Web Desk 
Jun 05, 2024
We can call it a season of handheld gaming devices, as GPU manufacturer Zotac has introduced its Windows gaming handheld, the Zone, at Computex 2024. The Zone stands out with several unique features compared to its competitors.
Zotac had previously hinted that the Zone would feature an OLED screen, a characteristic shared only with the Steam Deck OLED among PC handhelds.
Zotac Zone specifications
Additionally, it boasts two-stage adjustable triggers similar to an Xbox Elite gamepad and drift-resistant Hall effect joysticks. The device also includes symmetrical PlayStation-esque joysticks, programmable dials surrounding each joystick, twin trackpads like those on the Steam Deck, a small built-in kickstand, a Windows Hello camera instead of a fingerprint reader, and both top and bottom USB4 ports.
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The Zone is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U chip, similar to the 7840U found in previous handhelds, with a Radeon 780M iGPU. It also upgrades to LPDDR5X-7500 memory, which has been shown to offer a slight performance boost, particularly at a more modest 1080p resolution.
However, the Zone's 48.5 watt-hour battery is smaller than that of the Steam Deck OLED and significantly smaller than the 80Wh batteries in the new Asus and MSI models.
Additionally, its 7-inch 120Hz OLED screen does not support variable refresh rate, although it is notably bright at 800 nits. The inclusion of programmable jog dials adds an intriguing element to the device.
Zotac was one of the first to experiment with AirJet’s solid-state cooling technology in a mini-PC, but it appears this tech is not yet suitable for the Zone's high-wattage chip. Instead, the Zone uses a traditional fan and small vents for cooling.
Zotac Zone launch, price
As reported by The Verge, the Zotac Zone is expected to launch later this year in September, and would be listed at the top-range price point of or around $800.
