Intel adds U and Y series to 8th gen family

Intel is releasing additions to the 8th Gen Intel Core processor family, the U-series (formerly codenamed Whiskey Lake) and Y-series (formerly code-named Amber Lake).

The Y series processors are designed for use in thin, light laptops and 2-in-1s, while also aiming to provide mobile performance and long battery life.

"The new 8th Gen Intel Core processors extend once again our leadership in delivering exceptional performance," says Intel mobile client platform general manager and client computing group vice president Chris Walker.

"Now with Gigabit Wi-Fi, we've enabled faster PC connectivity, added more intuitive voice experiences and enabled longer battery life needed for the next wave of mobile computing.

U-series processors bring integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi to thin and light mainstream laptops for the first time, delivering up to 12x faster connectivity speeds.

They also offer up to 2x better performance, compared to a 5-year-old PC, and double-digit gains in office productivity for everyday web browsing and light content creation over the previous generation.

Y-series processors also deliver fast connectivity options, including fast Wi-Fi and LTE capabilities, to the some of the thinnest and lightest laptops and 2-in-1s in the market with double-digit gains in performance compared to the previous generation.

Both the U-series and Y-series processors have new and improved platform capabilities for more intelligent interactions with PCs, such as support for multiple voice services on the U-series and refinements to improve natural input options like touch and stylus for the Y-series.

Devices with the U-series processor can also support Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Intel's 8th generation processors are the i3, i5 and i7 which were first announced in the first quarter of 2017.

Despite some security issues that were widely publicised earlier this month, Intel has resolved the problems and the chips have been integrated into many new tablet and laptop offerings.

Microsoft's Surface Go and Lenovo's ThinkPad P1 offerings have both made use of Intel processors and both boast thinness and lightness as key features.

The Surface is focused on the price-sensitive market, a 10-inch device weighing in at just under 500 grams with a thickness of 8.3mm.

The ThinkPad is a mobile workstation with the dimensions 61.8mm width x 245.7mm depth x 18.4mm height and weight starting at 1.7kg.