The Ryzen Z2, the highly anticipated successor to the Ryzen Z1, has been confirmed to be in the works and is expected to hit the market in the early part of 2025. This new semi-custom chip from AMD is set to bring significant improvements and advancements to the handheld gaming PC market. With the rise of handheld gaming devices like the Asus ROG Ally, Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and the Steam Deck, the processor that powers these devices plays a crucial role in performance and overall user experience.
The Ryzen Z1, which powers devices such as the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, is set to be replaced by the Ryzen Z2. While the Ryzen Z1 has been a popular choice for handheld gaming PCs, the upcoming Ryzen Z2 is expected to offer enhanced features and performance. With the potential for up to 43% better graphics performance compared to the Z1 Extreme, the Ryzen Z2 could revolutionize the handheld gaming PC market.
There has been speculation about what APU the Ryzen Z2 will be based on, with many predicting the use of the Strix Point architecture. The Strix Point architecture, also known as Ryzen AI 300, offers significant improvements over the previous generation, with more CPU cores and enhanced GPU performance. If the Ryzen Z2 leverages the Strix Point design, it has the potential to be a game-changer in the handheld gaming PC industry.
While AMD is optimistic about the Ryzen Z2’s success, there are challenges that lie ahead. Semi-custom chips like the Ryzen Z2 tend to be more expensive than off-the-shelf options, which could deter smaller vendors from adopting them. Additionally, the competition from Intel’s Lunar Lake chips poses a potential threat to AMD’s dominance in the handheld gaming PC market. If Intel’s Lunar Lake chips outperform the Ryzen Z2, it could sway handheld vendors to choose Intel over AMD.
As we look ahead to the future of handheld gaming PCs in 2025, the Ryzen Z2 promises to bring groundbreaking advancements to the market. With the potential for improved graphics performance, enhanced CPU cores, and increased GPU capabilities, the Ryzen Z2 could define the next generation of handheld gaming devices. However, with competition from Intel’s Lunar Lake chips and the evolving landscape of the PC industry, the Ryzen Z2 faces challenges in establishing itself as the go-to processor for handheld gaming PCs. It will be exciting to see how the Ryzen Z2 and Intel’s Lunar Lake chips shape the future of handheld gaming in the coming years.