One of the highlights of this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday season has been seeing the ASUS ROG Ally (our favorite PC gaming handheld) become more obtainable than ever through amazing deals. I thought that we had already seen the lowest the ROG Ally’s price would go, but the configuration I recommend above all other handhelds actually just got a little cheaper.
The ASUS ROG Ally powered by the premium AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset is now only $485 at Amazon, a record-breaking low price… In one respect. Shoppers at a particular blue-and-yellow retailer are able to save more if they’re a member, as the same ASUS ROG Ally is just $449.99 at Best Buy with a My Best Buy Plus membership. Take your pick, you’re getting the best gaming handheld at one of the best prices ever either way.
🔥The hottest Cyber Monday deals🔥
💽More great Cyber Monday deals💾
You now have two ways to save on the best handheld
I’ll save you the big rundown on why the new generation of PC gaming handhelds are so good, and why you should consider getting one. I’ll even spare you the details on why, out of all the handhelds you can currently buy, the ASUS ROG Ally is the one we recommend above all others (and, in particular, this model that’s on sale). You can read our ASUS ROG Ally review for that information.
I’ll keep this short and sweet: the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales event (depending on which side of the weekend we’re on) has brought thousands of promotions on thousands of products, including the lowest price we have ever seen for any version of the ASUS ROG Ally. To be frank, I didn’t expect that price to get any lower than it already was, but Amazon just had to prove me (half) wrong.
Before this, the best deal for the more powerful ASUS ROG Ally model (which I recommend if you can justify the added cost) was a $500 price tag, and that was at Best Buy. Now, you can obtain your own high-end ASUS ROG Ally for as little as $485 at Amazon, besting the previous champion by $15. That’s not the biggest difference, but a new record is a new record!
However, Best Buy isn’t relinquishing the title, either. Now, it seems that the two retailers will have to share, because while Amazon has reached a new lowest price for the ROG Ally through one of its third-party retailers (this deal isn’t direct from Amazon or ASUS), you can still save more at Best Buy. All it takes is being a My Best Buy Plus member, a subscription that costs $50 a year and nets you a ton of benefits, like guaranteed free shipping, extended return windows, expanded support, and… exclusive deals.
Those whose frequent Best Buy shopping can benefit from a membership and those already part of the club can buy the ASUS ROG Ally with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme inside for $449.99 at Best Buy w/ My Best Buy Plus, a further $35 below Amazon’s. Of course, Best Buy has shaved another $50 off its existing promotion for members since the beginning of Black Friday, so it’s not quite accurate to say the cheapest place to buy a Ryzen Z1 Extreme-powered ROG Ally is at Amazon.
If you want the true lowest price, that’s still in one place, where you can buy the entry-level ASUS ROG Ally for only $349.99 at Best Buy.
Should I shop at Amazon or Best Buy?
Amazon and Best Buy are two of our must trusted retailers, the former being the world’s largest and most competitive online retailer and the latter being one of the best sources for tech and gaming products. It’s difficult to unilaterally declare either as better than the other, as Amazon boasts a far wider and more diverse catalog, while Best Buy offers a smaller, more focused collection of trusted and well-known brands.
Each retailer has its own membership, too, and they reflect the companies. An Amazon Prime membership grants you an absurd number of perks and benefits, but it’ll cost you more. A My Best Buy Plus membership, on the other hand, is easier on the wallet and is wholly focused on improving your Best Buy shopping experience — before, during, and after your purchase.
If it’s just about this deal, Amazon is the place to go for the lowest price that doesn’t require a membership. Best Buy is the place to go for those that want the true lowest price, and it’s the obvious choice for shoppers that already trust Best Buy.
When did Black Friday end?
On paper, at least, Black Friday ended the moment Midnight chimed on Nov. 29, 2024, or the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean all the deals up and disappeared at that time. Cyber Monday is right around the corner, and that means fresh waves of sales to take advantage of. I should be clear, many deals did end alongside Black Friday, so those who hesitated are out of luck. If you missed out, though, you may have another opportunity this weekend and on Cyber Monday.
When does Cyber Monday start?
Cyber Monday began as the online retailer equivalent of Black Friday, but most shopping has gone online over the last few years. This has resulted in Black Friday and Cyber Monday being blended into one massive sales event spread across an entire weekend, with Cyber Monday marking the tumultuous finale. This year, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024, which (as you might expect) is the Monday after Black Friday.
It’s best to take advantage of sales you’re interested in the moment you spot them to avoid stock shortages and limited-time discounts, but Cyber Monday does frequently boast its own batch of last-minute deals separate from Black Friday.
Which has better deals, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
Because of how similar the two days (and the weekend between them have become), it’s difficult to definitively say if Black Friday or Cyber Monday has the best deals. Many retailers and companies hit Black Friday running with their biggest promotions to get people in the door, but others may wait until Cyber Monday and strike with last-minute discounts that keep interest going until the end.
The rule of thumb to keep in mind here is that if you spot a tempting discount for a product you want, you shouldn’t risk waiting for a better deal to come along. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy will often price match your purchases if prices fall further during your return period, so it’s better to take advantage of the deal in front of you than wait for the better deal that may never come (especially since Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals tend to have limited stock).
When does Cyber Monday end?
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday tend to start earlier each year, the worldwide sales event often ends on a similar note. Cyber Monday, which this year is Dec. 2, 2024, is the final day for many of the most major and aggressive sales and discounts from the deals bonanza. While some promotions may continue after Cyber Monday ends at Midnight on Dec. 2, you really shouldn’t wait to take advantage of any deals that have caught your attention.
