Save $150 on the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme: The Ideal Windows Gaming Handheld for Dorm Rooms

Oh man, handheld gaming gadgets are going nuts right now. So, the Nintendo Switch 2 just dropped, and everyone’s losing it. But check this out—Asus throws in their ROG Ally with a Z1 Extreme processor, and Best Buy’s got it for $499. Seems like a steal, right? This guy—Ally—sits kind of in between Asus’s other versions, the ROG Ally Z1 and X. Don’t ask me why they pick these names, it’s all marketing sorcery.

Anyway, the market’s brimming with contenders like Valve’s Steam Deck, MSI’s Claw (weird name, huh?), and Lenovo’s Legion Go. Asus is running alongside these big dogs in the PC handheld race. I just heard, by the way, they might be dropping an Xbox-branded ROG Ally soon. Imagine the competition then! Prices might shake up when new stuff drops, but for now, that $499 deal is as good as it gets for a Windows 11 gizmo.

Now, talk about the Z1 processor—it’s like your phone battery’s best friend. It sips power like a refined wine taster, so your game time doesn’t die on you unexpectedly. Well, unless you go overboard. There’s something about the vibes when you plug it in though—it’s smoother than a jazz saxophone on a lazy evening compared to Steam Deck. Framerate heaven, honestly.

Got my hands on the ROG Ally for a test drive. Honestly? I was hyped—lighter than you’d think and the display just pops. Colors that slap you in the face with vibrancy. Plus, running Windows 11 means you can get weird with almost any PC game—you’re basically holding a mini gaming PC.

Oh, quick tip—if saving cash is your thing, maybe wander over to some PC hardware deals. They’ve got everything from SSDs to graphics cards. But don’t let me derail you—if handheld gaming’s your jam, that ROG Ally’s waiting!