Zynq
Product brand
UnclaimedA family of adaptive system-on-chip devices that combines ARM processing cores with programmable FPGA logic.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
Zynq is a product family of system-on-chip devices developed by Xilinx, the programmable-logic company acquired by AMD in 2022. The family is designed to combine conventional software execution with hardware programmability in a single device. Rather than placing a general-purpose processor and an FPGA on separate chips, Zynq integrates processing-system components, programmable logic, memory interfaces, peripherals and high-speed connectivity into a common silicon platform. This architecture is intended for products that need both flexible software control and deterministic, highly parallel hardware acceleration. The first major Zynq family was the Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC, introduced by Xilinx as part of its move beyond stand-alone field-programmable gate arrays. Zynq-7000 devices pair a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processing system with Xilinx 7-series programmable logic. The processing system can run operating systems and application software, while the programmable-logic portion can implement custom signal-processing pipelines, machine-vision functions, communications algorithms, motor-control logic, security functions and other hardware-specific workloads. Integrated peripherals and interfaces allow the device to serve as the central component of an embedded platform rather than merely as an accelerator attached to a separate processor. Zynq was positioned as a way to shorten development time and reduce system complexity. Engineers can partition an application between software and hardware, leaving frequently changing control functions in software while implementing computationally intensive or latency-sensitive operations in programmable logic. This approach can offer more flexibility than an application-specific integrated circuit and more deterministic performance or lower power consumption than a processor-only design, although it requires expertise in embedded software, digital design and hardware-software co-development. The family later expanded through Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs and RFSoCs. Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs introduced more capable processing systems based on ARM Cortex-A53 application processors and Cortex-R5 real-time processors, together with UltraScale+ programmable logic and expanded security, graphics, video and connectivity capabilities. These devices target embedded vision, industrial control, automotive systems, aerospace and defense, communications and edge-computing applications. Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoCs extend the concept by integrating high-speed data converters with programmable logic and processors, reducing the need for separate radio-frequency conversion components in applications such as wireless infrastructure, radar and instrumentation. The software ecosystem around Zynq has included Xilinx development tools, intellectual-property blocks, evaluation boards, reference designs and operating-system support. Tools such as Vivado and the Vitis unified software platform support hardware design, embedded programming and acceleration workflows. The broader ecosystem has also included third-party modules and application platforms, enabling Zynq devices to be incorporated into products such as camera systems, robotics platforms, network equipment, automotive controllers and edge-artificial-intelligence systems. After AMD completed its acquisition of Xilinx in February 2022, Zynq products were initially presented within the AMD-Xilinx portfolio. AMD subsequently consolidated Xilinx product branding under AMD, but Zynq remains a recognized family name for AMD's adaptive SoC and embedded-computing offerings. The brand therefore represents a technology family rather than an independent company, with its commercial identity tied to the former Xilinx product architecture and AMD's continuing embedded and adaptive-computing strategy.
History
Zynq emerged from Xilinx's strategic effort to broaden programmable logic from a component category into a complete embedded-computing platform. Xilinx had become known primarily for field-programmable gate arrays, but the company increasingly combined programmable logic with processors, high-speed transceivers, software tools and predesigned intellectual property. The goal was to give developers a single platform on which they could build both conventional software and specialized hardware functions. The first Zynq-7000 devices were announced in the early 2010s. They combined a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processing system with 7-series FPGA fabric, memory controllers, peripheral interfaces and programmable interconnect. This arrangement allowed an embedded product to boot an operating system or real-time software on the processor while assigning computationally intensive functions to hardware logic. Typical workloads included image processing, industrial control, communications, motor control, software-defined radio and customized peripheral interfaces. Zynq-7000 also represented a change in Xilinx's commercial positioning. Instead of selling only programmable logic chips, Xilinx could offer a system platform supported by development boards, reference designs, software libraries, operating-system integrations and design tools. This reduced the need for customers to combine a separate application processor with an FPGA and helped address applications where development flexibility, power efficiency and low latency were important. The subsequent Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC generation increased processing and integration capabilities. It combined ARM Cortex-A53 application processors with Cortex-R5 real-time processors, programmable logic and additional functions for security, graphics, video and connectivity. This made the family suitable for more demanding embedded products, including industrial automation, automotive control, aerospace and defense equipment, vision systems and edge-computing infrastructure. Xilinx also developed Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoCs, adding integrated analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion to the processor-and-programmable-logic architecture. RFSoCs targeted radio, radar, instrumentation and communications systems that could benefit from reducing board-level components and moving more of the signal chain into one device. Zynq products were used or promoted in several application ecosystems. Baidu's EdgeBoard used a Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC for edge artificial-intelligence development. ZF used Zynq technology in an automotive control platform for automated-driving workloads. Xilinx and Samsung described 5G deployments using programmable platforms for massive-MIMO and millimeter-wave systems. Safety certification for Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs also supported marketing to industries in which functional-safety processes are central to product qualification. The family was supported by Xilinx's Vivado design environment and later by Vitis, which was intended to unify software development and hardware acceleration workflows. These tools reflected the central Zynq proposition: engineers could divide an application between processor software and custom logic, then iterate without committing immediately to a fixed-function chip. AMD announced an agreement to acquire Xilinx in 2020 and completed the all-stock transaction in February 2022. Zynq consequently became part of AMD's adaptive-computing and embedded portfolio. Products initially carried AMD-Xilinx references, while AMD later consolidated former Xilinx branding under AMD. Although Zynq is not a standalone company and has no separate public listing, the name continues to identify an important class of AMD processor-plus-programmable-logic products.
