While AMD didn't say it explicitly, the product page of the Ryzen Z2 A confirms that it is indeed the Aerith Plus.
Ryzen Z2 A Product Code Matches with the Product Code of Aerith Plus as Seen in NBD Shipping Manifests
Roughly three months ago, we reported that the leaked NBD shipping manifests contained some crucial information about AMD Aerith Plus. The "Aerith Plus" is the codename of the successor to the AMD Aerith, which powers the Steam Deck. Looks like we have finally found the actual processor, which is none other than AMD's recently released Ryzen Z2 A.
This was spotted by @RubyRapids on AMD's website. The product code of the Ryzen Z2 A confirmed that the Aerith Plus codename belongs to the newly launched custom processor for gaming handhelds. The code: 100-000001835 is the same as seen in the NBD shipping logs for Aerith Plus, which confirms the report.
It's no surprise, since the Ryzen Z2 A does look like the successor to the custom Ryzen APU on the Steam Deck. The Ryzen Z2 A is based on the same Zen 2 architecture as the original Aerith CPU on the Steam Deck and uses the same RDNA 2 architecture for the integrated graphics. The latest handhelds like Xbox Rog Ally have already deployed the Ryzen Z2 A in the configuration and, as per the specs, it will operate in the 6-20W range.
The 20W TDP limit was also leaked in the NBD shipping manifest and so did the boost clock of 3.8 GHz. The Ryzen Z2 A aka Aerith Plus, features 4 cores and 8 threads and belongs to the latest Ryzen Z2 lineup, which contains four more SKUs but with updated architectures, such as Zen 3+, Zen 4 and Zen 5. Being the slowest in the lineup, the Ryzen Z2 A will only power entry-level handhelds and is expected to be deployed in the Steam Deck 2.
AMD also unveiled its most powerful custom Ryzen Z2 chip, called the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, which will power high-end handhelds and will carry a dedicated NPU for carrying out AI operations. Now as we have multiple APUs in the Z2 lineup, be ready to see several budget, mid-range and high-end gaming handhelds in the following months.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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