Forget Steam Deck OLED — ASUS ROG Ally is $399!! (It is even cheaper than on Cyber Monday and it crushes the competition)

Bag the perfect Xmas gaming gift before the season starts.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

I know we just finished talking about Cyber Monday, but here’s a secret tip: Most deals come back for the holidays, and some drop even lower. It’s already happened for the ASUS ROG Ally Z1,now $399.99 at Best Buy(it was on sale for $449, then dropped to $429 today, and now Best Buy marked it down even further to its lowest price ever), and even its beefier cousin with a stronger processor, the Z1 Extreme, is down to$599.99 at Best Buy, too. Perfect for handheld PC gaming, it’s beating its rivals like Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch for value at this price.

ASUS ROG Ally — Ryzen Z1|was $599now $399.99 at Best Buy

ASUS' beastly gaming handheld is aimed squarely at the Steam Deck but also makes a compelling case over the Nintendo Switch thanks to its overwhelming power, fast and responsive screen, and all the freedom and customization from this design and the use of Windows 11.Open-box, where available, is just $299.99.

✅Perfect for:Those who want to play practically every PC game imaginable while on the go, on a vivid and responsive 120Hz display

❌Avoid if:You’re really just looking to play modern Nintendo Switch games (although you can absolutely legally emulate backups on the ROG Ally, if you want)

💰Price check:$599.99 at ASUS eShop

👀Alternative:ROG Ally — Ryzen Z1 Extreme |was $699.99 now $599.99 at Best Buy

🔍Our review:Asus ROG Ally: So close to being the perfect gaming handheld

Deals STILL AVAILABLE!

Coming from a Steam Deck fanatic..

•3 classic games less than $3 each•My favorite FPS is STILL 36% off•2 top indie games for under $10•Xbox fight stick lowest-ever price•Series X mini fridge still JUST $40

I can feel the anger fromSteam Deckfans already, mostly because I’m one of them. Look, I get it. SteamOS is a fantastic operating system, and there’s nothing wrong with Linux. However, no matter how many advancements it makes, it’ll be years before it catches up to the sheer level of compatibility and stability that Windows 11 on the ASUS ROG Ally offers.

It’s not just me who came around, as Jez Corden agreed thathe was wrong about the ASUS ROG Allysince the initial launch impressions. However, the teething problems of running Windows on a handheld are undeniable — Microsoft has a long journey to catch up with Valve in that respect. Still, most gamers are interested in sheer processing power.

If I were to advise parents on a handheld gaming machine with a budget around the $400-450 mark, I’d push them toward this ROG Ally deal before therecently launched Steam Deck OLED. Sure, anyone can learn the ropes and make Valve’s handheld do magical things behind the scenes, but your average teenager likelyalready knowshow to use Windows if they want to tinker.

For those unfamiliar with the category, stick with theZ1 version at $499.99.If your recipient has explicitly dropped hints about the ROG Ally, chances are they’re typically more interested in theZ1 Extreme version for $599.99. The former is fine for a first-time handheld gaming PC and will easily play modern games, and the latter ‘Extreme’ model is geared towards the most demanding games with more powerful components lurking under the hood.

Already bought one during Cyber Monday? Best Buy price matches during these promotional periods, and aMy Best Buy membershipallows you an extended returns window.

Get the Windows Central Newsletter

All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.

Ben is a Senior Editor at Windows Central, covering everything related to technology hardware and software. He regularly goes hands-on with the latest Windows laptops, components inside custom gaming desktops, and any accessory compatible with PC and Xbox. His lifelong obsession with dismantling gadgets to see how they work led him to pursue a career in tech-centric journalism after a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support.