Valve is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of its handheld, with a launch targeted for 2028 and a change in silicon approach which could streamline industrialization.
Steam Deck 2: switch to a commercial AMD APU
Valve would move towards an “off-the-shelf” AMD APU rather than a semi-custom. Objective: to avoid the stock and calendar constraints that weighed on previous generations when DRAM and NAND were lacking, with the result being a product frozen too early in the face of competition that is now very active (Lenovo, ASUS, MSI).
The schedule mentioned targets 2028. Persistent tensions on the DRAM/NAND supply chains could further disrupt the window, even if the period corresponds to the start of an expected decline in shortages. This strategy would allow Valve to select, at the time of the design freeze, the best APU available and optimize SteamOS accordingly.
Current specifications and technological trajectory
The current Steam Deck features an AMD 6nm APU with four “Zen 2” cores and eight threads, frequency 2.4–3.5 GHz, coupled with eight RDNA 2 CUs at 1.6 GHz. Solid in 2022, this base shows its limits in the face of the pace of the market. By moving to standard, Valve could target an SoC integrating “Zen 6” cores and an RDNA 5 GPU, while modulating the TDP thanks to AMD’s configurable options to fit within the thermal envelope of a handheld.
Abandoning semi-custom would reduce the risk of obsolescence at launch and the pressure of “stockpiling” wafers while waiting for DRAM/NAND. The flexibility gained in the choice of die and bins at the appropriate time is a direct lever on the performance/watt ratio and the BOM cost.
If this trajectory is confirmed, the 2028 window would coincide with a more mature CPU/GPU generation on the AMD side, favorable to a significant jump in energy efficiency without exploding autonomy or costs. The challenge will be the stability of memory supply, a critical parameter for maintaining the entry ticket and avoiding any price drift.
Source : TechPowerUp
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