All known AMD Ryzen Z2 Series gaming handheld chips and how they are rumored to compare

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As a fellow enthusiast, if you’ve been following the evolution of Windows gaming handhelds, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the impressive AMD Ryzen Z1 series of gaming handheld APUs gracing the scene. However, the excitement is palpable now as AMD gradually unveils its cutting-edge Ryzen Z2 line of processors in the next generation of gaming handheld devices.

As a researcher delving into the details, I’ve been gathering information about the Z2 Series of handheld chips. It seems this series includes no less than five unique processors. From official disclosures and leaks, here’s a comparison of their capabilities and what we currently know about each one.

Ryzen Z1 and Z2 Series chips (listed by power)*
Chip Silicon CPU Core Graphics
Ryzen AI Z2* Extreme AMD Strix Point 8x Zen5/c 16x RDNA3.5 CU (Radeon 890M) w/ XDNA2 NPU
Ryzen Z2 Extreme AMD Strix Point 8x Zen5/c 16x RDNA3.5 CU (Radeon 890M)
Ryzen Z2 AMD Hawk Point 8x Zen4 12x RDNA3 CU (Radeon 780M)
Ryzen Z1 Extreme AMD Phoenix1 8x Zen4 12x RDNA3 CU (Radeon 780M)
Ryzen Z2 Go AMD Rembrandt 8x Zen3+ 12x RDNA2 CU (Radeon 680M)
Ryzen Z2-A* AMD Van Gogh 4x Zen2 8x RDNA2 CU
Ryzen Z1 AMD Phoenix2 6x Zen4/c 4x RDNA3 CU (Radeon 740M)

*These processors, known as the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme and Ryzen Z2-A, are yet to be formally unveiled. The details provided about these chips originate from rumors, leaks, or educated assumptions, so it’s advisable to approach them with a degree of skepticism.

Currently, AMD has disclosed details on three Z2 processors so far: The Z2 Go, specifically designed for the Lenovo Legion Go S, the standard Z2, and the Z2 Extreme. However, neither the Z2 nor the Z2 Extreme have been released yet.

In summary, the Z2 Extreme AI is expected to be the most potent All-Purpose Unit (APU) in its series, excelling particularly at running graphically demanding games. Given that it’s an Artificial Intelligence (AI) processor, its Neural Processing Unit (NPU) can distribute some of the workload from the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), thereby improving the device’s overall efficiency.

According to whispers about the AMD Ryzen Z2-A APU, it appears that its performance may be relatively modest compared to the Z2 Go in the Legion Go S, but it’s expected to still represent an improvement over the Z1 chip in the standard configuration of the original ASUS ROG Ally.

This year and the following one are likely to see the introduction of additional gaming handhelds powered by AMD Z2 Series, such as the ROG Ally 2 and Legion Go 2 with Z2 Extreme configurations. However, at this point, specific launch dates for these devices have yet to be announced.

AMD Ryzen Z1 and Z2 Series FAQ

How is AMD Z1 Series different from Z2 Series?

The new Z2 Series processors are the upgraded, cutting-edge gaming handheld units that succeed the initial release of the Z1 Series chips.

The advanced Z2 Series processors provide quicker processing speeds, improved energy conservation, superior graphics, and a modern design compared to the Z1 Series. This essentially means that high-performance games could potentially run smoother and more efficiently on a device sporting a top-tier Z2 Series chip.

On the other hand, the Z2 Go and Z2-A chips are intended for less complex gaming experiences and lack the power found in standard Z2, Z2 Extreme, and AI Z2 Extreme models.

Which AMD Ryzen Z2 chip is best for gaming handhelds?

Among the Ryzen Z2 series, it’s expected that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme will provide the top-tier gaming handheld performance. However, due to its higher quality and advanced features, it may carry a higher price tag compared to most other options. At this point, it’s challenging to definitively compare chip performance because all AMD Z2 chips have not been released yet, and we haven’t had the opportunity to test them thoroughly. Additionally, it’s been suggested that the rumored Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme could cost more than its counterparts due to the premium nature of AI processors.

Which AMD Ryzen Z1 or Z2 Series chip should I get?

Many of these chips remain untested due to their delayed release. Nevertheless, we enthusiastically suggest the Z1 Extreme as an outstanding gaming handheld APU for intense mobile gaming experiences. If the upcoming generation surpasses the current one, then the AI-enhanced Z2 Extreme is likely to be our top recommended handheld APU. In contrast, if you’re seeking a device primarily for cloud gaming, either the Z1 or Z2 models might better suit your needs.

Which AMD Ryzen Z2 Series chip should I avoid?

Among the Z1 and Z2 chips currently available, it’s advisable to steer clear of the Z2 Go specifically designed for Legion Go devices. Despite being more expensive than the Z1 Extreme, it lacks the necessary power to match or surpass its predecessor’s performance. Lenovo claims that the Z2 Go optimizes battery usage, but in our tests, the Legion Go S equipped with a Z2 Go chip still exhibited a similar relatively short battery life as the Z1 Extreme handhelds.

Which gaming handhelds have Z2 Series chips?

Lenovo Legion Go S – Z2 Go

Lenovo Legion Go 2 (prototype) – Z2 Extreme

ASUS ROG Ally 2 (rumored) – Z2 Extreme

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2025-06-07 21:09