Many people who already own PC gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck or the original ROG Ally are considering purchasing newer and better versions of the devices they already own this holiday season. For Steam Deck owners, this might mean trading up to the Steam Deck OLED, which has a much-improved display. Meanwhile, ROG Ally owners might be thinking about trading in for the new ROG Ally X with its increased SSD capacity, RAM, and other improvements.
Now, if your main pull to these newer devices is more SSD storage space, then you’ll save money by upgrading your current handheld’s SSD rather than trading up for a new handheld. Thankfully, installing new SSD’s is a breeze. What’s more, the WD_BLACK SN770M 1TB SSD is down from its usual $129.99 MSRP to $89.99 at Best Buy for Cyber Monday. If you want even more space, the 2TB SSD that I reviewed is currently only $179.99 at Best Buy. That’s $60 less than its usual $239.99 MSRP.
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Rebecca Spear
Rebecca has own a Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, Nintendo Switch OLED and several AYANEO PC gaming handhelds. She is always on the lookout for the best accessories and games for these devices. She also reviewed the WD_BLACK SN770M SSD and installed one in both her Steam Deck and her ROG Ally.
Upgrading your handheld’s SSD is cheaper than buying a new handheld
There are a number of reasons why you might want to get a new Steam Deck or ROG Ally X. Maybe you want the Steam Deck OLED’s nicer screen. Maybe you specifically want an ROG Ally X because it has two USB-C ports. However, if the main reason you want to trade up to a new handheld is that you want more storage space, then upgrading your current handheld with a better SSD is the more affordable option.
I own both an ROG Ally and a Steam Deck and I found myself having to delete games regularly in order to make room for new ones. It was rather frustrating. So I took the first chance I could to upgrade my ROG Ally’s 512GB SSD to a 2TB. About a year later, I upgraded my Steam Deck’s SSD from a measly 64GB to 2TB. As a result, my handheld SSDs have faster transfer speeds, which is ideal for gaming, and I don’t have to uninstall games nearly as often. The process was easy and I haven’t had any issues since doing this.
To be fair, Best Buy currently has a really good trade-in offer going on right now for anyone who wants to upgrade from an original ROG Ally to an ROG Ally X. With this offer, you can get a $50 coupon toward an ROG Ally X and up to a $180 Best Buy gift card depending on the condition of your handheld. That said, if your ROG Ally isn’t in the best condition or else has a bunch of non-stock customizations, then you might not get as much for it.
If I just described your ROG Ally then it might be a better idea to upgrade your current 512GB SSD to a 1TB or 2TB option. You’ll save money and won’t have to set up a new device.
Should I shop at Amazon or Best Buy?
Both Amazon and Best Buy offer some of the best deal prices during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You’ll want to check both retailers to see who offers the best pricing or additional perks in your area.
Of course, both retailers have membership. For Amazon, there’s the Amazon Prime membership, which provides members with various perks. Then, with Best Buy, there’s the My Best Buy Plus membership. So, if you prefer one place over the other, you might want to consider the benefits these memberships offer.
When did Black Friday end?
The ending time for Black Friday is a bit nebulous. Technically, Black Friday ends on the Saturday following Black Friday. However, many retailers continue to offer Black Friday deals up until the following week when Cyber Monday deals come into effect. Even then, some retailers start pushing Cyber Monday deals as soon as late Saturday or early Sunday.
When does Cyber Monday start?
Cyber Monday technically begins on Dec. 2, 2024. However, many retailers transition from offering Black Friday deals to offering Cyber Monday deals on the Saturday or Sunday following Black Friday. As such, you’ll want to keep an eye out for deals for a few days.
