Save $150 on the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Windows Gaming Handheld — Ideal for Dorm Room Fun

I was just thinking about this wild race between gaming handhelds lately. You’ve got Nintendo’s Switch 2 dropping in like some rockstar, and then there’s Asus tossing their ROG Ally into the ring. Why did I start thinking about rock concerts? Hmm. Anyway, Best Buy has this ROG Ally deal—$499, sounds like a nice number if you ask me. It’s got this Z1 Extreme processor. They have these other variants too, like some kind of burger menu. Z1 to X or something. But seriously, the options are plenty.

And, it’s not just Asus trying to steal the spotlight. Valve’s Steam Deck, MSI Claw, Lenovo Legion Go, all jostling for elbow room. Heard a rumor Asus might throw an Xbox-flavored ROG Ally out soon. What’s next? A toaster that plays Skyrim? Totally possible. Right now, though, this Ally price feels like the best pick, with all those discounts floating around like confetti.

Oh, and this processor thing, the Z1. Supposedly sips power like a dainty tea drinker, making the battery life solid. Play with the screen brightness, and it might last longer than… well, you know, something that lasts a long time. But plug it in, and the thing’s a beast – those framerates just fly. Like, if Steam Deck’s a reliable old truck, then Ally’s more of a sleek racecar. It handles better when juiced up on mains, that’s for sure.

So, I fiddled around with the ROG Ally, gave it a little test drive. More powerful than its older sibling, the Z1, and lighter? Man, didn’t expect that to matter so much. That display though—super bright, like, close-your-eyes kind of bright. Running Windows 11, it’s basically a tiny PC. Or maybe a little monster that loves gaming.

If you’re in the mood to save some bucks, maybe check out the deals over on PC Hardware, or if you’re a storage freak—those SSD and Hard Drive Deals might be calling your name. Or graphics cards, monitors, CPU deals, you know, the usual tempting stuff. Happy deal hunting!