CES 2025 hasn’t even kicked off but, however because of AMD, we’re already getting a glimpse of what’s to return: the following era of PC gaming handhelds. AMD introduced that its hotly anticipated Ryzen Z2 processor is able to rock after first revealing the chip at Computex final summer time.
AMD’s preliminary Z1 chip powered a lot of the first wave of gaming handhelds, whereas Valve’s Steam Deck makes use of an in depth custom-made sibling. AMD says the Z2 can present “console-class” graphics that final for hours and hours, although it didn’t disclose any benchmarks or deeper efficiency context. (To be honest, that’s tough because the design limitations of handhelds can drastically have an effect on efficiency.)
The Z2 isn’t only a singular chip, however as a substitute a lineup of choices that every one use Radeon RDNA graphics and Ryzen CPU cores — although the main points range wildly. There’s the usual Z2 with RDNA 3 graphics cores, but additionally a Ryzen Z2 Go along with fewer CPU cores, older RDNA 2 graphics, and (a lot) decrease clock speeds. The Z2 Go will likely be unique to Lenovo’s SteamOS-powered Legion Go S. In the meantime, the high-end Ryzen Z2 Excessive gives 33 % extra Radeon graphics cores, and so they’re essentially the most potent as properly, using RDNA 3.5 tech. Will Smith goes over all the main points within the brief explainer video above.
Of be aware, final era’s Z1 was restricted to eight Radeon CUs, however this era’s base Ryzen Z2 chips match the Z1 Excessive’s beefier 12 Radeon CUs. Gaming handheld makers will be capable to decide which chip they use relying on the efficiency and worth level they’re focusing on.
AMD
Talking of, AMD’s slide included a trio of examples of the kind of handhelds these chips might seem in, and so they’re heavy hitters: the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo’s Legion Go, and — look forward to it — Valve’s Steam Deck. Don’t get too excited by that seeming revelation although: “There may be and will likely be no Z2 Steam Deck,” Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais mentioned on Bluesky. “Guessing the slide was meant to say the sequence is supposed for merchandise like that, not asserting something particular.”
The look forward to Steam Deck 2 continues, however search for AMD companions to announce a few of their different Ryzen Z2-powered handhelds at CES 2025, with wider availability coming later this quarter.
Editor’s be aware: This text initially printed on January 6, however was up to date to incorporate our Z2 chip explainer video.