Handheld gaming shoppers face a tough dilemma right now: take advantage of deep clearance discounts on the original ROG Ally and Ally X, or hold out for the upcoming ROG Ally 2. Because AMD’s next-generation Z2 Extreme chip is expected to share its core architecture with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and Radeon 890M integrated graphics, evaluating that hardware today gives buyers a reliable preview of what next-gen handheld performance and battery efficiency will actually look like.
The leap to Zen 5 CPU cores and RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture brings meaningful upgrades where handhelds struggle most: low-wattage power efficiency. While the original Z1 Extreme needs 25W to 30W to truly shine, testing the HX 370 silicon reveals stronger gaming performance at tighter thermal limits, meaning future handhelds could deliver better framerates without drastically reducing battery runtime.
- Generational uplift: Testing the HX 370 architecture reveals a roughly 15% to 25% boost in average frame rates over the Z1 Extreme across demanding AAA titles at matching TDP levels.
- Better low-wattage scaling: The RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture delivers significantly higher efficiency between 15W and 20W, addressing the severe battery drain common on current-gen Windows handhelds.
- Native 1080p viability: Games that previously required dropping down to 720p or relying heavily on aggressive upscaling can run much closer to native 1080p resolution with stable frame rates.
- Price-to-performance reality: While the Z2 Extreme will offer a clear performance lead, the ROG Ally 2 will almost certainly launch at a premium price point of $700 or more, leaving open-box and refurbished Z1 Extreme handhelds as the undisputed value champions for budget buyers.
Bottom line: Gamers seeking maximum battery efficiency and native 1080p gaming should hold their wallets for the ROG Ally 2, but bargain hunters will still get far more performance per dollar by grabbing heavily discounted current-gen Z1 Extreme hardware today.
