ZOTAC has announced the launch of the ZOTAC GAMING ZONE, its first handheld gaming PC, which is now available for pre-order in select regions. The ZONE (yep, that’s the official name) was first unveiled at Computex 2024, and you can read on our initial impressions here. After its first appearance at Taiwan, visitors at Gamescom 2024 in Cologne, Germany can give this handheld a try as well.
ZOTAC GAMING ZONE: Specs
This handheld device is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840U processor (with Radeon 780M integrated graphics), which is good enough for decent framerates at 1080p. The silicon is paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X-7500 memory, a 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD, and an expandable storage option via a UHS-II microSD card reader.
The ZONE’s 7-inch FHD AMOLED touchscreen display provides 800 nits of brightness, wide color gamut (ZOTAC claims >100% DCI-P3 and >150% sRGB), and a 120Hz refresh rate. Battery is a 48.5Wh unit, which is on par with most handhelds on the market except for the upsized ROG Ally X; connectivity-wise, it includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and dual USB4 ports; while other components include a fingerprint reader, and apparently, a webcam as well.
Besides the internals, the ZOTAC GAMING ZONE includes Hall Effect sensors for its controls for better precision and reliability. There’s also 2-stage adjustable triggers (which locks the trigger halfway to enable faster actuation), radial dials for brightness and volume adjustments, and dual trackpads for alternative control. Behind the device you’ll find a strip of RGB lighting and an integrated kickstand. For accessories, the ZONE also supports a docking station with additional ports and storage expansion, as well as a protective carrying case.
ZOTAC will showcase the ZONE handheld alongside other products at Gamescom 2024 from August 21 to 23 – attendees can visit hall 10.1, booth A-078 to give it a try and have a chance to win a unit on-site. If luck isn’t on your side, pre-order is open on select regions, but at this writing we have yet to see the device available in Malaysia in digital storefronts.
Pokdepinion: Based on the specs, I think this can be a genuinely competitive handheld that mainstream OEMs might have to worry about.
