This week, Best Buy is offering a $200 discount on the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme gaming handheld, bringing the price down to just $449.99. That's the lowest price we've seen for a new unit, even beating Black Friday deals. The offer also includes a complimentary official ROG Ally travel case, one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a two-month Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription. The ROG Ally stands out as one of the top gaming handhelds on the market, particularly if you prefer not to be locked into Steam's ecosystem.

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld for $449.99

Asus ROG Ally AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld

$649.99 $449.99 at Best Buy Save 31%

The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is a Windows 11 gaming handheld PC. This model is the premium version of the two ROG Ally options, featuring an AMD Zen 4-based Z1 Extreme processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It sports a 7-inch display 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 the familiar Windows 11 platform. This means the ROG Ally is compatible with virtually all Windows game launchers, including Steam, Battle.net, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, and others. This broader compatibility makes it especially appealing to gamers who want to play titles that aren't easily accessible on the Steam Deck.

In our Asus ROG Ally review, Robert Anderson noted, "The Asus ROG Ally genuinely feels like the portable Xbox Game Pass machine that fans have been requesting. Although it has some drawbacks—like a sometimes frustrating user interface, limited battery life, and no Steam Deck-style touchpads—it's incredibly enjoyable to use when everything clicks. With its vibrant 1080p screen that's brilliantly bright and ideal for gaming anywhere, combined with powerful hardware and an aggressive price, it could very well be the Steam Deck rival we've been waiting for."

Following CES 2025, the handheld gaming PC market is heating up with more competition on the way. The newest entry is the Lenovo Legion Go S, though it isn't necessarily superior to the ROG Ally and comes at a higher cost. The Windows 11 version with a Z2 Go processor and 32GB of RAM is priced at $729. A more budget-friendly model is scheduled to launch in May 2025, offering a choice between Windows 11 and SteamOS for just $599. Additionally, the Asus ROG Ally X was released in late 2024 and offers overall better performance, though it costs $300 more.