ZOTAC is preparing to unveil a successor to its ZONE handheld gaming device at CES 2025, joining Lenovo and MSI in showcasing new handheld gaming technology. While details are scarce, ZOTAC has teased "stronger hardware" for the new device.
The original ZOTAC ZONE, while featuring a notable OLED panel, was considered a late entrant to the market, launching after AMD announced its superior Ryzen AI 300 series. Its high price also hindered its success. This means the new version will need a significant upgrade to compete effectively.
However, ZOTAC is touting the success of its original ZONE: "Following the successful launch of the ZOTAC GAMING ZONE, ZOTAC GAMING’s first-ever gaming handheld with an AMOLED display, premium controls, and hardware, ZOTAC is back to give media a very early sneak peek on the potential next step of the ZOTAC GAMING ZONE with stronger hardware.”
What to Expect
The new ZONE is expected to retain the OLED display and will likely feature a more powerful APU. While ZOTAC has only confirmed "stronger hardware" for now, the potential candidates are the AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 or the Ryzen Z2 series. The original ZOTAC ZONE featured the Hawk Point-based Ryzen 7 8840U.
ZOTAC is expected to showcase the device to the media at CES 2025. Given that the original ZONE was presented months before release, expect the new system to hit the market months after the event.
The company's PR indicates they are building on the strengths of the first ZONE: a premium display and controls with more powerful hardware.
