Intel officially launches Haswell processors, touts 15% performance, 50% battery life improvements

Intel has officially launched Haswell, its fourth-generation of core processors, promising a range of performance and specs across the board.

The firm says that the CPU cores can deliver a 15 percent improvement in performance, 50 percent more active battery life and three-times more time on standby compared to its Ivy Bridge products. It claims that some Haswell-based products will be capable of running for 9 hours, with 10-13 days possible on standby.

With the new launch, Intel is putting its focus on ‘2-in-1 devices’ which it says combine the best features from a notebook and tablet in one. The new processor has been redesigned ‘from the ground up’, placing specific focus on mobility and the ultrabook genre which “represents a seismic shift in the compute landscape.”

The company says that systems based on quad-core versions of Haswell are now available, with the first 2-in-1 ultrabooks, portable all-in-ones, laptops and desktops due this summer. Mobile devices running the processor are due “later this year”.

“Four generation Intel Core processors offer the most significant gain in battery life enabling ever achieved by Intel, up to double the graphics and significant CPU performance improvements that are delivering exciting new consumer experiences,” said Kirk Skaugen, Intel senior vice president and PC Client Group general manager.

Headline image via AFP / Getty Images