AMD Plans to Launch FSR 4 for Handheld Devices by Late 2026

AMD’s framerate-boosting FSR 4 technology is already making waves on handhelds like the Steam Deck, but back in June, the company hinted that it might not officially support older handhelds. However, Jack Huynh, AMD’s consumer chip lead, has now indicated that FSR 4 will be available on some handheld devices by the end of the year.

The specifics on which handhelds will receive this upgrade remain uncertain. It’s unclear whether existing devices will be supported or if new models will be required, especially since AMD is also set to launch a new FSR 4-capable chip. Huynh mentioned that the company plans to extend its machine learning AI-based FSR 4 technology, initially introduced for external graphics cards, across its entire product lineup, including APUs, gaming laptops, and handhelds by year’s end.

According to reports, this means we can expect both a new APU and a lightweight FSR 4 model for APUs to arrive soon. Previously, AMD had only committed to FSR 4 for desktop graphics cards, leaving handhelds and laptops in the dark. However, it’s still unclear if the lightweight FSR 4 model will specifically target handhelds, or if it will require AMD’s upcoming Ryzen Z3 and “Gainsborough” chips.

When AMD previously tempered expectations for FSR 4 on existing handhelds, executive David McAfee emphasized the importance of ensuring a quality experience, stating that sufficient computing power is necessary for FSR 4 to be effective. This suggests that while some older laptop chips might be compatible, older handheld chips may not meet the requirements.

Valve collaborated with AMD to implement FSR 4 on the Steam Machine’s console-grade AMD APU, but there has been no commitment yet for the Steam Deck handhelds. AMD has not provided further clarification on Huynh’s recent comments.