AMD blocked RX 9050 review samples after it lost to three-year-old GPUs

AMD did not send review samples of the Radeon RX 9050 to press, according to TweakTown. The reason appears straightforward: the card loses to GPUs that launched three years ago.

Benchmarks cited in the report show the RX 9050 trailing older hardware in most gaming scenarios. AMD's RDNA 4 architecture powers the card, but the entry-level silicon can't keep pace with previous-generation parts that still populate the used market. No official statement from AMD explains the sample embargo.

This is bad news for budget builders. The RX 9050 was supposed to be AMD's answer at the sub-$200 tier, but if it can't beat 2023 cards that now sell for less, there's no value proposition. The 9070 XT remains the only RDNA 4 card worth considering, and that's a $400+ part.

If you're shopping entry-level, check BetterFPS's GPU recommendations before committing to a card that might already be obsolete.