AMD’s Ryzen Z-series portable gaming processors have been some of the most exciting chips AMD’s released in recent years. They offer incredible CPU and GPU performance on a single die, with great efficiency, making it possible for higher performance portable gaming systems that can play at higher detail and frame rates. AMD’s second-generation Z2 portable processors debuted in 2025 and will form a core component in many portable gaming systems this year, like the Lenovo Legion Go S.
But often these portable systems offer last-generation Z chips designs, too, raising the question, which is better? Two chips going head to head early this year are the Z2 Go and Z1 Extreme, so let’s see how they stack up, to see which is the better option.
Pricing and availability
Pricing for these individual processors is redundant, since you won’t be buying them by themselves, but pricing per device is going to vary dramatically by manufacturer. In the case of the Lenovo Legion Go S, where both chips will be an option eventually, the Z1 Extreme version is available now, with an $800 price tag and Windows 11 installed.
In May, Lenovo will launch the Legion Go S with Steam OS as an alternative, with the option of the Z2 Go and more modest companion hardware — such as less memory and onboard storage. Prices there, will start at $500.
Specifications
| AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | AMD Ryzen Z2 Go | |
| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 3 |
| Cores/Threads | 8/16 | 4/8 |
| Boost clock | 5.1GHz | Up to 4.3GHz |
| GPU | 12 core RDNA 3 | 12 core RDNA2 |
| TDP | 9-30W | 15-30W |
On paper, the Z1 Extreme shows much more capable internals than the Z2 Go. Despite the latter being the newer processor in terms of release chronology, the Z1 Extreme is built on a newer architecture, with a new graphics core design, more cores, and a higher clock speed. It’s the more expensive chip, in the more expensive version of the device, so we’d expect it to perform better.
Performance
The specific performance of any hardware in any portable device is very dependent on the overall design. Available power and cooling play a huge role in how fast a processor can run at, and the operating system plays a big part too, so judging how these CPUs will square off without comparable testing using the same devices, is tricky.
However, it is possible to make some estimations by comparing how these chips perform in different devices. In our review of the Legion Go S, Jacob Roach test the Lenovo Legion Go S with a Z2 Go onboard, against the Asus Rog Ally X, running the Z1 Extreme, and even the older ROG Ally with the original Z1.
| Legion Go S (Ryzen Z2 Go) | ROG Ally X (Ryzen Z1 Extreme) | ROG Ally (Ryzen Z1) | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p/Steam Deck) | 28 fps | 24 fps | 17 fps |
| Horizon Zero Dawn (1080p/Favor Performance) | 36 fps | 50 fps | 28 fps |
| Returnal (1080p/Low) | 20 fps | 25 fps | Would not run |
| Strange Brigade (1080p/Medium) | 47 fps | 56 fps | 39 fps |
| Dying Light 2 (1080p/Medium) | 21 fps | 26 fps | 17 fps |
ALthough the Z2 Go does put up a decent fight, it’s clear that in most games the Z1 Extreme is the more capable CPU. Its greater number of CPU cores, higher boost clock, and newer graphics architecture give it a modest, but notable advantage. That means that if you’re going to buy the Legion Go 2 S and you want the best performance, the Z1 Extreme version (with SteamOS, please) is the better choice for raw power.
Although this does give a single-source win to the Z1 Extreme, it’s also a decent success story for the Z2 Go. Despite using an older Zen 3 architecture, with fewer cores, and limited to a 4.3GHz boost clock, it’s able to leverage its high-core GPU to great effect — almost keeping up with the higher-power, more expensive alternative. Considering the Z2 Go version with SteamOS will be several hundred dollars cheaper than the Z1 Extreme version, it could make the Z2 Go version of the Legion Go S as the better option to undercut the Steam Deck as the best budget handheld gaming solution in early 2025.
While the Z1 Extreme version is faster, it’s also more expensive, pushing it into competition with higher-end handheld gaming systems like the aforementioned Ally X, not to mention new competition coming this year.
Z1 Extreme is better, but is it worth it?
We’ll need to see a direct head to head testing of the different versions of the Legion Go S — and any other handheld gaming systems with multiple chip options — to know for sure how these processors compare directly. However, for now, it seems likely that the Z1 Extreme will be the fastest of the two CPUs, but just not by as much as we might have expected.
The margins for performance, pricing, and efficiency are extremely tight on portable gaming devices, so if the Z2 Go can offer near-enough performance to the Z1 Extreme at a much more affordable price, with comparable battery life, for many that will make it the no-brainer choice.
For now, though your options are limited. The Z1 Extreme version of the Legion Go S is ready to game on right now. The wait for something cheaper might be worth it for you, but if not, the Z1 Extreme is already the more capable option; albeit at a higher price tag.
