Gaming handhelds with AMD Ryzen Z2 series APU tipped to miss out on Radeon 890M
The AMD Strix Point has introduced two new RDNA 3.5 iGPUs. Among them is the Radeon 890M, which features 16 CUs. It makes the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and AI 9 HX 375 two very capable APUs for gaming. More specifically, in our benchmarks, the new iGPU has offered around 18% better performance compared to the 780M.
Gaming handhelds with the new Strix Point APUs are yet to be announced, but AMD has already confirmed its plans to launch the Ryzen Z2 series. In an interview with Digital Trends, the company revealed that it's targeting an "early 2025" launch. This lineup is expected to bring Zen 5 chips to handhelds, but it seems that the series will miss out on the Radeon 890M.
Prominent tipster Golden Pig Upgrade shared on Bilibili that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme will feature an RDNA 3.5 iGPU with 12 CUs, essentially the Radeon 880M. This is the same iGPU that's in the Ryzen AI 9 365, and in a gaming handheld simulation, it offered around 13% better performance than the Radeon 780M.
Golden Pig Upgrade also shares that the non-Extreme Ryzen Z2 will sport an RDNA 3 iGPU with 12 CUs. That means it could feature the same Radeon 780M as the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Interestingly, the Bilibili tipster adds that there will be a third APU in the new series, referring it to the Ryzen Z2G.
It's unclear what the "G" stands for, but Golden Pig Upgrade reports that it will feature an RDNA 2 iGPU with 12 CUs. This APU could simply be a Rembrandt series refresh with the Radeon 680M, and it could allow manufacturers to offer affordable gaming handhelds.
Now, while the AMD Z2 series may miss out on the powerful Radeon 890M, it's possible that Chinese manufacturers will bring it with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370-powered gaming handhelds. GPD has already packed this APU in its 2024 Pocket 4. While that's more of a mini laptop than a gaming handheld, it proves that the chipset can power portable devices with TDP limitations.
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