The Asus ROG Ally just dropped to a new record low, and I can’t believe the handheld is this cheap
Aug. 16, 2024A ridiculously low price for one of the best handheld gaming PCs around.
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I’m always keeping an eye out forAsusROG Ally deals, and the Z1 Extreme handheld just dropped to a ridiculously low price. I honestly figured I’d have to wait for Black Friday to see the portable PC drift under $500, but Best Buy has made me feel very silly with this random discount.
Right now, you can grab theAsus ROG Allyforjust $499.99at Best Buy, as a whopping $150 discount has knocked it to a new record low. At full price, you’re looking at $649.99, and while it usually ends up discounted to around $550, this current deal makes it $50 cheaper than the 512GBSteam Deck OLED. As someone who adoresValve’s portable powerhouse, I’d find it extremely hard to ignore its biggest rival right now, especially since it can boost fps further and has a faster 120Hz 1080p screen.
Asus ROG Ally (Ryzen Z1 Extreme) |$699.99$499.99 at Best BuySave $150 -This fresh discount brings the ROG Ally down to a new record low, and it also means it’s $50 cheaper than the Steam Deck OLED. You’ll normally pay a chunk over $500 for this handheld even with deal applied, so it’s worth jumping on this offer while it’s still around.
Buy it if:
✅ You prefer to play with a controller✅ You can play plugged in most of the time✅ You want to play as many games as possible
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You only play Steam games❌ You want to boost fps further at 1080p
Price Check:Walmart (out of stock)|Amazon $599
Should you buy the Asus ROG Ally?
Discounts aside, the Asus ROG Ally fully deserves its seat at thebest gaming handheldtable, and it’s one of the most impressive handhelds I’ve tested. My fellow hardware editor Tabitha Baker agrees, dubbing the portable PC “a stealthy powerhouse” in her review.
It is worth noting that the Ally had to work hard after launch to achieve true greatness, and there are still caveats tied to the device. For starters, using Windows for portable gaming isn’t always ideal, asMicrosoft’s OS lacks the same level of optimization as SteamOS. Efforts are underway to tighten the platform’s experience, as a newcompact Xbox Game Barjust landed that provides quicker access to games and settings. Still, the operating system is a handheld Achilles Heel, so it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re used to console-like environments.
On the flip side, the ROG Ally stands as one of the most powerful handheld gaming PCs on the market thanks to its speedyAMDRyzen Z1 chip. I’ve cross-benchmarked both, and Asus’ device can boost fps to around 60fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p, whereas the Deck caps out at around 45fps. That’s to be expected given Valve’s using a lower-spec custom AMD chip, but it’s a strong reason to pick up its competitor for under $500.
Outside of rivalry, the ROG Ally faces challenges from its own handheld linage, as there’s a beefierAsus ROG Ally Xhandheld now roaming the battlefield. The new portable on the block boasts a much larger 80Whrs battery versus the original’s 40Whrs, and you’ll also benefit from 24GB of faster LPDDR5 RAM and a full-sized 1.5TB M.2 SSD. Simply put, spending more on the higher-spec version will grant you longer playtime, a slight performance boost, and storage that’s easier to upgrade.
Naturally, there are a ton of reasons to go for other handhelds over the ROG Ally, with the Steam Deck OLED boasting nicer visuals and premium options like theAyaneo Flip DSoffering a unique secondary screen (which makes for a neat way to emulate 3DS games. However, I think most players looking for a punchy on-the-go PC experience will want to pick up Asus’ contender while it’s sitting at $500, especially since it’ll save you waiting till Black Friday for a similar deal.
Put it this way, if you grab the Ally now, you’ll get to see out the summer tackling your Steam backlog in the sunshine.
Rocking Valve’s portable PC? Check out thebest Steam Deck accessoriesandbest Steam Deck dockfor great handheld add-ons. Alternatively, take a peek at thebest gaming laptopsfor mobile machines with more oomph.
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I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
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