Leak Confirmed: Intel's 'Arrow Lake-S Refresh' Hits Listings with Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and 270K Plus

Core counts and clock speeds for Intel's upcoming desktop CPUs have surfaced, confirming the "Plus" refresh models are ready to launch in early 2026.

The "Plus" line marks Intel's measured response to maintain competitiveness in the high-end desktop market, offering subtle but strategic improvements over the original Arrow Lake-S lineup.

Core Ultra 9 290K Plus: Incremental Power Boost

The flagship of the refresh, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, appears to be a direct replacement for the existing Ultra 9 285K model. Intel is sticking with the tried-and-true core configuration but is dialing up the clock speeds:

• Core Configuration: The processor retains the powerful 8 P-cores+16 E-cores (Performance + Efficiency) hybrid arrangement.
• Frequency Bump: The 290K Plus receives a small but noticeable update with a 100 MHz higher P-core maximum frequency.
• Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB): The processor's top speed via TVB is set to reach 5.8 GHz, a minor lift that should deliver an edge in single-threaded tasks.
• Memory Support: Official support for DDR5-7200 memory remains consistent with its predecessor.

The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus seems aimed at users seeking marginal gains without requiring a radical architectural change.

Core Ultra 7 270K Plus: The Core Count Upgrade

The mid-to-high-end Core Ultra 7 270K Plus represents a more significant architectural adjustment within the refresh family.

• Expanded E-Cores: Unlike the flagship, the 270K Plus sees a four-core increase in its E-core count compared to the 265K model.
• Total Cores: This brings the total core count for the Core Ultra 7 SKU up to 24 cores (likely 8 P-cores+16 E-cores or similar, depending on the base configuration of the 265K).
• Multi-Threaded Gain: This E-core expansion is designed to provide substantial performance benefits in multi-threaded workloads, potentially making the 270K Plus a highly attractive option for productivity and gaming multitaskers.

Launch Window and Pricing Expectations

While the retailer listings displayed a placeholder of "In Stock, Call for Price," suggesting that final pricing has not been determined or publicly shared, industry analysts expect Intel to keep the "Plus" refresh models within a similar pricing structure to the current series. This strategy would allow the company to offer better performance without majorly disrupting its existing price tiers.

The official unveiling of the Core Ultra 200S Plus "Arrow Lake" Refresh family is anticipated to take place at CES 2026, which is scheduled to run from January 6–9, 2026. This launch timing positions the new CPUs perfectly to compete in the early 2026 PC hardware market.

The Arrow Lake-S Refresh is shaping up to be a targeted performance injection rather than a complete overhaul, with the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus providing the most notable core count increase.