AMD's Z2 Extreme processor will upgrade handheld PC gaming early next year

Something to look forward to: Windows-based competitors to Valve's Steam Deck will likely receive revisions with substantial performance improvements starting next year. Although the final specifications for the chips powering them remain unclear, they will likely be based on AMD's Zen 5 Strix Point architecture, which might provide a significant upgrade according to early benchmarks.

In a joint Q&A session at IFA 2024, AMD and Microsoft confirmed to Digital Trends that they expect the Z2 Extreme APU to debut early next year. As the successor to the Z1 Extreme that powers the Asus ROG Ally, the chip could inaugurate a new generation of handheld gaming PCs.

Since Valve's Steam Deck launched in 2022, most major gaming PC OEMs have unveiled competing handhelds. Aside from the MSI Claw powered by Intel, all variants run on AMD's mobile Zen 4 Ryzen 7000 or 8000 SoCs, codenamed Phoenix and Hawk Point, with the 780M GPU.

Team Red didn't specify which chips comprise the Z2 Extreme, but the recently revealed Zen 5 Ryzen AI 300 series, codenamed Strix Point, is the most likely candidate. Benchmarks indicate that the Strix Point 890M graphics chip can improve gaming performance considerably, running titles like Doom Eternal, God of War, or Red Dead Redemption 2 at acceptable framerates without dipping into low settings.

The GPD Pocket 4 is currently the only confirmed Strix Point handheld PC. However, AMD and Microsoft said they are working with several hardware partners on the Z2 Extreme. Thus, it would be unsurprising if an Asus ROG Ally 2 emerged next year.

Improving battery life is one of AMD's primary goals. Senior Vice President and General Manager of Computing and Graphics Jack Huynh expects the Z2 handheld to play Black Myth Wukong for three hours on a single charge. The company also aims to focus on AI, likely utilizing NPUs for upscaling to increase performance further.

The Hawk Point chips closely resemble Pheonix but added an XDNA NPU capable of a modest 16 TOPs. Recently unveiled Strix Point chips increase that number to 50. Additionally, MSI plans to release a successor to the Claw based on Intel's Lunar Lake series, which boasts similar NPU performance.

Handheld PCs using the Z2 Extreme would likely launch around the same time as the successor to the Nintendo Switch. The expanding handheld competition between PC and consoles could enter a new generation by next year.