Forward-looking: The imminent release of Valve's Linux-based SteamOS for devices other than the Steam Deck might cause handheld gaming PCs and other devices to drop Windows. However, Zotac aims to demonstrate that Valve's operating system isn't the only path toward a Linux-powered handheld PC.
Zotac will showcase a follow-up to its Zone handheld gaming PC at Computex next week. The device features upgraded hardware specs and a new operating system based on Linux distro Manjaro, evoking the Steam Deck's software strategy.
Like most handheld gaming PCs, the original Zotac Zone comes with Windows 11 pre-installed. While this ensures native compatibility with most PC games, Microsoft's OS feels clumsy on small screens and is difficult to navigate without a mouse and keyboard. The Steam Deck overcame these issues with SteamOS, which uses Arch Linux and Valve's Proton compatibility layer to provide a handheld-friendly interface with numerous gaming optimizations.
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The approach has become so successful that other portable PCs will soon adopt the software. Valve recently launched a SteamOS beta that supports the Lenovo Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally, and the Legion Go S will soon be available with the OS pre-installed at a $150 discount compared to the Windows 11 version. SteamOS is expected to come to other devices later this year.
Zotac has provided few details on its future handheld plans, but the company's Computex schedule indicates that it is developing a separate Linux distro instead of jumping on the SteamOS bandwagon. Since Manjaro is also based on Arch Linux, Zotac's solution might resemble SteamOS under the hood.
Why Zotac is going its own way remains unclear. The new handheld's software could theoretically allow easier access to multiple game launchers, as SteamOS only supports Steam unless users enter desktop mode. Interestingly, Manjaro's website advertises the Orange Pi Neo, an upcoming handheld gaming PC featuring the OS with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU.
The Orange Pi Neo
Meanwhile, the new Zotac Zone includes an OLED screen and upgrades to a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, the Strix Point chip serving as the basis for AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme. Benchmarks suggest it offers significant performance uplifts over recent portable PCs, and the Lenovo Legion Go 2 will likely include the processor later this year.
Microsoft has indicated that it won't let the threat to its market dominance from Linux distros go unanswered. The company is collaborating with Asus on an Xbox-branded ROG Ally that might include a new Windows interface based on the Xbox menu. The device could debut at Computex, which starts May 20.
