Zotac’s new gaming handheld could become the insider tip for gamers in a few weeks

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The Zotac Gaming Zone is the latest gaming handheld that will be released on the market in a few weeks. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tried out the handheld at gamescom 2024 and is already sure: This could be a real insider tip if everything goes well.

The next gaming handheld, the Zotac Gaming Zone, will be released on September 12, 2024. I was able to try out the gaming handheld in more detail at Gamescom 2024 and have already played two games on it.

You can read my first impression of Gamescom 2024 in this article. And so far I am very optimistic that we could expect a really good handheld here. If all the conditions are right in the end.

The Zotac Gaming Zone takes many of the competition’s ideas further

What makes the handheld so exciting? The Zotac Gaming is a gaming handheld with a Windows operating system, but its appearance and structure are more reminiscent of the Steam Deck. The two trackpads in particular offer the option of functioning like a mouse. There are also many other details that I really like:

  • Similar to the Xbox controller, the shoulder buttons can be adjusted to determine how hard you can press them.
  • The Zotac Gaming Zone has a USB-C port on both the top and bottom. This means you can charge the device and use headphones with a dongle at the same time, for example.
  • There is a kickstand on the back, similar to the one on the Nintendo Switch. On the Zotac gaming handheld, it seems a bit too small for the large, bulky device.
  • When it comes to the display, Zotac uses a bright AMOLED display, like the ones you see on Samsung phones. This makes games look very bright and colorful.
  • Nice idea, but not very relevant for me: Zotac has even built a selfie camera and a microphone into the gaming handheld. A fingerprint scanner is also integrated for “Windows Hello”.

    • What did I play? In my short preview at gamescom 2024, I tested Forza Horizon 5 and Horizon: Forbidden West.

  • Forza Horizon 5 runs on low settings with a stable 90 FPS on Full HD, sometimes even higher. With the adjustable shoulder buttons the game feels really good. With medium graphics settings the FPS drops to 50 to 60, but the game still remains smooth.
  • Horizon: Forbidden West looks wonderfully bright and colorful on the Zotac Gaming Zone. The AMOLED display really comes into its own here. The game also manages a stable 90 FPS on low details in full HD. The vibration function feels natural when you hit enemies with Aloy.

    • Annoying Windows and a poorly precise control pad are sticking points for me

    What bothered me? The D-pad on the top left feels sluggish and not very precise. The Steam Deck just feels better.

    Windows 11 also feels unintuitive and difficult to use on the Zotac Gaming. But that’s something that Zotac’s handheld has in common with all other gaming handhelds.

    Personally, I can’t do much with the RGB lighting on the back. Nobody will probably see the RGB on the back anyway if I rest the handheld on my knees or have it on my lap. This design decision just doesn’t make sense to me.

    What can I not say yet? I couldn’t estimate the battery life because the devices at gamescom are constantly supplied with power. What I also can’t say is how the display behaves outside in the sun and how much you can still see at the end.

    I can’t say anything about the built-in sound boxes either, Gamescom was just too loud for that. Since I almost always play with in-ears or at least headphones, that’s not really important to me anyway.

    More about gaming handhelds: Are you looking for more gaming handhelds or haven’t found the right device for you yet? On MeinMMO we present you the most exciting devices that you should definitely know about: The best gaming handhelds that you should definitely know about

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