Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme: Save $150 on Top Windows Handheld

For a limited time this week, Best Buy is offering a $150 discount on the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme handheld gaming PC, bringing the price down to just $499.99 (originally $650). As an added bonus, you'll receive a one-month free trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The ROG Ally remains one of the top Windows-based gaming handhelds on the market, only potentially 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 one 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 model represents the premium version of the two Asus 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 crisp 1080p resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. While its primary competitor, the Steam Deck, operates on Linux-based Steam OS, the ROG Ally runs Windows 11. Steam OS is generally considered more user-friendly, but Windows 11 provides greater customization options and makes it simpler to install game clients beyond the Steam ecosystem.

In our comprehensive Asus ROG Ally review, Robert Anderson noted that "the Asus ROG Ally genuinely feels like the portable Xbox Game Pass device that many gamers have been requesting. Although it has some limitations including a sometimes frustrating user interface, limited battery life, and the absence of Steam Deck-style touchpads, there's no denying how enjoyable this handheld becomes when everything clicks. With its stunning 1080p screen that's remarkably bright and ideal for gaming anywhere, combined with its powerful hardware and competitive pricing, it might just be the Steam Deck rival we've been waiting for."

Superior handheld gaming PCs come with significantly higher price tags

Several newer gaming handheld PCs have recently launched that offer improvements over the Asus ROG Ally. One example is Asus' own ROG Ally X. It uses the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor but features a substantially larger battery, increased RAM, expanded built-in storage, and dual USB Type-C ports instead of just one. However, it retails for $800 at Best Buy—$300 more than the standard ROG Ally—making the price difference difficult to justify for most users.

Another recent 2025 release we strongly recommend is the Lenovo Legion Go S Steam Edition gaming handheld. Similar to the ROG Ally X, it incorporates the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor but doubles both the RAM and storage capacity. It also features a larger 9-inch display and stands as the first Steam-based handheld gaming device aside from the Steam Deck itself. In terms of features, it surpasses the aging Steam Deck, at least until Valve releases an updated model. The current price at Best Buy is $830, meaning you would need to spend an additional $330 compared to the ROG Ally.