RDNA (3 / 3.5)
AMD's graphics architecture powering the integrated GPU in nearly every modern handheld APU; RDNA 3.5 improves efficiency over RDNA 3 for battery-constrained devices.
RDNA is AMD's GPU architecture family, and the integrated graphics in handheld APUs are built on it. RDNA 3 powers the graphics in chips like the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, delivering a substantial jump over the previous RDNA 2-based Steam Deck APU. RDNA 3.5, used in newer Strix Point and Ryzen AI 300-series-derived handheld chips, focuses more on power efficiency than raw compute gains, which matters more for battery-powered devices than desktop-style performance jumps.
The number of compute units (CUs) in the integrated GPU, combined with the memory bandwidth feeding it, largely determines how much raw graphics horsepower an APU has at a given TDP.
Why it matters when buying
When comparing handhelds, check both the RDNA generation and the compute unit count of the integrated GPU rather than relying on the APU marketing name alone. A newer RDNA revision at a similar TDP generally means better performance-per-watt, which is the metric that actually matters in a battery-powered device.