The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is currently available at Best Buy for just $450, a significant drop from its regular price of $650. This limited-time offer not only lowers the price by $200 but also includes a complimentary official ROG Ally Travel Case worth $40.
The handheld gaming PC features a 7-inch 1080p screen powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, alongside 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD. For those seeking more power, the Z1 Extreme has advantages over the base model, including additional CPU cores and enhanced GPU capabilities. While it won’t run the most demanding games at max settings, players can generally expect a 1080p experience with a minimum frame rate of 30fps in many AAA titles.
A 512GB SSD fills up quickly, but the ROG Ally includes a microSD card slot for easy storage expansion. Popular options like a 1TB SanDisk Ultra microSD card are presently priced around $70. Alternatively, users can upgrade to a larger M.2 2230 NVMe SSD, such as Corsair’s 1TB MP600 Mini SSD for about $80.
Although using Windows on a handheld device can be tricky, Asus has an app called Armoury Crate that simplifies the experience, allowing users to enjoy a more console-like interface. For an enhanced experience, pairing the ROG Ally with a docking station is advisable; options like the budget-friendly JSAUX dock are available for $40. Razer is also set to release an RGB-enabled docking station priced at $80.
The ROG Ally has gained traction since its June 2023 launch and serves as a notable alternative to the Steam Deck, particularly for Windows gamers. Following the Z1 Extreme and Z1 models’ success, Asus introduced the ROG Ally X last year, which features upgrades such as 24GB of RAM and improved battery life, though it comes with a higher price tag, starting at $800.
As handheld gaming continues to evolve, the forthcoming Lenovo Legion Go S, set for a February 14 release, is anticipated to attract attention with its Ryzen Z2 Go Chip and upgraded features.
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