Embark on a Gaming Odyssey: Zotac’s Gaming Zone Handheld
As a gamer on-the-go, I’m always on the lookout for the next innovative handheld device that can deliver an exceptional gaming experience. At Computex 2024, I stumbled upon Zotac’s Gaming Zone, a PC gaming handheld that has left me even more excited than the ROG Ally X. Here’s why.
A New Contender in the PC Gaming Handheld Market
The PC gaming handheld market has seen significant growth since Valve’s Steam Deck picked up where the Nintendo Switch left off. We’ve seen a number of PC gaming handhelds from the biggest names in the business, including Asus’ ROG Ally and MSI’s Claw. However, Zotac’s Gaming Zone is a game-changer.
Specs and Features
The Zotac Gaming Zone boasts an impressive spec sheet, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U APU, 16GB of LPDDR5X-7500 memory, and a 512GB M.2 NVME PCIE 4.0 SSD. The 7-inch FHD AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and a brightness of up to 800 nits. The device also features Hall Effect joysticks, a front-facing camera, and customizable dials.
A Seamless Gaming Experience
The Zotac Gaming Zone runs on Windows 11 Home, which can be a blessing and a curse. To get around the general clunkiness of Windows, Zotac has created its own launcher called One Launcher. It feels similar to Armory Crate on the ROG Ally, and besides finding and opening games, I was able to use it to adjust the device’s settings fairly easily.
Design and Ergonomics
The design of the Zotac Gaming Zone is reminiscent of the Steam Deck, with symmetrical joysticks and dual trackpads. The layout of the Start, Select, and other function buttons is similar too. However, the device has a front-facing camera on the top left of its 7-inch FHD AMOLED screen, a first for PC gaming handhelds. The camera allows for livestreaming while playing, a feature that sets it apart from its competitors.
Trigger Stops and Kickstand
The Zotac Gaming Zone also features trigger stops, which can be cut in half for quick shots in first-person shooters. I really liked how the triggers felt on the device, and I’d love to test them out in a driving game like Forza Horizon 5. The device also has a kickstand, something you won’t find on the ROG Ally or the MSI Claw.
Docking Station
Every PC gaming handheld needs a dock to go with it, and Zotac already has a first-party one for the Zotac Gaming Zone. The docking station has all the ports you need, along with an interesting trick up its sleeve. Around back, there’s USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, and a hard-wired USB-C port used for docking the device. Like on the UGREEN Steam Deck dock, there’s also a USB-A port on the side, perfect for using a wired controller while docked. When you flip the dock over, there’s a compartment where you can install an M.2 SSD, letting you have even more games to play when docked.
Conclusion
The Zotac Gaming Zone is an innovative PC gaming handheld that has left me impressed. With its impressive specs, seamless gaming experience, and innovative features, it’s a strong contender in the PC gaming handheld market. While the device is still not finalized, I’m excited to see how it shapes up when it launches later this year.
Zotac Gaming Zone
Docking Station
 Gaming on the Go
