AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU Set for Early 2025 Release, Transforming Next-Gen Gaming Handhelds

AMD is preparing to revolutionize the gaming handheld market with the upcoming Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, scheduled for release in early 2025. Featuring a hybrid of Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 cores, this new chip is expected to deliver significant improvements in both performance and power efficiency for next-gen handheld gaming devices.

As handheld consoles currently offer only entry-level desktop performance, AMD aims to change the game by introducing a more powerful APU that enhances the overall user experience. According to reports from DigitalTrends, this next-gen APU will not only boost performance but also prioritize battery life, ensuring longer gaming sessions. Jack Huynh, Senior VP and General Manager of AMD’s Computing and Graphics division, expressed the company’s focus on enabling extended gameplay for titles like Black Myth: Wukong on handheld devices, targeting three-hour sessions for graphically intensive games.

The Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU will feature a combination of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, with early details suggesting an 8-core configuration, split between 3 Zen 5 and 5 Zen 5c cores. This hybrid approach is expected to offer both power efficiency and high performance. Additionally, a standard Ryzen Z2 APU is also anticipated, which is likely to be a rebranded version of AMD’s existing Ryzen 8040U "Hawk Point" APU.

Current gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally/X and Lenovo Legion Go, which are powered by the Z1 Extreme chip, will likely receive an upgrade to the Z2 Extreme in 2025. Other manufacturers, including Zotac and Antec, are also expected to introduce new handheld models utilizing the Z2 Extreme. These innovations will position AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU as a strong contender against Intel’s Lunar Lake-based handhelds, such as the MSI CLAW 8, which is also slated for a 2025 release.

The handheld gaming landscape is set for exciting advancements, with manufacturers competing to deliver faster, more efficient devices. While these next-gen handhelds may not yet rival mid-range and high-end desktop PCs, they will offer a much more powerful and appealing experience than current models.