Gaming handhelds: Tipster hints at new AMD Ryzen Z2 A and Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APUs

Earlier this year, AMD unveiled its Ryzen Z2 lineup of APUs destined to power a sizeable chunk of upcoming gaming handhelds. Consisting of the Ryzen Z2, Z2 Go, and Z2 Extreme, the Z2 family utilizes not one, but three different generations - Rembrandt, Hawk Point, and Strix Point respectively. Interestingly, none of these APUs boast a built-in NPU, although a recent tweet claims that may no longer be the case.

According to leaker @AnhPhuH, the Ryzen Z2 family is likely to welcome two new variants: the Ryzen Z2 'A', and the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. The latter is clearly a variant of the Z2 Extreme with an NPU for AI acceleration, although the former is more of a mystery. It is possible that it is simply a typo - the source missed an 'I', but the jury's out on that. The Ryzen Z2 Go already exists as a low-end variant, and there does not seem to be much room between the Ryzen Z2 and the Z2 Extreme in order to accommodate a fresh new variant.

As VideoCardz points out, both Hawk Point and Strix Point APUs are known to feature NPUs, which makes the AI assumption more plausible. It is almost certain that upscaling and frame generation technologies will massively benefit handheld gaming, and a decent NPU will surely be of great help with technologies such as FSR. Of course, as with all leaks and rumors, accept this information with a grain of salt. Needless to say, it won't be long before we find out what AMD has in store for handheld gaming enthusiasts.

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