Handheld PCs or gaming consoles have been around for years, but this year has seen a significant boost in competition due to Valve’s surprising release of the Steam Deck and how affordable it is. Following Valve’s lead, many brands have entered the market, and ASUS is one of them. We had the opportunity to test and experience the ASUS ROG Ally, a handheld device designed for playing Windows games.
Table of Contents
ASUS ROG Ally Specifications
| CPU/GPU | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|
| Display | FHD 1920 x 1080 120Hz Touchscreen |
| Display: | 16″ WQXGA IPS 240Hz 500nits display |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512 GB PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Accessories included in the box: | 65w PD Charger Ally Stand |
| Price | Php 43,995 |
The Unboxing
The ROG Ally comes in simple packaging and straightforward items inside. There is only the product itself and the charger. The 65W USB-C power adapter resembles like from their notebook chargers and it is a fixed plug design. There is a chance that some people will find the heft of the power adapter to be annoying when traveling. Speaking of traveling, there is no included carrying case for the ROG Ally, you need to buy it separately.
ASUS included a freebie in the lid of the box, it is a stand that is made of paper which is flimsy but it can be used for a while before you get a better stand for your ROG Ally.
The Design
Like any other handheld game console, the ROG Ally design has two controls on the left and right and split in the middle is the display. ASUS crafted its ROG Ally minimalistically with RGB lights on its thumbsticks. Sadly it only comes in white which can be dirty over time.
Its measurement is 11 inches in length, 4.37 inches in width, and 21.22 mm in height which is slightly smaller than a Steam Deck. As for the weight, it is 608g which is slightly lighter than a Steam Deck. Durability-wise, it is durable and doesn’t flex that much when you are playing with it.
The button and control layout follows a standard configuration, but it lacks touchpads similar to the ones found on the Steam Deck. In addition, they’ve incorporated two additional buttons, one on each side, which serve as quick-access keys for the ASUS Armoury Crate app. On the backside, they’ve also added two extra buttons, one on each side.
They didn’t place any ports or buttons at the bottom of the ROG Ally, they all placed it on the top. You will find the headphone jack, microSD card slot, ROG XG mobile interface, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C/DisplayPort 1.4/Power (DC) input combo port, volume buttons, battery and charging indicators, and a power button that also has a fingerprint sensor for windows login.
The Display and Speakers
The ROG Ally has a 7-inch 120Hz Full HD IPS display. It packs features like FreeSync Premium and Gorilla Glass Victus for protection. It also has a 10-point touchscreen.
You will see ahead that it has a much better screen compared to a Steam Deck as it has higher resolution with a vibrant display having mentioned that it has 100% sRGB rating. We cannot check its claim as we don’t have the tool. But, by just using it for several weeks we really can tell that it is really that color pops out. They also mentioned that it has 500 nits brightness which is brighter than the competition.
The ROG Ally has two front-facing speakers that are loud and clear. They also included a microphone that has Two-Way AI Noise cancellation that can make your voice chat much clearer.
The Performance
The ROG Ally that we have is using an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. This device features Zen 4 architecture paired with RDNA 3, boasting 8 cores and 16 threads, along with 12 graphics compute units. Its processor can achieve clock speeds of up to 5.10 GHz, while the GPU can reach 2.7 GHz. Additionally, there’s a more affordable ROG Ally model equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1, which shares the same architecture but offers 6 cores, 12 threads, and 4 graphics compute units. The Ryzen Z1 operates at a maximum clock speed of 4.90 GHz, with a GPU clock speed of 2.5 GHz.
You can connect an external GPU to the ROG Ally to enhance its gaming performance. You’ll need the ROG XG Mobile unit and connect it to an external monitor. It will transform into a desktop-like setup, although it won’t be portable anymore. At least, kudos to them for offering this option for those who prefer such a configuration.
It is paired with a 16GB (8GBx2) LPDDR5 onboard RAM and it clocks to 6400Mhz. For its storage, there is a 512GB M.2 NVMe 2230 Gen4x4 SSD but for the Ryzen Z1 variant, it is only a 256GB storage configuration.
