CES 2025 hasn’t even kicked off but, however because of AMD, we’re already getting a glimpse of what’s to come back: the subsequent 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 season.
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 troublesome for the reason that design limitations of handhelds can drastically have an effect on efficiency.)
The Z2 isn’t only a singular chip, however as an alternative a lineup of choices that each one use Radeon RDNA graphics and Ryzen CPU cores — although the main points fluctuate wildly. There’s the usual Z2 with RDNA 3 graphics cores, but in addition a Ryzen Z2 Go together with fewer CPU cores, older RDNA 2 graphics, and (a lot) decrease clock speeds. The Z2 Go will probably be unique to Lenovo’s SteamOS-powered Legion Go S. In the meantime, the high-end Ryzen Z2 Excessive gives 33 p.c extra Radeon graphics cores, they usually’re essentially the most potent as effectively, using RDNA 3.5 tech. Will Smith goes over all the main points within the brief explainer video above.
Of notice, 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 form of handhelds these chips may seem in, they usually’re heavy hitters: the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo’s Legion Go, and — await it — Valve’s Steam Deck. Don’t get too excited by that seeming revelation although: “There is and will be no Z2 Steam Deck,” Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais mentioned on Bluesky. “Guessing the slide was meant to say the series is meant for products like that, not announcing anything specific.”
The await 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 notice: This text initially revealed on January 6, however was up to date to incorporate our Z2 chip explainer video.
