By Emma Reynolds 
Have you ever found yourself staring at a list of Intel’s CPUs and feeling completely lost? You’re not alone. The tech giant’s CPU branding has always been a point of confusion for many consumers, but with the recent release of new CPUs, it’s become even more convoluted. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the history of Intel’s CPU branding and the changes that have been made, as well as how it has affected consumers.
First, let’s take a look at the origin of Intel’s CPU branding. In the early 2000s, Intel introduced the “Centrino” branding for its mobile processors. This was a way for consumers to easily identify which processors were designed for laptops. However, this simplified branding soon became more complex as Intel began to release different variations of the Centrino brand, such as Centrino Pro and Centrino Duo.
Fast forward to 2008, and Intel introduced the “Core” branding, which was meant to encompass all of its processors, from desktop to mobile. This was an attempt to simplify the branding and make it easier for consumers to understand the different processor options available. However, the inclusion of different suffixes, such as Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7, still left many consumers confused about the differences between them.
In 2017, Intel added another layer to its branding with the introduction of the “X-Series” CPUs, which were meant for high-end desktops. This also brought about the confusing naming scheme of Core i9 processors, which were originally released as part of the X-Series but have since been included in other categories as well.
Now, with the recent release of Intel’s 11th generation processors, we’ve seen even more changes to the branding. The introduction of “Tiger Lake” processors for laptops has added another level of complexity, with processors being labeled as Core i3, i5, and i7, but each with different code names and architectures.
So, how have these changes affected consumers? The confusion surrounding Intel’s CPU branding has led to uncertainty about which processor is the best choice for their needs. This has created an opportunity for competitors like AMD to step in with their own simplified branding and attract customers who are looking for a clear understanding of what they’re purchasing.
Additionally, the constant changes and additions to the branding make it difficult for consumers to keep up and understand the differences between each processor. This has led to a lack of trust in Intel’s branding and has caused frustration among those trying to make informed purchasing decisions.
In conclusion, Intel’s CPU branding has become a source of confusion for consumers. The constant changes and additions have made it difficult to understand the differences between each processor, and this has led to mixed reactions and a sense of mistrust among consumers. It remains to be seen if Intel will make any changes to simplify their branding in the future, but for now, it’s up to consumers to do their research and have a clear understanding of what they’re buying.