AMD unveiled two upgrade paths for early 2026 buyers at CES 2026. One of them is slimmer laptops based on the Ryzen AI 400 and Ryzen AI Max Plus processors. The other is a high-end gaming desktop option led by the Ryzen 7 9850X3D.
If you’re shopping soon, timing is just as important as specs. AMD says the first wave of Ryzen AI laptops will launch in the first quarter of 2026, and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is also expected in the same quarter, meaning a short wait for both laptop and desktop buyers.
Ryzen AI laptops arrive in the first quarter
AMD is pushing the Ryzen AI 400 series and Ryzen AI PRO 400 series as a mainstream AI laptop platform with up to 60 TOPS NPU processing power, up to 12 CPU cores and integrated Radeon 800M graphics. According to AMD, OEM systems will ship in the first quarter of 2026.
For premium designs, AMD announced Ryzen AI Max plus 392 and 388. AMD is positioning these parts for ultra-thin laptops and compact systems that want stronger integrated graphics and a unified storage approach. According to AMD, the first systems with these Max Plus chips will also hit the market in the first quarter of 2026, with additional models expected later in 2026.
Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the desktop hook
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a real eye-catcher for desktop gamers. AMD describes it as the latest and fastest chip in the Ryzen 9000X3D series, based on Zen 5 with second-generation 3D V Cache.
AMD lists eight cores and 16 threads, a boost up to 5.6GHz, 104MB total cache and a TDP of 120W. AMD also makes a performance claim, saying it can deliver up to 27 percent better gaming performance than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. Availability is expected from the first quarter of 2026.
The software layer is the support act
The supporting software history is intended to reduce setup friction once the new hardware is available. AMD says ROCm now supports Ryzen AI 400 processors and ROCm 7.2 expands compatibility between Windows and Linux, including easier access to new PyTorch builds via AMD software on Windows. AMD says ROCm can also be installed as a built-in download via ComfyUI, or you can use AMD Auto Detect.
On the gaming side, AMD points to Adrenalin Edition 25.12.1 and FSR Redstone features that use machine learning for upscaling and frame generation. The practical next step is to pay attention to real laptop configurations and prices, then compare independent benchmarks before deciding between an AI-focused laptop and an X3D desktop build.
