Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme: $150 Off Top Gaming Handheld

For a limited time, Best Buy is offering $150 off the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme handheld gaming PC, reducing the price to just $499.99 (originally $650). As an added bonus, buyers will receive a free one-month trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The ROG Ally remains one of the top Windows-based gaming handhelds on the market, only being outperformed by newer models that cost at least $300 more.

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld for $499.99

Asus ROG Ally AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld

Includes 1 month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
$649.99
save 23%
$499.99 at Best Buy

The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is a Windows 11 gaming handheld PC. This premium model features an AMD Zen 4-based Z1 Extreme processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It sports a 7-inch 1080p display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Unlike the Steam Deck which runs on Linux-based Steam OS, the ROG Ally operates on Windows 11. While Steam OS offers simpler navigation, Windows 11 provides greater customization and easier access to non-Steam gaming platforms.

In our Asus ROG Ally review, Robert Anderson noted that "the Asus ROG Ally delivers the portable Xbox Game Pass experience fans have wanted. Despite some shortcomings like battery life limitations and the absence of Steam Deck-style touchpads, it's incredibly enjoyable when everything clicks. Its vibrant 1080p display shines in any lighting, and the powerful hardware combined with this aggressive pricing makes it the legitimate Steam Deck challenger we've awaited."

Upgrading to better handhelds comes at a steep premium

While newer gaming handhelds outperform the ROG Ally, they do so at significantly higher price points. Asus' own ROG Ally X shares the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor but upgrades to a larger battery, more RAM, expanded storage, and dual USB-C ports. However, at $800 ($300 more than the ROG Ally), the improvements may not justify the cost for most users.

The newly announced Lenovo Legion Go S Steam Edition represents another step up with double the RAM and storage capacity of the ROG Ally, plus a larger 9-inch display. As the first third-party Steam-powered handheld, it outperforms the original Steam Deck - at least until Valve releases an updated version. Currently priced at $830, it demands an additional $330 over the ROG Ally.

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