Intel’s upcoming Wildcat Lake processor family is set to reach store shelves in affordable notebooks that squarely target the sub-$1,000 segment, going head-to-head with Apple’s popular MacBook Neo. One of the first systems to offer the new silicon is the 2026 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15, which can be configured with a range of Wildcat CPUs spanning the Core 3 304, Core 5 215, Core i5 320, and the top-tier Core 7 350. Testing of the Core 7 350 variant, however, suggests the platform does little to meaningfully separate itself from Intel’s established U-series parts.
Performance and Graphics Fall Short of Expectations
In direct workload comparisons, the Core 7 350 lands roughly at the level of the older Core i7-1355U and manages only a 10 percent multi-threaded lead over the Core 7 150U. Graphics performance is a more pronounced weak point: the integrated Graphics 2 Xe3 solution trails the aging Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 96 execution units by a noticeable margin, reinforcing the impression that this generation prioritizes efficiency rather than raw throughput.
Efficiency Gains Emerge Under Load
The chip’s strongest argument is its improved performance-per-watt. When subjected to a sustained FurMark stress test on the Lenovo test unit, the Core 7 350 leveled off at an average power draw of just 20 W. That figure compares favorably against the 34 W measured on a Core 7 150U inside an MSI Cubi mini PC. Those efficiency gains come with a compromise, however, as the same Core 7 150U system still delivers up to 35 percent faster graphics performance in otherwise identical conditions.
Additional benchmarks and configuration details from the Wildcat Lake platform are available in the full review of the 2026 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15. Buyers weighing their options in this price bracket may also find a used Lunar Lake-V system a compelling alternative, as that architecture delivers considerably stronger performance while operating within similar power envelopes.