The Handheld Gaming Revolution Continues: Zotac Unveils the Zone

The Steam Deck’s success has sparked a wave of innovation in handheld gaming PCs. Following in the footsteps of Asus, Lenovo, and MSI, Zotac is now teasing its own entry into the market: the Zone portable game machine. Although details are scarce, we know the Zone will feature an OLED display and advanced triggers, setting it apart from its competitors.

The handheld gaming market is heating up

Since the Steam Deck ignited interest in handheld PC gaming, the market has seen a surge in devices running Windows with low-power x86 processors. These devices, like the AMD Z1 Extreme, can run most modern games at low or medium settings. However, battery life has been a concern, with Asus reportedly addressing this issue with the upgraded Ally X.

Zotac’s blog post reveals that the Zone will boast “2-stage adjustable triggers,” similar to the Sony DualSense. This feature allows for enhanced functionality, but it’s unclear whether the device will include mapping software to let gamers control the triggers manually.

The centerpiece of the Zone is undoubtedly its 7-inch OLED screen, complete with multitouch support and a “high refresh.” While Valve recently updated the Steam Deck with an OLED screen, most competitors still use cheaper LCD panels. Unfortunately, Zotac hasn’t disclosed the resolution or brightness of its OLED screen.

The Steam Deck kicked off a new era in handheld gaming

Zotac has traditionally offered budget-friendly gaming hardware, which is appreciated in a market where prices are constantly rising. Although the build quality and aesthetic may suffer, the Zone’s design looks promising, with oversized triggers and an LED light strip on the back.

The company will have working prototypes available at Computex next week, allowing attendees to play games on the Zone demo units. With development well underway, we can expect the Zone to hit the market soon. Pricing is still unknown, but given the competition, it’s likely to fall between $500 and $1,000.

The Zone is set to shake up the handheld gaming market

As the handheld gaming market continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the Zone is an exciting addition to the scene. With its OLED display and advanced triggers, it’s poised to give competitors a run for their money. Stay tuned for more updates on this promising new device.