CES 2025 is finally here, and we’re seeing some big announcements from AMD. They revealed their upcoming two 9000X3D CPUs and confirmed the RDNA 4 architecture, which we’ll get to experience with the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 GPUs. However, there’s some good news for handheld users as well, as the company has announced the next generation of Z series processors.
New Ryzen Z2 series processors announced for handhelds
During the event, AMD announced the Ryzen Z2 series processors, which, as per AMD, are designed to provide the “ultimate experience for handheld PC gaming.” The series consists of three models:
- Ryzen Z2 Extreme
- Ryzen Z2
- Ryzen Z2 Go
Interestingly, unlike the previous Z1 and Z1 Extreme CPUs, both the Z2 and Z2 Extreme will have the same core and thread count. The Z2 Go, however, is expected to be exclusive to the rumored Lenovo Legion S Go, a smaller and more portable version of the Legion Go which is also slated to launch as CES 2025.
Better battery life for ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go
While AMD promises “exhilarating speed” and “breathtaking graphics” with the Z2 processors, the biggest highlight is improved battery life. According to AMD, the Z2 series will let you “stay unplugged for hours to game wherever you roam.”
Battery life has been a major issue for devices like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. Many users report getting just 1-3 hours of playtime, depending on the game and settings. Since handheld devices are all about portability, this limited battery life has been a big downside and has left many users annoyed. However, with Ryzen Z2 processors, AMD is planning to address this issue.
Both the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go are expected to feature the new Ryzen Z2 processors. As result of some leaked slides ahead of the CES announcement, there were also rumors circulating that the Steam Deck could be upgraded to Z2 in the future, but this was soon shut down by a developer at Valve.
If AMD delivers on its promise, these devices could experience a significant boost in battery life, leading to a much better handheld gaming experience. However, it’s important to note that while AMD claims improved battery life, we’ll have to wait for Z2-powered handhelds to hit the market. Until real-world benchmarks are available, we won’t know if the new CPUs offer truly better battery life compared to the previous generation, or at least how much difference it makes in reality.
