ROG Ally for $299.99? Here’s how to get the best handheld gaming console at a MASSIVE discount

The ROG Ally is comfortable, powerful, and for a limited time much more affordable than usual.

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The handheld gaming console market expanded rapidly in 2023. We now have excellent options for gaming on the go from Valve, Lenovo, Logitech, and ASUS. The ASUS ROG Ally sits atop our list of thebest gaming handhelds 2024, and right now you can get it for a massive discount through Best Buy. You can save $200 on the base model ROG Ally or get it for an even larger discount if you’re willing to buy one with an open box.

ASUS ROG Ally |from 299.99 at Best Buy (open box)

The ROG Ally is the best handheld gaming console you can buy right now. It’s powerful, comfortable, and works with several storefronts and services, such as Battle.net, Epic Games, and Xbox Game Pass.

✅Perfect for:Playing PC games on the go.

❌Avoid if:You want the convenience of running Linux on a gaming console.

💰Price check:$507.95 at Newegg

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

Best handheld gaming console

ASUS first announced the ROG Ally in early 2023. The console has an ergonomic design that makes it more comfortable to use than many competing consoles. While the overall design looks similar to other handheld consoles, ASUS paid special attention to how the ROG Ally feels in the hand.

“From the moment I pulled the Ally out of the box, I knew my hands would love it. Hand grip and comfort are important to me, considering that my pinkies tend to numb when playing the Switch or Steam Deck after 30 minutes. However, I’m happy to say that in the 24-plus hours I’ve spent playing with the Asus gaming handheld, I haven’t experienced any finger numbness, cramping, or discomfort,” said our Rebecca Spear in ourASUS ROG Ally review.

Spear ran the ROG Ally through benchmark testing in her review. That review featured an ROG Ally with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme. The long-in-short is that many of thebest PC gamescan run smoothly at 1080p at 60 FPS or higher on the ROG Ally with that more powerful processor. You’ll see lower performance with the more affordable model with an AMD Ryzen Z1 (non-extreme).

You can enhance the performance of the ROG Ally greatly with theASUS ROG XG Mobile eGPU, though at that point the ROG Ally is not exactly a handheld gaming console.

The ROG Ally runs Windows 11, which has its strengths and weaknesses on a device of this size. Navigating the device isn’t as smooth as a console with SteamOS, such as theSteam Deck, but compatibility is better. You can play games from Battle.net, Epic Games,Xbox Game Passon the ROG Ally without any extra work.

ASUS ROG Ally deal

While you can get an ASUS ROG Ally for as little as $299.99 with an open-box discount, I don’t recommend getting the cheapest version. Best Buy’s website outlines the different conditions the ROG Ally is available in. A device labeled “Open-Box Excellent” looks brand new, includes all original parts and accessories, and “typically contains packaging.” In contrast, “Open-Box Fair” means the device has “significant cosmetic signs of use” and that “vital accessories may be missing.There’s a fairly large difference between Excellent and Fair, and I suggest going with an Excellent ROG Ally. You can order an Open-Box Excellent conditionASUS ROG Ally for $339.99right now.

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If you don’t want to deal with open-box deals, you can also get the ROG Ally at a large discount brand new. TheROG Ally with a Ryzen Z1 costs $399.99, thanks to a $200 discount. The model with anAMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme is $100 off, bringing its price down to $599.99.

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.