AMD has officially introduced the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APU, a cutting-edge chipset aimed at handheld gaming PCs. This new APU is already being utilized in the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X, showcasing its practical application in gaming devices.

The announcement came during the Xbox Showcase on June 8, where both Microsoft and ASUS unveiled their new handhelds. While the ROG Xbox Ally X touched on the new chipset, it did not provide extensive specifications.

However, AMD has shared more detailed information, including core count and thermal design power (TDP). The Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APU differs from the standard Z2 Extreme chipset primarily in the addition of a neural processing unit (NPU), which enhances its AI capabilities.

Furthermore, this APU is categorized as a Copilot+ chipset, implying that it will likely feature Copilot integration in some handheld devices that utilize it. In addition to the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, AMD also announced the Ryzen Z2 A, a more power-efficient option for entry-level gamers.

This APU sits below the Z2 Go that powers the Steam OS version of the Lenovo Legion Go S. While the Ryzen Z2 A will provide decent performance for handheld gaming, it is expected to deliver the lowest performance among AMD’s current Z2 APU lineup. It features eight GPU cores and is built on the RDNA 2 architecture, similar to the Z2 Go, but has a TDP range of only 6W to 20W.

As a trade-off, this lower power consumption should lead to extended battery life, making it ideal for long-lasting handheld gaming experiences. On the other hand, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme retains specifications comparable to its non-AI counterpart, featuring 16 GPU cores and a TDP range of 15W to 35W.

It boasts a performance metric of 50 AI TOPS. Both new chipsets are expected to make appearances in various gaming handhelds, with ASUS’s two new Ally models launching first with the new APUs.