Zotac Zone review
The Zotac Zone, is the latest stab by a manufacturer at Valve's throne and the Steam Deck. While it comes incredibly close to being a genuine best attempt—the design and layout is 100% aimed at mimicking Valve's console—it is held back by software, and not just by the pesky hand of Microsoft and Windows 11.
It's not the most flashy of entries in the ever growing list of Windows handhelds. It's a more subtle affair, despite its typical «gamer aesthetic» outer shell. It's all in the hardware, without the gimmicks.
However, it is the PC handheld that has felt the most detached from Windows during set up. After digging through Microsoft's endless requirements and agreements vertically (there's a gyroscope), I wasn't met with any baked-in software. I did find Zotac's software pre-installed, but it was a much older version than the latest release, and it consistently crashed.
Once I got it working Zotac—like everyone else—presents a far worse version of Steam Big Picture Mode (Valve's additional front end originally intended for TVs) to get around Microsoft's inability to launch its own, handheld console-like experience.
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 8840U
GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon 780M
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 512 GB
Screen: 7-inch 120 Hz AMOLED touchscreen
Controls: Hall effect analogue sticks, gyroscope, back paddles, dual touch pads
Connectivity: 2x USB4, 3.5 mm jack, Micro SD slot, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Battery: 48.5 WHr
Dimensions: 285 x 115 x 35 mm
Weight: 692 grams
Price: $799 | £820
Zotac's launcher is just riddled with glaringly obvious oversights. On the ROG Ally systems, Asus has presets for the performance options you'd like. Zotac's «One Launcher» instead has you build your own presets, which without prior knowledge would make little sense. Does the regular consumer know that 17 watts is the agreed upon “best middle ground” for the 8840U or what a TDP even is?
Even the launcher's controller remapper left me wanting more. A lack of options, including remapping a
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