Zotac unveils Zone 2 gaming handheld running Manjaro Linux

Zotac is preparing for the official debut of its second-generation gaming handheld, the Zone 2, set to be unveiled later this month at Computex 2025 in Taipei. Ahead of the show, Zotac revealed an important detail about the upcoming handheld: Zone 2 will run an ‘all-new Manjaro Linux-based OS' designed explicitly for gaming handhelds.

Development on the Zone 2 has been ongoing since Zotac first promised the device in December, followed by a prototype reveal at CES in January. Zotac's first Zone model was somewhat late to the market compared to competitors like the ROG Ally, and four months after the CES prototype reveal, it appears development is still underway for the Zone 2. There is no information regarding when the handheld will be ready for release, but some details are starting to emerge.

Based on Zotac's special Computex 2025 page, the Zone 2 is expected to feature AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU paired with an OLED display, maintaining a similar screen to the previous version. Moreover, the company's press release also mentioned it would feature a Manjaro Linux-based OS specifically designed for handheld PCs, so there will be no SteamOS for the Zone 2, at least for now.

With Computex 2025 scheduled for next week, from May 20th to 23rd, we can expect Zotac to release more details on their switch from Windows to Linux for the OS, what features this ‘all-new Manjaro Linux-based OS' will offer, and hopefully, provide information on the release date.

KitGuru says: Do you think Zotac should have just gone with SteamOS for the Zone 2, or is it better to try something else to differentiate itself from the competition?

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