Starting this week, Best Buy is offering an impressive $200 discount on the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme gaming handheld, bringing its price down to just $449.99. This is the lowest price I've seen for a brand-new unit, even lower than during Black Friday sales. Along with the discount, you'll receive a free official ROG Ally travel case, one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and two months of a Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription. The ROG Ally stands out as one of the top gaming handhelds on the market, especially for those who prefer not to be confined to Steam's ecosystem.
Asus ROG Ally AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld
$649.99 save 31% $449.99 at Best Buy
The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is a high-performance, Windows 11-based gaming handheld PC. It represents the more advanced model of the two Asus ROG Ally options, featuring an AMD Zen 4 based Z1 Extreme CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The device sports a 7-inch screen with a crisp 1080p resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
Unlike its primary competitor, the Steam Deck, which operates on a Linux-based Steam OS, the ROG Ally runs on Windows 11. This gives it a significant advantage in compatibility with various Windows-based game launchers, including Steam, Battle.net, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, and others. This makes the ROG Ally particularly appealing to gamers interested in titles that are either unavailable or difficult to set up on the Steam Deck.
In our Asus ROG Ally review, Robert Anderson noted that "the Asus ROG Ally truly feels like the portable Xbox Game Pass machine that many fans have been clamoring for. While it has some drawbacks, such as a frustrating user experience, poor battery life, and the absence of Steam Deck-style touchpads, the fun factor of this handheld is undeniable when it's in full swing. Its beautiful 1080p screen is bright and perfect for on-the-go gaming under any conditions. Coupled with its powerful specs and competitive pricing, it might just be the Steam Deck competitor we've been waiting for."
With CES 2025 now behind us, the handheld gaming PC market is poised for increased competition. The latest contender is the Lenovo Legion Go S, which, while not necessarily superior to the ROG Ally, comes with a higher price tag. This model, featuring Windows 11, an Z2 Go processor, and 32GB of RAM, is priced at $729. However, a more budget-friendly version is set to launch in May 2025, offering a choice between Windows 11 and SteamOS for $599. Additionally, the Asus ROG Ally X, released in late 2024, offers enhanced performance at a $300 premium.
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