NPC: Next Portable Console

In the first NPC episode of 2025, Brendon and John recap their CES experience with Federico, highlighting AMD’s new Z2 chips, the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S, and more. Together, they explore the technologies and trends poised to define the next generation of portable consoles.

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Links and Show Notes

Unpacking CES 2025

• More from Brendon and John on the MacStories YouTube channel
• AMD Announces the Z2 Chip
• The new AMD Z2 chips are nice, ok, and weird
• Other Devices
• Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) brings AMD Strix Halo to tablets
• Up close with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 FE, an incredibly compact flagship video card
• Thunderbolt 5 and ASUS’s new XG Mobile eGPU
• ASUS just announced the world’s first Thunderbolt 5 eGPU — the 2025 XG Mobile
• SteamOS News
• GeForce NOW CES 2025 Steam Deck and Mixed-Reality Devices
• Lenovo Legion Go S pre-orders are happening now at Best Buy Polygon
• SteamOS expands beyond Steam Deck
• Lenovo Legion Tab
• Lenovo’s new Legion Tab is an 8.8 inch Android gaming tablet for $500 and up
• GameSir X2S Controller
• Nitro Blaze 11
• Hands-on with the Nitro Blaze 11, Acer’s massive new PC gaming handheld

Credits

Show Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte

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