AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU Set to Power Next-Gen Gaming Handhelds in Early 2025

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU has popped up online as the chip that will power next-gen gaming handhelds. This upcoming APU is slated to replace the Z1 Extreme bespoke SoC currently on products such as ASUS ROG Ally. AMD officially got twice the IPC benefit of Intel thanks to TSMC 3D V-Cache before even releasing any information regarding Zen 5, which is already powering its desktop and laptop lineups including the Ryzen 9000 and Ryzen AI 300 APUs. So, you can expect a Z2 Extreme APU built on Zen 5 later down the line.

The Upcoming AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme AP

A recent leak dug up in an NBD shipping manifest by @Olrak29_ lists the chip as “Z2X28W” and is assigned a device ID of “100-000001684.” The “Z2X” refers to the Z2 Extreme codename, and “28W” suggests the expected thermal design power (TDP) for the APU. In line with the rumors, Z2 Extreme should have a configurable TDP in the 9-30W range with a maximum TDP of 28W. Notably, AMD is actively preparing for the Z2 Extreme’s release.

A few weeks back AMD announced that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU would arrive in early 2025 as gaming handhelds are too expensive for the current Strix Point lineup and the upcoming Krackan Point is for regular mainstream laptops. Only a few mini-PCs using AMD’s Strix Point Ryzen AI 300 processors are known yet, and no gaming handheld based on Strix Point has been announced by any manufacturer.

Companies like MSI are opting for the Lunar Lake for their Claw 8 model, while ZOTAC is using a Zen 4 chip for its Gaming ZONE. The introduction of the Z2 Extreme could significantly reshape the gaming handheld market, providing a robust alternative to devices like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go.

The Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU is set to feature a 3+5 core configuration, incorporating 3 Zen 5 cores and 5 Zen 5c cores. It will support hyperthreading and boast a maximum cache of 16MB. The integrated GPU will be based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, equipped with 12 Compute Units, similar to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU. The Z2 Extreme is anticipated to enhance gaming performance in handhelds while also improving battery life, a focus highlighted by AMD’s Senior VP, Jack Hyunh.

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