The ‘most efficient family of x86 processors ever’ has launched; here’s the best place to buy Intel’s groundbreaking new laptops

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What you need to know

  • Intel announced its Core Ultra Series 2 “Lunar Lake” mobile processors on September 3, 2024.
  • The first laptops with the next-gen chips, including the ASUS Zenbook S 14 we tested, are now on sale.
  • Best Buy has dedicated a full page for the Lunar Lake launch, with six laptops from ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung.
  • My Best Buy membership holders can land extra perks like free two-day shipping, extended return windows, extra tech support, and more.

As a seasoned tech analyst with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 2 “Lunar Lake” mobile processors have piqued my interest. Having witnessed the evolution of computing power since the Pentium days, it’s fascinating to see Intel stepping up its game to directly compete with giants like Qualcomm and AMD.

Intel’s next-generation Lunar Lake mobile processors (CPUs) for Windows laptops are now available to purchase. The anticipated Core Ultra Series 2 chips were previously whispered about before the official Lunar Lake reveal on September 3, 2024 at IFA. However, it was during this event that Intel officially introduced them as “the most efficient family of x86 processors ever.

The latest innovation boasts enhanced efficiency, evidently aimed at challenging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X and AMD’s Ryzen AI 300. This upgrade brings about superior computing speed, increased Artificial Intelligence efficiency due to an expansion in TOPS for the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), and a significant boost in integrated graphics performance.

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Starting from November, Core Ultra Series 2 systems will gain access to Copilot+, which means you won’t be confined to the ARM64 platform when using Windows on ARM with Snapdragon X anymore.

Best Buy proudly displays the latest Intel laptops on their Lunar Lake launch page, complete with an eye-catching product overview and links to the Series 2 models currently in stock. One of these, the ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406), is being evaluated by Windows Central Editor Ben Wilson for a forthcoming review.

Best Buy is the place to go for new Intel Core Ultra Series 2 laptops

Instead of directly purchasing the new Core Ultra Series 2 laptops from their manufacturers’ sites, opting for Best Buy offers several advantages, particularly if you’re a subscriber to the premium tier of the My Best Buy membership program.

With a simple email sign-up, you can enjoy complimentary shipping. But for just $49.99 annually, My Best Buy Plus takes it up a notch by providing free two-day shipping. Additionally, you’ll have access to special member pricing in certain regions, deals typically unavailable to the public, and an extended 60-day return period.

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For regular shoppers at Best Buy, you may want to consider the My Best Buy Total plan, priced at around $179.99 annually. This plan includes all the benefits of the My Best Buy Plus program, in addition to enhanced protection plans, 24/7 technical assistance, priority customer support, and reduced repair costs for devices.

Take a peek at the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 Copilot+ notebooks, which are currently on sale at Best Buy. You’ll find models from brands such as ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung.

A look at Intel Core Ultra Series 2 mobile CPUs

Nine fresh Core Ultra Series 2 mobile processors have been introduced, each featuring eight cores and eight threads. The primary distinctions lie in the CPU base power, which is either 17 watts or 30 watts, along with variations in integrated GPU performance and CPU clock speed.

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The choice of chip depends on your specific workflow. While the Core Ultra 9 and Core Ultra 7 offer exceptional multitasking capabilities and stronger GPU performance at the cost of higher power consumption and a premium price, many users might find the Core Ultra 5 Series 2 chips sufficient for routine computing tasks.

As a tech analyst, I’ll share insights about the nine Core Ultra Series 2 mobile processors. Notably, each chip boasts eight cores and eight threads, while their maximum Thermal Design Power (TDP) stands at 37W – details I’ve chosen to exclude in the subsequent table for brevity.

Our hands-on experience with the ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406)

The editor at Windows Central, Ben Wilson, got the chance to try out and evaluate the performance of the ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406), and though the comprehensive review is yet to be completed, he shared his initial impressions of this high-end Copilot+ laptop.

The model he’s testing includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and a 14-inch OLED display with 3K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It’s shaping up to be an awesome AI PC, with performance and efficiency to compete with Qualcomm and AMD.

As a tech enthusiast, I’ve been taking a peek at some preliminary performance data gathered by Wilson, and let me tell you, it’s quite intriguing! It’s fascinating to see how this new laptop stacks up against others we’ve recently put through their paces.

The Core Ultra 7 258V finds itself in the mid-tier among the latest Lunar Lake processors, offering flexibility in terms of adjusting performance levels. Regarding battery life, here is Wilson’s take on it:

Cutting right to the chase: Yes, the “up to 20 hours of battery life” claim is entirely legitimate. I kept the Zenbook S 14 on the ‘Balanced’ power plan, as it comes out of the box, and left the brightness around a comfortable 40%, which feels like 150 nits, based on my history of testing laptops, but I’ll confirm an exact amount later. Running various battery life benchmark tests in PCMark 10 and performing my own by leaving a 24-hour 4K video streaming via YouTube, a Windows battery report estimates 15 hours and 26 minutes “based on all observed drains since OS install.”

Starting in November, Copilot+ will be available on Intel and AMD Ryzen AI 300 series laptops, providing Windows users with a wider range of AI-capable PC options than ever before. Stay tuned for Lunar Lake laptop reviews right here on Windows Central in the upcoming weeks.

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2024-09-25 18:09