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You may be weighing up between the AMD Ryzen Z1 vs Z1 Extreme. We’ll discuss the key specs separating the two to help you decide which one to get.
The ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme has released, with the Ryzen Z1 variant available later this year. While both share similarities, including free access to a 90-day Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code, they deliver key differences seen in their thread count, graphics and cache.
ASUS ROG Ally Z1 vs Z1 Extreme – which Ally should you go for?
Regardless of which model you get, both will share a few key features. The Ally comes with a generous 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB PCIe 4.0 storage. As you might expect, both models also feature a 7-inch 1080p display boasting a refresh rate of 120Hz and an impressive max of 500 nits brightness, as claimed by ASUS. Connectivity wise, you’re getting WiFi 6E and Bluetooth, all of which will run on Windows 11. The best accessories for the ROG Ally will also remain the same between the models, so make sure you check out our favourites.
So, how do they differ? Let’s take a closer look at the specs:
| APU | Cache | Graphics | Cores/Threads | Teraflops |
| AMD Ryzen Z1 | 12MB | 4 AMD RDNA 3 compute units | 6/12 | 2.8 |
| AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | 24MB | 12 AMD RDNA 3 compute units | 8/16 | 8.6 |
From the table above, it’s clear that the Extreme model comes with more muscle in the CPU. If you’re unsure, the CPU is like the brain of the computer and makes a significant difference in the overall performance. To put it into perspective, the Z1 Extreme has the same core and threads as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
The Z1 Extreme also comes with significantly more Teraflops than its Z1 counterpart, again putting the Z1 Extreme in the league of current and next-gen consoles. So, if you’re hoping to play next-gen games that require more performance, the Z1 Extreme is probably worth the extra money.
ASUS Ryzen Z1 vs Z1 Extreme – price
Now that we’re more clear on how these models perform differently, what is the price difference, and is the Z1 Extreme worth it over its less powerful counterpart?
ASUS ROG Ally
Display
7in
Resolution
1080p
CPU
Ryzen Z1
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB
The Z1 Extreme costs $699 via Amazon. Meanwhile, the Z1 will cost $599 and will release later this year. That’s a $100 price difference between the two models. Given the Z1 Extreme seems more geared towards next-gen gaming titles, we’d definitely recommend saving up an extra $100 for the Z1 Extreme model. If you’re on a tighter budget but don’t want to sacrifice on performance, it might be worth checking out how the Ally shapes up against Steam Deck, then watch out for deals and discounts closer to the launch.
Which ASUS ROG Ally should you get?
After discussing the specs, it’s definitely worth getting the Z1 Extreme model. For just $100, you get a significantly better performance. Plus it means you can play Diablo 4 and other games sooner rather than later, since the Z1 doesn’t have a specific release date yet.
If you do decide to go for this exciting new hand-held console, make sure you check out how to set up your ASUS ROG Ally for the first time so you can start gaming with ease.
Frequently asked questions
We’ve done our best to answer some of your questions surrounding the ASUS ROG Ally and the different models available.
How powerful is the Z1 Extreme?
ASUS wasn’t messing around when they decided to use the Z1 Extreme CPU in their ASUS ROG Ally. Without crunching numbers, the Z1 Extreme comes close to the performance of next-gen consoles thanks to its high number of Tflops and its thread count.
