Intel says its affordable laptop chips are sold out amid persistent memory shortage
Intel executives stated during an earnings call that their budget-focused Wildcat Lake chips are sold out due to high demand, while warning that memory shortages will persist through 2027.
During Intel's third-quarter earnings call on October 29, Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner confirmed that the company's budget-focused Wildcat Lake processors are now "sold out." CEO Lip-Bu Tan added that demand for these chips is "outstripping supply," attributing this to their cost-optimized design which has become increasingly relevant in the current market.
Zinsner also issued a stark warning regarding the supply chain outlook, stating, "Make no mistake, we are not optimistic about next year in terms of memory." He projected that the shortage would not improve in 2027, a view that, while more optimistic than SK Hynix's prediction of shortages lasting until 2030, still indicates prolonged pressure on the PC industry.
Tan acknowledged that the industry is navigating one of the most significant supply shortages in history, driven by unprecedented demand for AI computing power. Despite these headwinds, Zinsner maintained that the PC market would undergo a "renaissance," though lower-cost laptops may continue to face performance compromises due to constrained memory availability.