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Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh and Core Ultra 5/7 250K‑Plus/270K‑Plus: Specs, Pricing, and Rumors

Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake Refresh is rumored to launch in March 2026. New Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus CPUs feature a 6‑P‑12‑E configuration, higher boost clocks, DDR5‑7200 support, and lower prices, while the rumored Core Ultra 9 290K Plus appears to be canceled. Get the full specs, price leak details, and strategic implications for Intel’s desktop lineup.
7 February 2026 by
TechStora Editorial Board

Overview of the Arrow Lake Refresh

Intel’s upcoming desktop‑focused Arrow Lake Refresh (ARL‑R) is slated for a 2026 launch, with a rumored target of March 2026 and a first‑batch embargo lifting on 23 March. The new family follows the same 6‑P‑12‑E core‑configuration as the previous 6‑P‑8‑E layout but adds several incremental upgrades.

Core Ultra 5 250K Plus – Specifications & Pricing

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is an upgrade over the Core Ultra 5 245K. It retains a 6‑P‑12‑E configuration while boosting the P‑core turbo from 5.2 GHz to 5.3 GHz. The chip now supports native DDR5‑7200 memory via CUDIMM. A leaked price places it at $245.92 (USD) at an undisclosed retailer.

Core Ultra 7 270K Plus – Specifications & Pricing

Similarly, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus inherits the 6‑P‑12‑E design and receives comparable clock‑speed bumps. Its leaked price is $357.12 (USD) at the same source.

Price Comparison with Current‑Gen SKUs

Both new SKUs are priced significantly lower than their predecessor’s launch‑price:

  • Core Ultra 7 265K – launched at $394 → 270K Plus at $357 (≈ ‑ 9 %).
  • Core Ultra 5 245K – launched at $319 → 250K Plus at $245.92 (≈ ‑ 23 %).
  • Core Ultra 5 245K‑F (no iGPU) – launched at $29.4 ? (likely $294) → 250K‑F at $227.38 (≈ ‑ 23 %).

Absence of a Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

The rumor‑driven rumors also note that a Core Ultra 9 290K Plus never appeared. According to Videocardz, the 285K‑core 24‑core SKU has been canceled because a 24‑core product would offer no meaningful improvement over the existing 24‑core product.

Implications for Intel’s Product Strategy

Unlike AMD’s recent 9850 X3D, which is essentially a clock‑speed‑only upgrade, Intel appears to avoid “product overlap” by canceling a high‑core‑count 9‑series SKU and focusing on modest performance‑boosted Core Ultra 5 and 7 SKUs. The strategy suggests a preference for price‑reduced, incremental upgrades rather than aggressive core‑count increases in the same product tier.