AMD unveiled its Ryzen Z1 series of ultra-low-power CPUs designed for handheld devices, particularly for gaming consoles. These new processors will be built based on the same Zen 4 core architecture that powers the current-gen Ryzen 7000 series desktop CPUs. The Ryzen Z1 series will also have integrated RDNA3 graphics cores similar to the ones found in the Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs. AMD is targeting to create a new market for X86-compatible handheld gaming consoles that follow the footsteps of popular devices like the Steam Deck. While the Ayaneo Air series and the upcoming Ayaneo 2 are currently utilizing AMD’s Ryzen U-series low-power CPUs, they remain relatively niche, even within gaming communities.
Asus has recently confirmed that its gaming handheld device, the Asus ROG Ally, will be the first to use a Ryzen Z1 series CPU and is set to be released soon. The device’s price, launch date, and other specifications will be disclosed by Asus on May 11 at 7:30 pm (IST).
There are currently two CPU models that have been announced for the upcoming Ryzen Z1 series, which includes the Ryzen Z1 with six multithreaded ‘Zen 4’ CPU cores and four RDNA3 GPU cores, and the more powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme with eight CPU cores and 12 GPU cores. AMD is promising exceptional performance and extended battery life, offering an “elite gaming experience” in a compact and portable design. These Ryzen Z1 processors will use the same hardware as mainstream AMD CPUs and GPUs, enabling handheld devices to support AMD’s Radeon Super Resolution graphics upscaling technology, Radeon Chill for power-saving, and AMD Link game streaming, among other features.
At the platform level, devices powered by Ryzen Z1 CPUs will be compatible with USB4, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X RAM, in addition to supporting the Windows operating system. This provides access to a vast ecosystem of games and gaming stores beyond Steam. When connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, these devices can function as full-fledged computers and run everyday Windows software. Furthermore, users will have the opportunity to utilize Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service for gaming on the go, according to AMD’s statements.
No official performance, temperature, or battery life figures have been released yet, but Asus’s announcement on May 11 should shed some light on what potential buyers can expect. However, given AMD’s continued push into the thin-and-light laptop space and claims of delivering premium graphics performance with its Ryzen 7xxx mobile CPUs, it will be interesting to see how this turns out and whether more manufacturers announce gaming handhelds based on these CPUs before or at the upcoming PC-centric Computex trade show.
