Lead
AMD appears to have ceased supplying new driver updates for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme system-on-chip used in several handheld consoles, according to a Lenovo Korea update and multiple user reports. The discontinuation would come roughly two and a half years after the Z1 family launched in 2023, leaving devices on months‑old drivers. Enthusiasts and some device owners report being unable to obtain recent SoC driver builds, while newer Z2‑based systems continue to receive regular updates. The move has raised questions about responsibility between AMD and OEMs for testing and delivering validated drivers to end users.
Key Takeaways
- Multiple community reports and a Lenovo Korea notice indicate AMD has not provided new drivers for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme approximately 2.5 years after the 2023 launch.
- Users report devices running Z1 Extreme SoCs using drivers as old as the August 2025 build; one ROG Ally (non‑X) owner described being stuck on those August 2025 drivers.
- AMD’s Z1 Extreme supports configurable TDP (cTDP) settings from 9 W up to 30 W, requiring OEM validation of drivers for each product’s thermal/power configuration.
- OEMs such as Lenovo and ASUS receive AMD driver packages and must test them for their specific hardware before distribution, which complicates direct attribution of blame.
- Attempts to use Z2 (2025) drivers for Z1 devices have been discouraged by manufacturers; Lenovo explicitly warns that Z2 drivers are not interchangeable and may cause system instability.
- By contrast, Ryzen Z2 Extreme systems launched in 2025 reportedly continue to receive regular driver updates, suggesting the issue is isolated to the Z1 family.
Background
AMD’s Ryzen Z1 and Z1 Extreme were introduced in 2023 to power a new wave of handheld gaming PCs and similar compact devices. The chips combined Zen‑based CPU cores with RDNA‑derived graphics in an SoC package tailored for portable form factors, attracting several OEMs who tweaked clocks and power envelopes to meet different product goals. Because handhelds prioritize battery life and thermals, manufacturers commonly ask AMD to ship configurable TDP variants so they can tune clocks and power draw; AMD documents the Z1 Extreme cTDP window as 9–30 W.
Driver distribution for laptop and handheld SoCs typically follows a two‑stage path: AMD develops and releases a baseline driver, then OEMs test and, if needed, adapt that driver for their validated hardware and firmware environment before pushing it to end users. That dependency means a vendor may delay or withhold updates until they confirm stability, but it also means end users rely on a chain of parties for timely fixes and optimizations. Past generations of portable SoCs have shown the same pattern—driver cadence depends on both silicon vendor support and OEM validation workflows.
Main Event
The situation drew attention after Lenovo Korea posted an update interpreted by users as indicating AMD had stopped providing new Z1 Extreme driver builds. Shortly after, Reddit threads and owner reports from other device forums surfaced describing consoles that have not received new SoC driver packages in months. One poster said their ASUS ROG Ally non‑X, powered by the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, remained on drivers dated August 2025; that claim has been echoed in multiple independent posts.
Users seeking fixes attempted several routes: waiting for official OEM updates, forcing AMD‑provided drivers, or experimenting with Z2‑series drivers from newer devices such as Lenovo’s Legion Go S. OEMs, including Lenovo, advise against installing Z2 drivers on Z1 hardware because differences in firmware, power tables, and validated configurations can lead to instability or reduced lifespan of the device. Those warnings are being widely circulated by support teams and in community threads.
At present there is no single, publicly confirmed explanation: the absence of new Z1 Extreme drivers could stem from AMD choosing to prioritize newer SoCs, from OEMs not completing validation, or from a combination of both. Meanwhile, Z2 Extreme devices launched in 2025 are receiving routine driver updates, which complicates the narrative and suggests the issue may be specific to how the Z1 family is being maintained in partnership with OEMs.
Analysis & Implications
For owners, the practical impacts include fewer performance optimizations, delayed fixes for regressions or security vulnerabilities, and potential incompatibility with new games or middleware that expect current GPU drivers. Handhelds are a thin, thermally constrained class of devices; driver updates often contain power‑management improvements and microcode tweaks that materially affect battery life and thermal throttling. A frozen driver stack therefore reduces the long‑term value proposition of the device for power users.
From a vendor relations perspective, this episode highlights the tension between silicon vendors and OEMs on update ownership. AMD supplies generic driver builds and the vendor/OEM pair must ensure those builds function across custom TDP and firmware combinations. If AMD reduces investment in legacy SoCs, OEMs face the onerous choice of creating and maintaining their own driver forks or informing customers that support will be limited—both options carry cost and reputational consequences.
Market perception also matters. Handheld PC adoption depends on confidence in ongoing software support; a perception that a key SoC family has been sidelined could influence future purchasing decisions, particularly for enthusiasts who value modability and longevity. Conversely, the continued updates for Ryzen Z2 Extreme may reinforce the idea that AMD’s resources are being shifted to newer architectures rather than maintaining older ones indefinitely.
Comparison & Data
| SoC | Launch Year | cTDP Range | Reported Update Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen Z1 / Z1 Extreme | 2023 | 9–30 W | Reports of no new driver builds; users on August 2025 drivers |
| Ryzen Z2 Extreme | 2025 | Manufacturer dependent | Regular driver cadence reported |
The table summarizes available public data: the Z1 family launched in 2023 with a broad cTDP window and is the subject of reports about stalled updates, while the Z2 Extreme launched in 2025 and appears to have ongoing vendor support. This comparison does not prove causation but frames the contrast between a legacy‑class SoC and a current‑generation part receiving active maintenance.
Reactions & Quotes
Community posts and manufacturers have framed the issue differently; the following excerpts capture the range of public responses and guidance.
“My ROG Ally non‑X is still on the August 2025 SoC drivers — nothing newer has shown up.”
Reddit user (consumer report)
Multiple forum posts mirror this complaint, with owners of several Z1 Extreme devices reporting identical driver timestamps. While individual reports do not confirm a corporate policy change, the volume and cross‑device consistency of the posts suggest a broader pattern.
“Do not install Legion Go S (Z2) drivers on Z1 systems — they are not interchangeable and may cause issues.”
Lenovo (support advisory reported by TechPowerUp)
Lenovo’s advisory, as relayed by the reporting outlet, emphasizes that drivers validated for Z2 hardware can contain different power and firmware expectations and therefore are unsuitable for Z1 systems. That guidance aims to prevent bricked devices and instability but leaves end users dependent on official validated packages.
Unconfirmed
- It is not yet confirmed whether AMD has formally ended support for the Z1 family or whether OEM validation backlogs are the primary cause of the apparent update pause.
- No official AMD statement has been published publicly (as of the sources referenced here) confirming a policy change that stops driver development for Z1 Extreme devices.
- Reports that installing Z2 drivers on Z1 hardware will universally brick devices are unverified; OEMs caution against it because of potential instability, but outcomes may vary by configuration.
Bottom Line
If the reports are accurate, owners of Z1 and Z1 Extreme devices face a practical downgrade in long‑term software support that could affect performance, compatibility, and security. The chain of responsibility spans AMD and its OEM partners: AMD supplies driver packages, but OEMs validate and distribute units tied to their hardware and thermal designs. Without coordinated communication and a clear remediation path, affected users will remain dependent on community workarounds or OEM action.
Readers with impacted devices should follow official support channels, avoid installing unvalidated drivers from other SoC families, and document system versions before attempting any manual updates. We will update this report if AMD, Lenovo, ASUS, or other OEMs publish clarifying statements or release validated Z1 driver builds.