The world of handheld gaming PCs is set for a significant upgrade in early 2025 with AMD’s upcoming Z2 Extreme chip.This was revealed during a joint Q&A session with AMD and Microsoft at IFA 2024, a major tech event that showcased exciting developments in the portable gaming space.
Currently, most top-tier handheld gaming PCs, like the Lenovo Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally X, utilize AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. A refresh early next year with the Z2 Extreme would likely trigger a wave of new devices,offering gamers superior performance and extended battery life.
Improved battery life is a key focus for AMD. The company’s Jack Huynh expressed a desire to play demanding games like “Black Myth: Wukong” for three hours on a handheld, rather than the current 45-minute limit. Features like AMD’s Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) already enhance battery life in devices like the Asus ROG Ally, and it appears that AI-driven features are a target for the upcoming Z2 Extreme chip.
Specific performance details of the Z2 Extreme remain under wraps, but AMD is actively working with several partners,hinting at potential refreshes from companies like Asus and Lenovo. However, MSI’s recently announced next-gen handheld will utilize an Intel Lunar Lake CPU, so it won’t benefit from the Z2 Extreme.
The big question mark hangs over the Steam Deck. While Valve recently updated the chip in the Steam Deck OLED, it’s still considerably less powerful than the Z1 Extreme. With the growing popularity of handheld gaming PCs, it’s conceivable that AMD is collaborating with Valve to bring a Steam Deck 2 to market, possibly powered by the Z2 Extreme.
While performance enhancements are expected, the crucial factor for Windows handhelds remains battery life. If AMD can achieve even a moderate performance boost while significantly improving efficiency, it would be a game-changer for portable gaming.
