AMD has further complicated the landscape of Ryzen laptop processors, but here’s what’s genuinely new.

      The updated lineup introduces more Zen 4 processors for mainstream and budget laptops.

      AMD has quietly broadened its mobile processor offerings with 11 new Ryzen laptop processors, adding new models to both the Ryzen 200 and Ryzen 100 families. While this may seem straightforward, the larger issue lies in AMD's increasingly perplexing naming scheme. The company has released seven new Ryzen 200 processors along with four new Ryzen 100 models, but despite being from different families, many of them are actually based on the same Hawk Point silicon, which incorporates Zen 4 CPU cores and RDNA 3 integrated graphics.

      The Ryzen 200 series introduces seven new CPUs, with four featuring standard Zen 4 cores and three utilizing AMD's hybrid setup that pairs Zen 4 and Zen 4c cores for enhanced efficiency. All models boast integrated graphics powered by RDNA 3, with the higher-end options employing the Radeon 780M, while the entry-level versions use the Radeon 740M.

      One notable addition is the Ryzen 3 205, which contains six physical cores but is listed with only eight threads due to its combination of two Zen 4 cores and four Zen 4c cores.

      The Ryzen 100 series is where the confusion escalates. Traditionally, the Ryzen 100 mobile family consisted of Rembrandt processors that used Zen 3+ CPU cores and RDNA 2 graphics. While chips like the Ryzen 7 170 and Ryzen 5 150 remain in the lineup, AMD has now introduced four new Ryzen 100 processors—the Ryzen 9 180, Ryzen 7 165, Ryzen 7 155, and Ryzen 5 125—based on Hawk Point with Zen 4 CPU cores, a 4nm process, and RDNA 3 graphics.

      To complicate matters further, AMD's product pages currently label these new processors as Zen 3+, even though their specifications clearly align with Hawk Point silicon. It appears this discrepancy in AMD’s specification database is an error rather than an indication of a different architecture.

      For laptop purchasers, these new chips aren’t likely to offer a significant boost in speed. Instead, they provide laptop manufacturers with greater flexibility across various price points by optimizing AMD’s established Hawk Point platform.

      Interestingly, shopping for a Ryzen laptop has become a bit more complicated. A Ryzen 100 chip isn’t necessarily older than a Ryzen 200 chip anymore, and the model number alone doesn't convey the full picture. Therefore, prior to making a purchase, it’s advisable to verify whether the processor is based on Zen 4 or Zen 3+, as this is likely to be more important than the name on the sticker.