Intel Replaces Iconic ‘i’ Branding For Processors After 15 Years In Major Change

For nearly two decades, Intel has been branding its processors with a recognizable ‘i’ label. Soon, that will be history, as the company has recently announced it will be moving on from its traditional naming system with the latest Meteor Lake generation of products.

Instead of the typical “i3/i5/i7/i9” names, the processors will be given simpler “Core 3/5/7/9” titles, which the firm said “better align to customer requests” to make differentiating its products less of a hassle. These changes will feature both on the items’ text and badges.

In addition, Intel’s higher-end processors will be marked with an ‘Ultra’ to distinguish them from the others. For example, a new top-of-the-line product could be named ‘Intel Core Ultra 9’, with generational information added to the end of the title for those who require more information.

While it’s still yet to be seen if the company’s new naming scheme will be confusing for veterans in the industry who have been accustomed to the current branding for 15 years, it’s certainly a significant change for the firm.

“Our client roadmap demonstrates how Intel is prioritizing innovation and technology leadership with products like Meteor Lake, focused on power efficiency and artificial intelligence (AI) at scale,” said Intel vice president Caitlin Anderson.

“To better align with our products strategies, we are introducing a branding structure that will help PC buyers better differentiate the best of our latest technology and our mainstream offerings,” she added.

[via Engadget and Tom’s Hardware, images via Intel Corporation]