AMD appears to be expanding its gaming handheld processor lineup with a new AI-capable chip. According to recent leaks, the company is developing a Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APU that would include a neural processing unit (NPU), potentially bringing AI capabilities to the next generation of portable gaming devices.
The Rumored Chip
The existence of this new processor was first reported by leaker Hoang Anh Phu on social media platform X, who shared a list of AMD's Ryzen Z2 portfolio that included the previously unannounced Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme at the bottom. This would represent the first gaming handheld APU from AMD to specifically include AI capabilities through an enabled NPU. The leak also mentioned a mysterious Z2 A variant, though no details about this model were provided.
Technical Specifications
The Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme would essentially be identical to the already announced Z2 Extreme, but with one key difference: the NPU would be enabled rather than disabled. Based on AMD's Strix Point architecture, the chip would feature eight CPU cores (three full Zen 5 cores plus five compact Zen 5c cores) and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics compute units. This configuration mirrors what AMD offers in its laptop-focused Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, but with the NPU functionality intact.
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| This image illustrates a microchip, potentially representing AMD's new Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APU, as described in the article |
AMD's Confusing Z2 Lineup
AMD's Z2 series of handheld gaming APUs has become increasingly complex. The current lineup includes multiple chips based on entirely different silicon generations. The Z2 Go uses the older Rembrandt architecture with Zen 3 cores and RDNA 2 graphics. The standard Z2 is based on Hawk Point with Zen 4 cores and RDNA 3 graphics. Meanwhile, the Z2 Extreme uses the newest Strix Point architecture but with its NPU disabled. This creates a somewhat confusing product stack where three completely different architectural generations exist within the same product family.
AI in Gaming Handhelds: Useful or Gimmick?
The practical benefits of including an NPU in a gaming handheld remain questionable. While it would enable support for Microsoft's Copilot+ AI assistant in Windows and allow manufacturers to market their devices as AI-capable, the real-world applications for local AI processing in gaming are currently limited. Most popular AI tools like ChatGPT operate through cloud-based infrastructure rather than local processing, and very few games currently utilize NPU acceleration.
Battery Life Concerns
One potential drawback of enabling the NPU in a handheld gaming device is the impact on battery life. Gaming handhelds already struggle with limited mains-free operation time, and activating an additional processing unit alongside the CPU and GPU could further reduce battery longevity. For users who prioritize longer gaming sessions away from power outlets, this could be a significant consideration.
Not The First AI-Capable Gaming Handheld
While this would be AMD's first purpose-built AI gaming handheld APU, it's worth noting that Chinese manufacturer OneXPlayer has already released a handheld device featuring the full Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 laptop chip with an enabled NPU. Reviews of this processor in devices like the ASUS ZenBook S 16 have been positive, suggesting that the performance capabilities of the architecture are solid, even if the AI applications remain limited.
Market Positioning
The introduction of an AI-capable handheld APU suggests AMD is positioning itself for future applications that might better utilize local AI processing. As game developers and software companies continue to explore AI integration, having hardware that supports these capabilities could become increasingly important for next-generation portable gaming devices.