This $100 price drop on one of the best handhelds for Xbox Game Pass and native PC gaming is no April Fools Joke
Get your hands on the Asus Rog Ally with this 20% discount only on Best Buy.
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Last year in 2023, ASUS debuted the ASUS ROG Ally, a handheld gaming console built to compete against the ever popular Steam Deck handheld. It is a powerful device capable of playing Xbox and PC video games both locally and online cloud gaming.
The ASUS ROG Ally normally fetches a heftyMSRP of $499.99. However, Best Buy is currently hosting aspecial 20% Easter Monday discountfor the device,selling it a $399.99.
It should be noted that this is the Z1 model, not the Z1 Extreme model. The Z1 model is a fair bit less powerful than its Z1E cousin, but it’ll power through 3D games on the more simplistic-looking end, and run 2D games flawlessly.
ASUS ROG Ally (Z1) |was $499.99now $399.99 at Best Buy
Take gaming with you on the go with the ASUS ROG Ally. This device will allow you play xCloud games, Steam games, and more with its Ryzen Z1 Series processors and Windows 11 compatibility.
✅Perfect for: Gamers looking for a high-quality portable gaming PC system that can run even modern games at medium settings.
❌Avoid it if: You’d prefer a more streamlined, curated experience, rather than dealing with full-fat Windows. In this scenario, an Xbox Series S or Steam Deck might be a better option.
💰Price check:$479.99 at Walmart
ASUS' handheld gaming PC is a gamer’s best ally
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While this deal for the ASUS ROG Ally may look like an April Fool’s Joke, we can assure you that it is 100% genuine and a great opportunity to net yourself one of thebest gaming handheldsat a discounted price.
As mentioned in our ownRebecca Spears' review of the Asus Rog Ally, it is an exceptional gaming handheld system capable of running games natively from Steam, Xbox Game Pass, or indeed, any PC storefront. It can play offline titles or online games through online services like Battle.net, Epic Games Store, orXbox Game Pass, it’s also a great option for cloud gaming withNVIDIA GeForce Nowor Xbox Cloud Gaming.
RELATED:Six-month ASUS ROG Ally re-review.
The ASUS ROG Ally is equipped with powerful hardware to ensure your games are running at high graphical settings. These include an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme or AMD Ryzen Z1 processor, a 7-inch 1920x1080 (16:9) IPS touchscreen with VRR support, and a Zero Gravity thermal system with dual fans. It should be noted that this is not the Z1 Extreme model, which can run even higher-end games capably. The power on this device is perhaps more comparable to a Steam Deck, although it beats the Steam Deck too in some scenarios. It’ll power through a low of modern games on low or medium settings at 720p, and run 2D games like Hollow Knight flawlessly.
In addition, the ASUS ROG Ally runs fullWindows 11so you can browse and install non-gaming apps on your handheld, customizable control settings, and a sleek ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to use for long periods of time.
That being said, there are some caveats to consider before taking advantage of this deal. The ASUS ROG Ally has relatively short battery life of up to 4 hours when not charging, it is installed with a ton of bloatware you will want to turn off to get better performances, and it can potentiallycause microSD cards to overheat and malfunction— although firmware updates have improved this issue. You can also offset the battery issues by combining it with a power bank from ourbest ASUS ROG Ally accessoriesround up.
If you can overlook the drawbacks, and if you’re looking for a high-quality portable handheld system to play thebest Xbox gamesandbest PC gameswhile on the go, then the ASUS ROG Ally is for you. Especially with Best Buy’s special discount,reducing its MSRP from $499.99 to $399.99, which willsave you $100when purchasing it.
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Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander’s expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry’s most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is!
