ZOTAC showcased their next-gen handheld running Linux at Computex 2025

The fact that it's not just using steamOS like lenovo is very interesting to me.

Probably using SteamOS requires conforming to Valve's standards and maybe they don't want to.
- Probably for the best to have more diversity as well.
- What could be those standards? Minimum spec requirements?

Nice. Always good to see more handhelds that run Linux.

I wonder why they choose to go with Manjaro and not Arch directly.

They asked chatgpt and it told them that it is more stable.
Orange Pi has been working with Manjaro on a steam deck clone (with touchpads). Make Zotac bought/licenced their design?
I would bet that for Zotac, they still want a support/integration contract and maybe Manjaro have setup to actually have a business plan now. SteamOS, maybe going to Valve for support is more expensive or they're not staffed well enough to onboard Lenovo, maybe Asus and any of the actual big PC vendors
Yeah, with Arch the install and initial setup is the hard part, but they do that for you so I don't get the point of going with Manjaro.

"next-gen" how? Valve is getting first dibs at the next AMD SoC as far I've heard, and that's still a year or two away from release. Doubting this runs Nvidia, because Nintendo is kind of the single license for that at the moment, and it's not cheap OR very performance per-watt compared to AMD.

Unreleased product with unannounced specs beats competitor currently or about to be sold. More news at 11 Tim.
The AMD chip they are using has "AI" in the model name.
- did they shove a strix halo in it?
Valve is getting first dibs at the next AMD SoC as far I’ve heard

This is huge if true, as Van Gogh (the Deck chip) was a seperate "line" than all the overly CPU-heavy laptop chips other handhelds are using at the moment.
- Both sides have accidentally spilled the beans on this. AMD outed a new upcoming chip for their existing "handheld wins" (aka Steam Deck), Valve has confirmed they are already working on their next handheld, but then also said there "will be no Z2 Steam Deck" after AMD already outed their work on the next chip.
  
  So that's Valve getting a chip AMD has already confirmed they are working on, and no other manufacturers have mentioned or have the sales numbers to get AMD interested. That's it right there.
  
  https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/pc-gaming/valve-shuts-down-steam-deck-2-speculation-as-amd-says-its-building-chips-for-a-stronger-handheld-there-is-and-will-be-no-z2-steam-deck/
- It's absolutely true.
  
  Last I read, they're in no hurry, but Valve and AMD are both ready to create a new chip like it once the tech has advanced enough that putting one together makes for a substantial boost in what you get for the same price and power envelope.

HX370 running Manjaro Linux.

Hurray, one more un-innovative Steam Deck clone.

I’m cool with that, more choices is better, even if they’re fairly similar.
- Yup. Most smartphones are very similar, yet I am happy it's not just one Samsung out there.
- This one looks like my wife could actually hold it too.
  
  The deck is great, but it's definitely bulky and heavy.
- As long as it brings down prices of others, competition is good.
- I mean it'd be a lot cooler if they made something that actually brought something new to the table...
Hey at least this one seems to have trackpads

One thing about these handheld is that i feel like they're price competitive with miniPCs and laptops with the same CPU/GPU

This and any other that will come with Linux out the box, guaranteed hardware drivers exist for everything so then it becomes about as appealing as a Steam Deck minus the price advantage Valve can do as a software store vendor. I already run a Legion Go with Bazzite.

What I'm waiting for now is a PC Handheld that weighs less than a Steam Deck that is solidly priced but is performance competitive with the Z1 extreme devices. At that point I would actually feel comfortable recommending them to people on the fence. The weight, price and minimum performance to be able to play at least Switch 2 level games. I think that'll be the UDNA generation of AMD APUs

Zotac only makes and sells nVidia cards, it's surprising to me that they chose an AMD chipset for their graphics on this

It is surprising but it makes sense. Years and years of people saying nvidia's notorious on Linux, even the creator of Linux going as far as saying "fuck you Nvidia".
- Two decades ago it was AMD (or rather ati) that was absolute shit on Linux. But they really got their shit together

Oh, the irony of including Apex Legends in these images. I still miss playing it 😭

Zotac is chinese and i wont buy from china.