Intel faces challenges as AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme takes the lead in crucial aspects for portable gaming.
In a recent comparison, AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme has shown superior performance in handheld gaming PCs, particularly against Intel's Lunar Lake (Core Ultra 7 258V). This is most noticeable at typical gaming power levels, around 15 to 20 watts, where the Ryzen Z2 Extreme has demonstrated a 5-8% performance lead in many games, with smoother 1% lows and better frame generation support.
This performance advantage is largely due to the Ryzen Z2 Extreme's newer hybrid Zen 5 architecture, more powerful RDNA 3.5 GPU, and a 4nm TSMC process node.
However, when it comes to power efficiency, the picture is more complex. At ultra-low power levels, such as 7-10 watts, Intel's Lunar Lake remains more efficient and can sustain 60fps gaming at sub-5W power, making it the efficiency king in battery-saver modes.
As power limits increase towards typical gaming scenarios (15-30W), AMD's Z2 Extreme not only pulls ahead in performance but also demonstrates solid power management that yields better performance per watt above roughly 15W. However, Intel’s reported power measurements sometimes include integrated on-package DRAM within the power budget, which might skew comparisons slightly in AMD’s favor unless normalized.
In lighter gaming scenarios, Intel Lunar Lake may have better battery life, while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme tends to favor higher performance at modest power levels with smoother experiences in heavier games.
In summary, AMD’s Z2 Extreme outperforms Intel’s Lunar Lake in handheld gaming PCs at common gaming power envelopes (15-30W) and offers improved performance efficiency there, especially in heavier titles. Intel remains competitive mainly under very low power usage, prioritizing extreme efficiency and battery life.
This shift reflects a new dominance for AMD in mid-tier handheld gaming power settings, with Lunar Lake retaining strengths at low power. The comparison was made on August 3, 2025.
Some of the games tested include Resident Evil Village, which saw an 8 FPS improvement on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Monster Hunter Wilds, which achieved a performance of just over 30 FPS in 1080p at 17W on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, and others such as Far Cry 6, Cyberpunk 2077, and Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord.
Customers deciding between handheld gaming PCs like Valve's Steam Deck and ROG Xbox Ally will have increased headroom from the Ryzen Z2 Extreme-powered devices, offering a smoother gaming experience in heavier titles. A new video on Bilibili.com shows the Z2 Extreme pulling ahead in games like Resident Evil Village and Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord.
For those interested, you can watch the comparison video here.
- In the comparison of handheld gaming PCs, customers opting for devices powered by AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme can expect improved performance and efficiency, particularly in heavier titles such as Resident Evil Village, Monster Hunter Wilds, Far Cry 6, Cyberpunk 2077, and Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord.
- The Ryzen Z2 Extreme outperforms Intel's Lunar Lake, especially in mid-tier handheld gaming power settings, while Intel maintains an edge in terms of battery life under very low power usage, making it a competitive choice for lighter gaming scenarios.
