I'd much rather be curled up in bed with my ASUS ROG Ally X, especially while it's storming outside as I write this, but the Black Friday sales frenzy only comes around once a year and I have a job to do. The new era of gaming handhelds is one of the best ways to get into video games, no matter who you are, and it's not fair for just those in the know to get the best deals on handhelds and handheld accessories. That's where I come in, so I guess my handheld gets a break.
Plenty of deals have already come and gone, and Black Friday is still days away, but that hasn't stopped me from searching for even lower prices and more aggressive sales. Right now, the top deal is obvious: scoring the ASUS ROG Ally at its lowest price ever for just $349.99 at Best Buy. You can even upgrade to the more powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme version for only $100 more, or $449.99 at Best Buy w/ My Best Buy Plus! On top of that, you'll get the official travel case for free.
If you want to quadruple its storage (or you're just looking to upgrade the SSD in your current handheld), the absolute best internal handheld SSD is at its best price for only $179.99 at Best Buy with 2TB of storage.
Remember this page, because I'll be updating it every day with new deals!
Recent updates
Nov. 20, 2024 @ 9:15 a.m. ET — Updated to ensure that all deals are live and that all information is accurate! Brought back the lowest price ever for the ASUS ROG Ally (both configurations), removed a power bank deal, lowered pricing on the dbrand ROG Ally case, and tweaked other prices or links.
I've been a member of the Windows Central team for years now, and during that time I've reviewed, tested, and enjoyed plenty of gaming PCs, consoles, handhelds, accessories, and more. I use the ROG Ally X all the time and loved the ROG Ally before it, so I know what to look for to make these awesome handhelds even better (and save you some money in the process).
More Black Friday savings
- Best Buy's Black Friday early access
- Best Windows laptop deals
- Best gaming monitor deals
- Best mini PC deals
- Best Xbox & PC controller deals
- Best gaming laptop deals
- Best gaming handheld deals
🎃The best early Black Friday deals🦃
- 🎮ASUS ROG Ally (Ryzen Z1) | $349.99 at Best Buy (Save $150!)
- 💽Seagate Xbox Series X|S Card (2TB) | $199.99 at Best Buy (Save $160!)
- 📱iPad 9th Generation (64GB) | $199.99 at Best Buy (Save $130!)
- 🎮Xbox Series X (1TB) | $449.99 at Best Buy (Save $50!)
- 🖥️ABS Cyclone Desktop (RTX 4060) | $1,099.99 at Newegg (Save $400!)
- 📺HP Curved Ultrawide (34-inches) | $349.99 at Best Buy (Save $130!)
- 💽WD_Black Xbox Series X|S Card (1TB) | $99.99 at Best Buy (Save $50!)
- ⌨️Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Wireless | $101.99 at Best Buy (Save $98!)
- 🖱️Razer Basilisk V3 Wired | $39.99 at Best Buy (Save $30!)
- 💽WD_BLACK Handheld SSD (2TB) | $179.99 at Best Buy (Save $60!)
- 🎧Astro A50 Wireless (Xbox & PC) | $149.99 at Best Buy (Save $100!)
Beating the holiday rush with early Black Friday deals
Black Friday may technically be weeks away, but the deals seem to start earlier every single year, and 2024 is no different.
You can already find plenty of great deals on plenty of great tech, including popular gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, and beyond. It's not just limited to the handhelds themselves, though — you can also find awesome discounts on the best gaming handheld accessories, too, like cases, storage expansions, and more.
Right now, the top deal is obvious: scoring the ASUS ROG Ally at its lowest price ever for just $349.99 at Best Buy. You can even upgrade to the more powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme version for only $100 more, or $449.99 at Best Buy w/ My Best Buy Plus! On top of that, you'll get the official travel case for free. You can also upgrade your handheld's SSD with a whopping 2TB of super-fast storage, as our top-rated WD_BLACK SN770M SSD is only $179.99 at Best Buy, and that is the lowest price we've ever seen.
There are sure to be plenty of other sales on gaming handhelds and handheld accessories between now and the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, too, and I'll be continually updating this article as we discover those deals.
Which gaming handheld is the best for me?
All of the major gaming handhelds may go on sale at some point during this discount-heavy period of the year, so you may be wondering which one you should ultimately get for yourself. Right now, the best options seem to be the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally & Ally X, and Lenovo Legion Go.
The Nintendo Switch is the most casual and affordable entryway into portable gaming, and is perfect for fans of long-running Nintendo franchises or families. The Switch is an excellent console, but it's severely lacking in power and you're limited to the Nintendo eShop for all of your games.
For those who still want an easy-to-use and consistent console, but with more power and access to a larger library of titles, the Steam Deck is the next best choice. A tailored Linux-based interface and access to a massive catalogue of Steam PC games makes the Steam Deck a supremely reliable handheld, although it still lacks in versatility compared to the Windows-powered options.
My personal favorite gaming handheld, the ASUS ROG Ally (or the more premium Ally X, if you're willing to spend more), strikes a great balance with its comfortable and compact form factor, excellent performance and respectable battery life, and the sheer versatility Windows offers gamers — especially when bolstered by ASUS' actually useful software additions. The Lenovo Legion Go is for those who are willing to trade some comfort and convenience for even more capability, as this handheld boasts the largest screen you'll find, as well as a built-in kickstand and detachable controllers.
You really can't go wrong with any of these handhelds, but which one is best for you will depend on your budget and what kind of games you want to play. If you want to take your entire PC gaming library on the go and want to take advantage of Xbox Game Pass, you'll want the ASUS ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go, though.
What accessories do I need for my gaming handheld?
Every gaming handheld I'd recommend will work great the moment you pull it out of the box, but that doesn't mean there aren't accessories that will make your experience even better. If you want added protection or plan to travel with your handheld, a trusty case or reliable travel bag is a must-have. Handhelds often struggle with battery life, too, so a beefy power pack may save you in a pinch.
Games take up a lot of storage, so you might want to upgrade your handheld's storage with a bigger SSD or a more casual microSD card. Some people also transform their Windows-powered handhelds into full-blown PCs with docking stations, which can let you hook up external monitors, keyboards, mice, and other accessories. You can't go wrong with a great gaming headset, either, which will allow you to enjoy your games wherever you are without bothering the people around you.
How do I upgrade my gaming handheld SSD?
Every gaming handheld is a little different, but the overall process for upgrading your SSD and transferring your data should be similar. We have a guide on upgrading your ASUS ROG Ally SSD and another guide for upgrading your Steam Deck SSD to help you get started, but the general guidance is the same either way — make sure you're comfortable opening your device, and prepare ahead of time with the tools you'll need to get the job done.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is technically on Nov. 29, 2024, but this sales event seems to start a little earlier each year. Retailers increasingly get more aggressive in terms of when discounts start in order to entice consumers ahead of the main event, so you can see early Black Friday deals as soon as October. Black Friday itself can feel overwhelming and be limited by stock shortages, so it's often a great idea to take advantage of those early sales ahead of time.
When is Cyber Monday?
This year, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024. This continuation of the Black Friday weekend was once the online-version of the aforementioned sales event, but as more retailers go online it's not uncommon to see Black Friday and Cyber Monday blend into one another. If you miss out on sales on Black Friday, you may have another chance on Cyber Monday. Better yet, though, is staying ahead of the curve and getting your holiday shopping done weeks in advance.