- 2023
Former Xilinx branding consolidated under AMD
[1]AMD began consolidating Xilinx product branding under the AMD name while retaining product-family identifiers such as Zynq.
- 2022
Xilinx acquired by AMD
[1]AMD completed its acquisition of Xilinx, transferring ownership of the Zynq family to AMD.
- 2019
Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC generations expanded
[1]Xilinx announced expanded RFSoC generations covering additional sub-6 GHz radio requirements and 5G-oriented applications.
- 2018
Zynq UltraScale+ safety certification reported
[1]The Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC family received reported IEC 61508 certification at a level relevant to safety-oriented applications.
- 2012
Vivado design environment introduced
[1]Xilinx introduced Vivado as a next-generation design environment supporting advanced FPGA and SoC development.
- 2011
Zynq-7000 announced
[1]Xilinx announced the Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC family, integrating ARM processing with FPGA programmable logic.
Products and positioning
Hardware-software co-design platform for embedded systems that need processor-based software, programmable acceleration, real-time behavior and integrated connectivity.
System-on-chip · 2011
Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC
The original Zynq family combines a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processing system with Xilinx 7-series FPGA fabric, memory interfaces, peripherals and programmable interconnect. It is intended for embedded systems that require software execution alongside custom hardware acceleration, deterministic data paths or specialized interfaces. Applications include industrial automation, machine vision, communications, motor control, robotics and embedded Linux systems.
Multiprocessor system-on-chip · 2015
Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC
Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs extend the original architecture with ARM Cortex-A53 application processors, Cortex-R5 real-time processors, UltraScale+ programmable logic, security functions and additional video, graphics and connectivity capabilities. They target complex embedded products in automotive, industrial, aerospace, defense, vision and edge-computing markets, where different software and hardware domains must operate together.
Radio-frequency system-on-chip · 2017
Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC
The RFSoC family integrates processing cores and programmable logic with high-speed radio-frequency data converters. By incorporating more of the signal chain into one device, RFSoCs can reduce board complexity and support flexible digital processing in wireless infrastructure, radar, electronic warfare, test equipment and instrumentation. Later generations addressed broader sub-6 GHz and 5G New Radio requirements.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Zynq and 5G New Radio ecosystem promotion
South Korea · Global communications infrastructure
Xilinx promoted its Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC and related programmable platforms for 5G infrastructure, including a collaboration with Samsung involving massive-MIMO and millimeter-wave deployment work in South Korea.
Outcome. The collaboration was presented as an early commercial 5G New Radio deployment using Xilinx programmable technology.
- 2019Edge AI platform ecosystem
China · Global embedded-AI market
Xilinx supported ecosystem adoption of Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs through Baidu's EdgeBoard platform, which targeted edge artificial intelligence, video surveillance, driver assistance and robotics.
Outcome. The platform broadened visibility for Zynq in edge-computing and embedded-AI development.
Brand decisions
2022
Transfer Zynq ownership to AMD through the Xilinx acquisitionM&ABackground
AMD pursued Xilinx to expand its presence in adaptive computing, data-center acceleration and embedded systems.
Action taken
AMD completed the acquisition of Xilinx in an all-stock transaction.
Aftermath
Zynq became part of AMD's adaptive and embedded portfolio, with former Xilinx products subsequently consolidated under AMD branding.
Announced transaction value. Approximately $35 billion at announcement (October 2020 announcement; completed February 2022)
2011
Launch the Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoCProduct launchBackground
Xilinx sought to move beyond stand-alone programmable-logic devices by combining an embedded processor with FPGA resources in one chip.
Action taken
The company introduced Zynq-7000 devices built around ARM processing cores and 7-series programmable logic.
Aftermath
The family became the foundation for Xilinx's processor-plus-programmable-logic embedded strategy and later UltraScale+ generations.
Recent events
- 2023
AMD consolidates former Xilinx product branding[1]
M&A
AMD began consolidating former Xilinx products under AMD branding, while retaining established family names such as Zynq for product identification.
- 2022
AMD completes acquisition of Xilinx[1]
M&A
AMD completed its acquisition of Xilinx, bringing the Zynq family into AMD's adaptive and embedded-computing portfolio.
- 2019
ZF uses Zynq technology in ProAI automotive control unit[1]
Other
ZF announced that its ProAI automotive control unit used Xilinx Zynq technology for real-time data aggregation, preprocessing and artificial-intelligence acceleration in automated-driving applications.
- 2019
Baidu announces Zynq-based EdgeBoard platform[1]
Product launch
Baidu announced an edge-computing product based on the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC for applications including video security, driver assistance and robotics.
- 2019
Xilinx and Samsung announce 5G New Radio deployment using programmable technology[1]
Other
Xilinx and Samsung reported a commercial 5G New Radio deployment in South Korea using programmable platforms for massive-MIMO and millimeter-wave applications.
- 2018
Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC receives IEC 61508 safety certification[1]
Regulation · Product generation
The Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC family was reported as achieving a safety-integrity certification supporting use in industrial, automotive, aerospace and artificial-intelligence safety applications.
- 2011
Xilinx introduces Zynq-7000 family of All Programmable SoCs[1]
Product launch
Xilinx introduced a system-on-chip family combining ARM processing capabilities with FPGA-based programmable logic, establishing the core Zynq product concept.
Sources2 sources
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