AMD’s CEO, Lisa Su, is set to take the stage at CES in January 2026, igniting a flurry of speculation regarding potential announcements related to the company’s next-generation CPUs and GPUs. Notably absent from CES 2025, where AMD still managed to unveil the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and share insights on the Radeon RX 9000 series, Su’s return raises questions about the significance of her upcoming keynote.
Anticipation and Skepticism
With whispers circulating about the AMD Radeon RX 10090 XT and the possibility of 24-core Zen 6 CPUs boasting impressive clock speeds, the excitement is palpable. However, skepticism lingers as many believe it may be premature for AMD to unveil a next-gen CPU or GPU. The Radeon 9070 XT only recently secured its spot on the list of top graphics cards, and by CES 2026, Zen 5 will still be relatively fresh at just 18 months old.
Historically, AMD has maintained a two-year gap between architectural generations, leading to speculation that significant announcements may not be on the immediate horizon. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which oversees CES, has hinted at “advancements driven by Ryzen CPUs and Radeon graphics in AI PCs and gaming,” suggesting that while groundbreaking news may be unlikely, there could still be intriguing developments to discuss.
What to Expect
While the official unveiling of RDNA 5 and Zen 6 seems improbable, attendees might catch a glimpse of what lies ahead in AMD’s technological roadmap. Potential highlights could include discussions on future features and perhaps even a demonstration of new gaming graphics technology.
More realistically, the keynote may focus on artificial intelligence advancements, alongside announcements of new gaming products leveraging current-generation technology. A much-anticipated 16-core AMD CPU featuring two 3D V-cache chips, totaling 128MB of V-cache and an impressive 192MB of L3 cache, could be on the table. Although such a chip would cater to a niche market, it could serve as a compelling flagship gaming option.
Additionally, improvements to GPUs based on the RDNA 4 architecture may be revealed. With Nvidia poised to launch the RTX 5070 Ti Super and 5070 Super around the same time, AMD faces challenges in terms of VRAM. Rumors of the AMD Radeon RX 9090 XT suggest an increase to 32GB of VRAM and enhanced clock speeds, while retaining the core specifications of the Radeon RX 9070 XT.
While doubts persist, the prospect of AMD surprising the industry with announcements of Zen 6 and RDNA 5 in January 2026 is tantalizing. As the date approaches, all eyes will be on Lisa Su’s keynote for any hints of what the future may hold.
For those considering an upgrade, our guide to the best gaming CPUs and best gaming motherboards is available to assist in making informed choices.
Join the conversation about AMD’s potential announcements in our community Discord server.
