Asus Rog Ally Tech Specs Review

Asus rog ally tech specs As they say, “three is a trend,” and Asus’ very own big-screen dual-stick handheld, the ROG Ally (starts at $599.99; $699.99 as tested), is following in the footsteps of the Nintendo Switch and Valve Steam Deck. But you’ll see that the gadgets differ significantly from one another: The Ally is a handheld computer running Windows 11, which adds a layer of comfort, accessibility, and—most importantly—complete compatibility with PC game libraries. Additionally, Ally’s “Zen 4”-based AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, which makes its premiere in this product, has great power potential but is constrained by the form factor.

Asus Rog Ally Tech Specs

If you’re willing to adjust the graphical settings and occasionally accept frame rates that are less than ideal (like with the Steam Deck), The Ally can generally deliver a smooth gaming experience. However, the great product design and clever Asus software make this a genuinely enjoyable handheld PC gaming experience at a cheaper cost than even a cheap gaming laptop. There are some additional concerns about the battery life when gaming and some fiddly Windows controls.

Asus rog ally vs Steam deck

Let’s examine the bigger picture first before delving into the specifications and features. Pitting the two against one another seems like the natural option because Valve’s Steam Deck is the clear comparison point for the Ally. Surely a winner can be determined, right? That is the reality for a big portion of consumers; you’ll only purchase one of these gadgets. Only a small percentage of people will want or have the money to purchase both, so deciding which is best for you is a significant decision given the expenses.

However, I’d like to at least provide the contrast in the following manner: Both are unique, However, neither is fundamentally better than the other. I’ve discovered that each has a number of benefits over the rival, as well as a number of drawbacks. The Ally, for instance, runs on Windows, which opens up avenues but restricts flexibility or accessibility in certain use cases.

The Ally is not an imminent “Steam Deck killer,” so don’t start raising hell just yet. We don’t even need to start another front in console warfare. However, it is a viable alternative, particularly in some markets where Asus is more widely available and well-liked. Naturally, I’ve compared the two in this article based on features and effectiveness; just keep in mind that having options is a good thing.

Asus rog ally gaming handheld

After using the gadget for a longer amount of time, my initial thoughts of the design from my hands-on preview session (the video of which is attached below) have only gotten stronger. The all-white Steam Deck looks sleeker than the all-black Steam Deck due to the all-white case’s crisp appearance and relatively compact body. Although not everyone may appreciate the white color choice, it has style.

The circular RGB illumination at the bottom of each control stick is also difficult to miss. If the colors and effects don’t suit you, you can adjust them or turn them off totally. Although they can be a little distracting, I believe they do offer a little fun. RGB lighting that changes colors is naturally eye-catching, and occasionally, as your thumb goes along the stick, it obscures and reveals the light in your field of vision, making it appear to flicker in your eyes. Although it’s a small problem, the RGB did frequently cause me to look elsewhere while I was playing.

Despite being entirely constructed of plastic, the Ally seems solid and well-built, not cheap and flimsy. The handles have a textured grip that is pleasant to the touch and makes it easier to hold. After using the tool for a while, the initial impression of the handles being relatively flimsy quickly fades. Even after hours of use, I frequently didn’t notice that I was carrying a very large gadget while I was playing.

A portion of that can be attributed to the weight, which is noticeably heavier than the Switch but significantly lighter than the Steam Deck. Asus stated at the preview event that a weight of 600 grams, or around 1.32 pounds, was one of the objectives throughout the design phase. The team came fairly close to Ally’s final weight of 608 grams or 1.34 pounds (and stopped there to maintain performance). The Switch weighs only 0.88 pounds (399 grams) with the Joycons attached, compared to the Steam Deck’s 1.47 pounds (667 grams) weight.

The Ally display is a significant plus in this situation because it has the specs and aesthetics to match. It has a 7-inch touch screen that is full HD (1080p), refreshes at a rate of 120 hertz, and is rated at 500 nits of brightness. Although the resolution is an improvement over the Steam Deck’s sub-HD display, running a portable like this at a higher resolution is also more challenging, as I’ll discuss in the performance section later.

The Ally is generally enjoyable to use. Despite its size, holding the gadget for extended periods while gaming isn’t difficult, and the display appears colorful and sharp. The speakers are also surprisingly good for their size; the music is clear and rich enough and may be amplified as necessary. Additionally, a headphone jack is present. It’s sure to be put to good use a lot.

The control sticks are weighty and responsive as well. For some games, such as shooters, they might be a little too small, but by modifying stick dead zones and sensitivity, you can ideally choose a calibration that is most effective for you. Additionally, there are two rear macro trigger buttons that you can adjust per game to your preferences.

These triggers are a little bit more accessible than the Steam Deck’s back buttons, but they’re still not nearly as reachable as rear paddles on high-end controllers. These buttons can be used as function key modifiers, game-by-game modifiers, and for rapid activities like screenshotting. In connection with that, the touchpads on the Steam Deck are not present on the Ally. While I haven’t used the pads frequently—not even in more strategic games—they do a decent job of simulating a mouse in some Steam Deck games, which may be a major miss for some.

Windows and Asus Software Combine

Although the hardware is undoubtedly the focus of attention, a device like this genuinely succeeds or fails based on its software. Before we talk about how it feels to control, let’s go through what is present. The fact that Ally is entirely Windows-based is a major selling point. The Steam Deck instead runs SteamOS in its normal handheld-friendly mode and Linux with a Proton emulation layer.

On the Ally, Asus loaded genuine Windows 11 Home, not a condensed or streamlined edition of the operating system. For a few factors, this is important. One is Windows’ extensive familiarity; it is the most widely used operating system for personal computers and doesn’t require millions of users to go through a learning curve. Many gamers and enthusiasts that we all know have never had a reason to try Linux.