AMD is gearing up to launch the Z2 Extreme, with a targeted release date in early 2025.
During a collaborative Q&A session involving AMD and Microsoft—reported by Digital Phablet—the company confirmed its goal of bringing the Z2 Extreme to market in the aforementioned timeframe. This announcement stands out as one of the major highlights from IFA 2024, which has also showcased exciting advancements in portable gaming systems, such as the new Acer Nitro Blaze 7.
Currently, many top-rated handheld gaming PCs are powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. This includes devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and the latest Asus ROG Ally X. An introduction of a refreshed chip early next year could stimulate the release of various new devices that capitalize on enhanced performance and battery longevity.
AMD’s Jack Huynh emphasized the importance of battery life for gamers, noting the aspiration to play titles like Black Myth: Wukong for three hours instead of the approximate 45 minutes offered by existing handhelds. New technologies like AMD’s Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) aim to significantly extend battery usage for devices such as the Asus ROG Ally. Moreover, AI-driven advancements are anticipated features for the upcoming Z2 Extreme chip.
While AMD has yet to disclose any performance predictions for the Z2 Extreme, more information is expected to emerge next year. The company is actively collaborating with several partners, suggesting potential updates from Asus and Lenovo. Interestingly, MSI has revealed plans for its next-gen handheld utilizing Intel’s Lunar Lake CPU, indicating it may not adopt the Z2 Extreme.
A significant point of interest remains the future of the Steam Deck. Valve updated the chip in the Steam Deck OLED model, yet it utilizes a less powerful architecture than the Z1 Extreme. With the growing popularity of handheld gaming PCs, there’s speculation that AMD might be secretly aiding Valve in developing a second-generation Steam Deck, potentially featuring the Z2 Extreme chip.
Though the Z2 Extreme promises to enhance performance, the primary focus on Windows handhelds continues to be battery efficiency. If AMD can achieve even a modest performance increase while greatly enhancing power efficiency, it would represent a major advancement for handheld gaming devices.