AMD Unveils New Ryzen AI Max+ Chips for Strix Halo at CES 2026

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Bhupendra Singh Chundawat

AMD Unveils New Ryzen AI Max+ Chips for Strix Halo at CES 2026

AMD has expanded its Strix Halo lineup with the introduction of two new Ryzen AI Max+ APUs at CES 2026. These chips target users seeking powerful AI and graphics capabilities without the need for a separate discrete GPU.

The Strix Halo platform, launched last year, caters to high-end thin-and-light laptops and compact desktops requiring robust computing power. It integrates a high-core-count CPU, a Radeon GPU built on RDNA 3.5 architecture, and an XDNA 2 neural processing unit (NPU) delivering up to 50 TOPS, all sharing a unified memory pool.

Previously, the lineup included the 16-core Ryzen AI Max+ 395, alongside the 12-core Max 390 and 8-core Max 385 models. These processors have been incorporated into devices like HP’s ZBook Ultra G1a, Asus’ ROG Flow Z13, and various mini PCs.

The new additions, Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and Ryzen AI Max+ 388, build on existing models but feature a significant GPU enhancement. Both come equipped with a 40-compute-unit RDNA 3.5 integrated GPU, capable of delivering up to 60 teraflops of compute performance.

On the CPU front, specifications remain mostly unchanged. The Max+ 392 retains its 12-core, 24-thread configuration with boost speeds up to 5GHz, while the Max+ 388 continues as an 8-core, 16-thread processor. The NPU also remains the same, focusing on AI inference and local model processing workloads.

AMD highlighted its performance claims at CES, stating that a Strix Halo system outperformed Nvidia’s DGX Spark in AI benchmarks measuring tokens per second per dollar. It also demonstrated advantages over Apple’s latest M5-based MacBook Pro in selected AI tasks, multitasking, and gaming scenarios. Independent testing will be required to confirm these results.

Supported by OEM partners such as Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Framework, and several mini-PC manufacturers, AMD aims to expand the Strix Halo platform from niche applications to mainstream professional and enthusiast markets.

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