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Why wait for the ASUS ROG Ally X? The original just got $100 cheaper in timely Best Buy deal

The new model may be further out than we'd hoped - but that means this discount on the OG ASUS ROG Ally got more appealing.
Last Updated on May 10, 2024
A gaming handheld with a white body and a 120Hz FHD 1080p display screen showing various game icons, featuring purple control sticks on a turquoise background.
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Last night, ASUS confirmed that it’s planning to launch a new version of its popular ROG Ally handheld PC – but rather than revealing it outright, their event was more to declare the actual full specs reveal won’t happen until next month. As The Verge reports – rather than a full on new machine the ASUS Rog Ally X will more be a revision to the existing model. Still, it’s enough that that existing model is now getting a price cut – so if you can’t wait for a street date for the X, the first version just got a whole lot more appealing.

Save $100 NOW!

ASUS ROG Ally 7″ 120Hz FHD 1080p Gaming Handheld

AMD Ryzen Z1 Processor – 512GB – White

So if you’re wanting to take advantage and you just don’t want to wait for the new model later this year, or you’ve been waiting for a discount before taking the plunge, now might be a perfect time. Best Buy are offering $100 off the ASUS ROG Ally with AMD Ryzen Z1 Processor, bringing the price down to $399.99.

Let’s break down this Steam Deck rival, and exactly what you’re getting for your money – but if a ROG Ally doesn’t appeal, check out our picks of the best gaming laptops of 2024 so far.

Why you should consider this ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld deal

  • AMD Ryzen Z1 CPU & RDNA 3 graphics: A high performance CPU & GPU combo, built on the Zen 4 architecture and supporting features like FidelityFX Super Resolution to boost framerates.
  • Play your existing library on the go: Take your favorite PC games with you, as it comes with Windows 11 out of the box and support Steam, Epic, GOG and more.
  • ROG Intelligent Cooling: No matter how hectic the action gets, the ROG Ally remains comfortable in your hands while keeping the system running optimally with its bespoke pipe cooling system.
  • Crystal clear touch display: With a refresh rate of 120Hz, supporting Full HD with a wide color gamut of sRGB 100%, plus it’s a touch panel – your games will look fantastic.
  • 3 Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included: Not only will you have access to your existing library, but get a whole truck load of additional games to play.

What we think of this ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld deal

You’re getting a fantastically powerful handheld gaming machine for your money here with 512GB of storage for almost $100 less than the same price Steam Deck. And while the upgraded ROG Ally X may be on the way, it seems like it’ll be more of an incremental upgrade than necessarily a must-have new machine, so if you can’t wait or you’re on a slightly tighter budget than you think the upgraded version will likely ring in at – then this is the perfect alternative.

Alternatively, consider some of these gaming laptop deals:

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Lenovo Legion 5 15ARH7H

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ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop

16” 16:10 FHD 165Hz, GeForce RTX 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX, 16GB DDR5, 512GB PCIe SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JV-AS73, Eclipse Gray

Ben Borthwick is the Deals Editor for BGFG. A keen gamer with over 25 years experience playing on PC, he's clued up when it comes to gaming hardware, tech and spotting a good deal.