AMD's Ryzen AI 400 Series Reportedly Launching January 22, 2026, Five Days Before Intel's Panther Lake

AMD's next-generation mobile platform appears set for an early 2026 release, with a retail listing in China revealing a specific launch date of January 22. The listing, discovered on Asus's official JD.com storefront, shows a new Lingyao 16 Air laptop powered by a Ryzen AI 7 445 processor, marking the first time we have seen concrete retail details for the so-called "Gorgon Point" refresh.

The Leaked Hardware

The JD.com product page, which was briefly live before being pulled, detailed a sleek ultrabook configuration. The Asus Lingyao 16 Air is slated to feature:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 7 445
• Memory: 32 GB
• Storage: 1 TB
• Display: 14-inch 2.8K OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1,100 nits peak brightness
• Chassis: Magnesium-aluminum alloy, weighing just 990 grams

A second leak from Chinese X user @realVictor_M corroborated the date with marketing material for an Asus adol 14 Air 2026, featuring the exact same SoC and January 22 release window.

Technical Analysis: A Deviation from the Norm

The processor listed, the Ryzen AI 7 445, represents a significant deviation from AMD's traditional naming conventions. Despite carrying the "Ryzen 7" branding, this is the first SKU in that tier to utilize a 6-core, 12-thread configuration rather than the standard 8-core layout.

Key Specifications for Ryzen AI 7 445:

• Cores/Threads: 6C / 12T
• Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz
• L3 Cache: 14 MB (Reduced)
• Integrated Graphics: 4 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units
• AI Performance: Up to 50 TOPS via the XDNA 2 NPU

This configuration suggests AMD is targeting the efficiency and thermal constraints of ultra-thin laptops. By reducing core counts and cache (14 MB L3 is notably lower than previous 8-core mobile parts), AMD likely aims to hit aggressive power targets while maintaining high boost clocks for burst performance. The inclusion of RDNA 3.5 graphics, rather than the newer RDNA 4 architecture seen in discrete GPUs, confirms that "Gorgon Point" is indeed a refresh of the existing Zen 5 architecture rather than a ground-up redesign.

Strategic Timing: The Intel Factor

The January 22 launch date is strategically significant. Intel has publicly targeted a January 27 release for its next-generation Panther Lake laptops. By launching five days earlier, AMD secures the initial headlines and retail availability for the 2026 back-to-school season.

This move prevents a direct "day-one" showdown. Intel is expected to make a massive marketing push for Panther Lake, which represents a new architecture and process node for the company. AMD, by launching the Ryzen AI 400 series (essentially a refined Ryzen AI 300), aims to capture market share with a mature platform before Intel's new hardware hits the shelves.

Desktop Implications

The Ryzen AI 400 series isn't limited to laptops. AMD is also preparing to bring this silicon to the desktop market, where it will replace the aging Ryzen 9000G series. This transition is notable because it marks the first time an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) will be integrated into a desktop Ryzen processor, bringing dedicated AI acceleration to mainstream desktop builds.

Currently, Intel has not announced new desktop processors for 2026, leaving the integrated graphics and AI desktop market largely to AMD for the time being.

Market Context

The leak highlights a shift in how AMD is segmenting its product stack. The Ryzen AI 7 445's 6-core configuration indicates a focus on the premium ultraportable market, where thermal efficiency often trumps raw multi-core throughput. It remains to be seen how consumers will react to a Ryzen 7 branded chip with fewer cores than previous generations, but the trade-off for better battery life and thermals in a 990g chassis is likely the intended value proposition.

Asus is clearly leading the charge for the initial wave of hardware, with two distinct 14-inch Air models appearing in leaks. Expect other major OEMs like Lenovo, HP, and Dell to follow suit with their own Gorgon Point announcements shortly after the January 22 debut.

Source: JD.com (via @realVictor_M)