Zotac Zone Review

Zotac Zone is the manufacturer’s latest attack on Valve’s throne and steam deck. While it’s incredibly close to a true best attempt – the design and layout are 100% geared towards imitating Valve’s console – it’s software that holds it back, not just the annoying hand of Microsoft and Windows 11.

It’s not the most glamorous entry on the ever-growing list of Windows handheld devices. This is a more subtle matter, despite the typical “outward aesthetic” for gamers. It’s all in the hardware, no gimmicks.

However, it was the Pocket PC that was most separated from Windows during setup. After digging through Microsoft’s endless requirements and contracts vertically (there’s a gyroscope), I haven’t come across any built-in software. I found the Zotac software pre-installed, but it was much older than the latest version and it kept crashing.

Once that’s up and running, Zotac – like everyone else – is rolling out a much inferior version of Steam Big Picture Mode (Valve’s add-on interface originally intended for TVs) to get around Microsoft’s inability to launch its own portable console-like experience.

The Zotac launcher is just full of glaringly obvious oversights. On ROG Ally systems, Asus offers presets for the performance options that interest you. Instead, in Zotac’s “One Launcher” you can create your own presets, which would make little sense without prior knowledge. Does the average consumer know that 17 watts is the agreed “sweet spot” for the 8840U or what the TDP even is?

Even remapping the launcher controller left me wanting more. The lack of options, including reassigning a keyboard button to one of the rear paddles or even a reassignment feature when dynamic, only led to frustration.

What’s more frustrating is that you can’t remap branded buttons – an issue I found with ROG Ally. This is a waste when it could easily be a regular guide button rather than causing Zotac’s proprietary launcher to jump forward upon instinctive presses.

I’m unwell of software for Windows mobile devices, simply because we’ve been at it for a while. PKB and OneXPlayer didn’t figure this out in the years before Steam Deck. Not a single manufacturer has managed to crack this since Valve’s launch, and only Ayaneo has come really close.

While I could write about Windows 11 on mobile devices, that’s an antiquated idea. Just know that it’s the same here. You’ll be browsing the desktop environment – even with trackpads – and fumbling around in Game Pass trying to get that wretched app to install anything.

This makes me look like a fanboy, but the straightforward truth is that the custom version of Linux built by Valve and the major overhaul of Steam Big Picture to be a true frontend work so well and work so well precisely because they are built to order to work with equipment. It’s the complete package, something Zotac is always close to discovering.

While Zotac’s software is lacking, hardware decisions are not. You get the impression that users’ expectations from a high-end mobile device were taken into account at every step.

Under the hood is the AMD 8840U processor, a killer chip that’s currently a favorite of companies like Ayaneo. It provides just a petite bit of extra power over the previous 7840U, but 16GB of RAM means it still lags behind the fully updated Ayaneo 2S with 32GB or the Asus ROG Ally X with 24GB in some applications.

Zotac Zone works best when you have full control over its hardware. After initial testing of the equipment, I discovered that unless I adjusted it to 30W, it would be too protected. Performance in 3DMark was much lower, hovering around 2,100 points compared to the actual 3,027 points.

I also saw this in Cyberpunk 2077, where the average framerate was 30fps until it was given the juice it really needed. After messing around with the Zotac One Launcher and creating a profile showcasing the system’s true capabilities, it started to show how much more essential RAM was this time around.

For example, the Zotac Zone and Ayaneo Flip DS differ in RAM speed and a diminutive difference of two watts in total power consumption. The Ayaneo’s slower RAM – 6,400 MT/s – and the Zotac’s 7,500 MT/s just prove that a straightforward chip update isn’t enough these days.

However, with the 8840U, I found Metaphor: ReFantizo performed exceptionally well at 1080p and 60 fps. I’ve played this game quite a bit on the Steam Deck, and the jolt between watching everything at 30fps, 720p and what Zotac Zone can do is a bit of a whiplash.

Other titles such as Ace Combat 7, Amid Evil, and Half-Life 2 all played perfectly at higher frame rates. Half-Life 2 and Amid Evil, of course, maintained 120fps, while Ace Combat 7 held steady at 60fps. Even in the latest Forza Motorsport game, I was getting results in the mid-40s, with FSR supersampling helping me along the way.

These mobile devices require supersampling for some newer titles. You’ll never play the up-to-date Indiana Jones game comfortably on either of them, but some of the Unreal Engine 5 games I played also needed the extra support.

Robocop: Rogue City performed extremely poorly without supersampling and frame generation. Both software tools utilize algorithms to achieve better performance. Supersampling reduces the image and enlarges it to the desired resolution, thus relieving the graphics processor. Frame generation literally tries to create the next frame based on the data provided.

I found that Rogue City introduced quite a bit of lag when generating frames, but even with FSR you still had to lower the graphics settings to achieve a consistent frame rate. Basically, as with any of these handhelds, as long as you keep your gaming expectations in check, the Zotac Zone could be your next best friend.

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One area I wish Zotac would put more thought into was storage space. 512 GB is a paltry amount these days. After installing Cyberpunk 2077 for benchmarks, as well as a few other titles, I was quickly running out of time, and not even a day had passed. For a newfangled mobile device, it really needs to be 1TB or more. However, updating should be cheaper and easier than on something like Steam Deck. Inside is a full-size 2280 NVMe drive instead of the usual compact stack of 2230. This is a fantastic move for DIYers and makes the system even more elastic.

The place where Zotac has clearly thought this whole thing through is the AMOLED screen. Measuring 7 inches, it is gorgeous. Rich, dynamic colors pour out of it. Horror movies like Crow’s Country exude atmosphere as deep black surrounds everything. I also didn’t notice any major halos or strange effects or any color inaccuracies.

The Zone is incredibly comfortable to hold, even with the jagged edges of the palm rest. Aping Valve’s design features two diminutive trackpads with a crisp, satisfying click. Two USB 4 ports make using peripherals or docking stations incredibly basic.

It even has a stand similar to a Switch or Legion Go to hold it up. There’s also a webcam on the front for Windows Hello, and I even used it as a last-minute Teams meeting device – thanks to the stand.

One of the main additions are the Hall effect sticks, which means that even after prolonged utilize you shouldn’t notice them drifting. Even the rings around the sticks rotate to adjust brightness, volume or RGB lighting. While I wish I could remap them properly, this shows Zotac’s true attention to hardware space.

Zotac has noticed changes to the controller space, providing more control. The software may not be helpful, but physical switches next to the triggers allow you to set whether it’s a quick press or a longer, more analog press, depending on the game you’re playing.

These are the features that set the Zotac Zone apart from other Windows-based handhelds. The zone seems like a well-thought-out idea, not a hasty introduction to the market. Combined with its performance, if you can put up with some of the quirks – as is the case with any of these machines – you should put this on your consideration list.