CES 2025: AMD Ryzen Z2 officially unveiled with three variants

HARDWARE NEWS manhkbrady - Jan 9, 2025, 12:00

Unlike its predecessors, the Ryzen Z1 and Z1 Extreme, the next generation of processors designed by AMD specifically for handheld gaming PCs now includes three different models: the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Z2, and Z2 Go. These models are categorized by descending levels of performance and power, which correspond to their respective price points in the new handheld PCs set to hit the market in 2025.

AMD Ryzen Z2 Series processors for handheld gaming. Features exhilarating speed, long battery life, and breathtaking graphics for the ultimate experience.

AMD's goal with the Ryzen Z2 series is to expand its reach in the market, offering products across the full spectrum, from entry-level to high-end, and aiming to capture market share within these segments. With the Ryzen Z2 series, AMD envisions its OEM partners creating handheld PCs with improved battery life, optimized software, and better performance compared to competing products—most notably Intel’s Lunar Lake.

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Z2, and Z2 Go processor specs comparison. Shows cores, threads, GHz, cache, cTDP, and graphics cores.

And here are the details of the three AMD Ryzen Z2 series variants:

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme: Features an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with 24MB cache, operating at a boost clock speed of 5.0 GHz. It has a TDP range of 15 to 35W and includes a 16-core iGPU based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture. This chip is built on the Strix APU architecture and is the only model among the three equipped with Zen 5 CPU cores.
AMD Ryzen Z2: Equipped with an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with 24MB cache, a boost clock speed of 5.1 GHz, and a TDP range of 15 to 30W. It features a 12-core iGPU utilizing the RDNA 3 architecture. The Ryzen Z2 is based on the Hawk Point APU design.
AMD Ryzen Z2 Go: A budget-friendly option, featuring a 4-core, 8-thread CPU based on the Zen 3 architecture. It has a boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz, a TDP range of 15 to 30W, and a 12-core iGPU built on the RDNA 2 architecture.

It is expected that updated devices such as the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, featuring different Ryzen Z2 models to suit various price points, will be announced soon, potentially during Computex 2025. Until then, while waiting for more exciting news, remember to use our comparison tool to find the best deal for your next favorite game.