These early Asus ROG Ally Black Friday deals are keeping me from thinking about the white Steam Deck
Nov. 15, 2024Things are ramping up in the handheld price ring.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The new white Steam Deck has been living in my head rent free this week. That’s hardly surprising since I loveValve’s portable powerhouse, but with Black Friday on the way, I’ll no doubt end up lusting overAsusROG Ally deals instead. In fact, the handheld already has me in its clutches with the kind of prices I’d expect to see during the main event.
Right now, you can grab the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme modelfor $499.99, thanks to a “doorbuster” $150 discount. It’ll normally set you back $649.99 at full price, but it is the version featured on ourbest gaming handheldsroundup. If you’re looking for something with lighter performance, the cheaper Z1 model is also downto $349.99from $449.99, a record low price that’s fierce enough to rivalBlack Friday Steam Deck dealsand any other alternative offers.
The last time the ROG Ally Z1E managed to reach under $500 was August, and I was pretty stoked about the discount. It’s not dirt cheap, but you’ll normally only see around $50 off the beefier model outside of Black Friday and big sale event. The cheaper Z1 variant ultimately makes up for its lighter performance here with its new record low price, undercutting even cheapest handhelds like the Steam Deck LCD.
Asus ROG Ally (Ryzen Z1) |$499.99$349 at Best BuySave $150 -Best Buy is once again taking the lead with ROG Ally deals with $150 off bringing the Z1 handheld to its lowest ever price. Amazon did manage to cut it down to $389 recently, but this is the early Black Friday price I’ve been waiting for.
Buy it if:
✅ You want access to Game Pass✅ You’d like a 1080p screen✅ You mostly play indie games
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want something more console-like❌ You need better performance
Price Check:Walmart $399|Amazon $499.99
Asus ROG Ally (Ryzen Z1 Extreme) |$649.99$499.99 at Best BuySave $150 -The top end Z1 Extreme Ally also has $150 off, bringing it down to its previously set record low. It’s exactly the kind of price I’m looking for on Black Friday itself, making this a solid early offer for anyone seeking powerful, portable performance.
Buy it if:
✅ You need great portable performance✅ You want to play the latest releases✅ You have games on more than Steam
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You only play lower-spec games❌ You’d rather use something more console-like
Price Check:Walmart $499|Amazon $689.69
Is the Asus ROG Ally the right handheld for you?
To some, picking up anAsus ROG Allyover something like theSteam Deck OLEDwill be a no brainer. It’s got a punchierAMDRyzen Z1 Extreme APU, a 120Hz 1080p screen to match, and benefits from wider storefront access thanks to Windows 11. Considering the white version of Valve’s latest gaming handheld is set to cost $679, the Ally is also a comparative bargain, but it’s easy to let specs cloud over the bigger picture.
If you’re a console gamer, or try to avoid tinkering with settings and programs where possible, the Steam Deck is still going to check most of your handheld boxes. Valve has effectively created an extension of the PC platform that provides an all-inclusive place to run games with a layer of compatibility reassurance. That’s fancy talk for the handheld feeling pretty much like a portable console than a compact rig, something that helps break down barriers to the wonderful world of Steam.
Of course, if you’ve always been a PC player, the idea of not being able to run specific games or storefronts will be an ick. There are SteamOS workarounds for those of you who like to muck around, and it is possible to get the Steam Deck performing all the same tricks as the ROG Ally. But, Asus' Windows 11 handheld is going to function like a desktop system from the get-go, enabling you to download and play adventures across Steam, the Epic Game Store, and Xbox Game Pass.
Is that going to matter if you just want to play Stardew Valley in bed? Absolutely not, but anyone used to full PC performance might feel more at home with an Ally over a Deck. In that instance, I do think the ROG Ally Z1 is also worth considering at its lowest price, as you’ll get a system that can still handle older games and indie romps and serve as the next best thing to an Xbox handheld (take that, Spencer).
The TLDR is this - if you want a comfortable console-like experience, the Steam Deck is where its at. Looking to embrace versatility and performance at the expense of handheld optimization? The Asus ROG Ally is a solid option.
On the Windows 11 side of things, there are plenty of portable PC alternatives with different quirks, like the 8.8-inchLenovo Legion Gowith detachable controllers and theZotac Zonewith its pro gamepad elements and AMOLED screen. Those of you with extra pennies to spend might even want to branch out to boutique devices like theAyaneo Flip DS, a dual-screen handheld that’s perfect for 3DS emulation.
Personally, I still think the ROG Ally strikes a better balance between specs and price for most players, and theAsus ROG Ally Xis a thing for those of you craving better battery life and more RAM.
Looking for more seasonal savings? Swing byBlack Friday Nintendo Switch dealsfor more handheld offers. Alternatively, take a peek atBlack Friday monitor dealsandBlack Friday TV dealsfor a screen upgrade.
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
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.
After 18 months, I’ve finally found a daft handheld that rivals the Tetris Mcnugget - a drumstick KFC Tamagotchi that’s hungry for chicken
Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids”
