 design balances high performance and efficiency. Redwood Cove performance cores hit up to 4.8GHz, optimized for intensive workloads. Crestmont efficiency cores excel at lightweight threading.
Together with the updated Intel 7 process node and performance accelerating AI tech, Meteor Lake delivers substantial gains versus older 12th gen Alder Lake. The iGPU also impresses, trading blows with entry-level discrete GPUs so light gaming is feasible without sacrificing battery life.
Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 7, and DDR5 memory provide a modern I/O experience. Meteor Lake laptops like the MSI Prestige are shaping up to be an excellent combination of portability, battery life, and power. The $1049 starting price is very reasonable too.
While high-end discrete GPUs will come later, most users should be satisfied by Meteor Lake’s capabilities. The prospect of finally matching Apple’s M2 performance is enticing. As reviews hit, Intel seems poised to retake the mobile performance crown next month with an appealing overall package.