Recently, an intriguing revelation has come to light in the world of gaming technology. AMD’s newly unveiled Ryzen Z2 A is confirmed to be the successor to the popular Aerith processor, known for powering the Steam Deck. This discovery stemmed from a match between the product code of the Ryzen Z2 A and the “Aerith Plus” codename found in shipping documents.
Approximately three months ago, leaks from these shipping manifests hinted at the development of Aerith Plus, a successor aimed at enhancing handheld gaming experiences. The Ryzen Z2 A aligns with the features of the Aerith CPUs utilized in devices like the Steam Deck. It’s built on the same Zen 2 architecture and boasts integrated graphics with RDNA 2, enabling it to fit seamlessly into the next generation of handheld consoles such as the Xbox Rog Ally.
Operating within a power range of 6-20W, the Ryzen Z2 A supports a boost clock of 3.8 GHz, characteristics that were also mentioned in the earlier leaked documents. With 4 cores and 8 threads, it stands as the entry-level option within AMD’s updated Ryzen Z2 lineup. This family includes advanced architectures like Zen 3+, Zen 4, and Zen 5, each tailored for different levels of performance. The Ryzen Z2 A is expected to feature prominently in upcoming devices like the Steam Deck 2.
In addition to the Ryzen Z2 A, AMD has unveiled its powerful Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. This top-tier processor is designed for high-end handhelds, equipped with a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) for advanced AI capabilities. With these developments, we can anticipate a new wave of budget-friendly to high-performance gaming handhelds in the near future, offering something for every type of gamer.