There are four wattage modes that the ROG Ally offers. You can set it to 10W, 15W, 25W (When not plugged in), 30W (When plugged in). You can also create a manual profile which you can customize its power limit and fan profiles. In our usual tasks, we typically stick to the default four power modes. We conducted tests using synthetic benchmarks and games to showcase the performance of the ROG Ally.
Synthetic Benchmarks
In its Cinebench R23 multi-score test, we ran it three times and calculated the average. You’ll be impressed to see that for its size, in a 30W mode, it can outperform a Ryzen 5 5600X processor. However, when we switch to a 15W mode, it performs similarly to a Ryzen 5 3600X, which is still quite respectable.
As for the 3DMark Time Spy, checking its 30W graphics score on its leaderboard it is around the same as a desktop GeForce GTX 1650 which is still a decent card especially if it is a handheld device.
Game Benchmarks
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Average FPS | Max | Min |
| 30W | 41 | 68 | 16 |
| 25W | 40 | 66 | 16 |
| 15W | 35 | 61 | 12 |
| 10W | 11 | 17 | 5 |
| FFXIV Endwalker Benchmark | Average FPS | Min | Loading Time |
| 30W | 37 | 24 | 17.3 sec |
| 25W | 35 | 20 | 17.77 sec |
| 15W | 34 | 20 | 18.85 sec |
| 10W | 20 | 8 | 27.21 sec |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Average FPS |
| 30W | 34 |
| 25W | 33 |
| 15W | 29 |
| 10W | 11 |
In our Horizon Zero Dawn tests, we set the graphics to the original preset. It’s playable even in 15W mode, albeit with occasional stuttering, but you can lower the graphics settings to achieve a stable FPS.
For the Final Fantasy XIV benchmark, it ran smoothly with high graphics settings, even in 15W mode, but didn’t perform well in the 10W mode.
Our run of the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark on a medium graphics preset was decent. It ran with minimal FPS dips in the 30W mode, and the 15W mode remained playable, though occasionally stuttered.
While testing other games, we weren’t able to record the FPS for titles like Tekken 7 due to time constraints. However, they remained playable, even in 15W mode. Nonetheless, we found that the 10W mode is not suitable for most 3D games, but it performs decently when playing 2D games like 20XX or old-school emulator games.
Storage Performance
The storage device that is equipped in the ROG Ally is a Micron 2400 which is a M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD. As a small m.2 SSD, it is quite good. There is no problem we got when booting it up and running some games. It is always smooth and snappy.
Temperature Performance
The ROG Ally features a dual-fan cooling system with a single heat pipe responsible for transferring heat across both heat sinks. It’s unexpected that they opted for a heat pipe design rather than a vapor chamber, but they claim it’s an anti-gravity heat pipe capable of maintaining effectiveness even when the device is completely inverted.
When playing games in 30W mode, it consistently reaches temperatures above 90 degrees Celsius. However, it doesn’t throttle its performance in hot rooms or even when used outdoors under the sun. The temperatures in 15W and 10W modes are lower, which is beneficial since the microSD card slot is located in the areas of the fans and heat sink, and microSD cards typically have an operating temperature limit of 85 degrees Celsius.
Regarding the default fan speed in the 30W mode, it’s audible but not distracting. When you switch to the 15W and 10W modes, it becomes silent.
The Software
The ROG Ally runs Windows 11 Home, unlike some competitors that use their own operating systems. This is great news because Windows OS offers broad compatibility with games and apps, making this device versatile for various tasks.
However, Windows isn’t ideal for small displays, and the only cursor option available is the thumbstick, which can be frustrating to use. Additionally, launching the virtual keyboard for typing can be frustrating at times, as it may not always respond well and could cover the area you’re typing on.
ASUS includes two apps with the ROG Ally: MyASUS and Armoury Crate SE. MyASUS is for updating drivers, while Armoury Crate SE is your primary tool.
Armoury Crate SE allows you to manage games from various stores, customize performance and cooling settings, gamepad controls, and RGB lights. It’s straightforward and easy to use, compatible with both touchscreen and gamepad inputs.
There’s also the command center for quick control of brightness and volume, along with customizable quick controls like operating mode, control mode, game profile, keyboard settings, real-time monitoring, FPS limiter, show desktop, and more. However, we encountered some issues, like bugs in the 10W mode that prevented interaction with the command center. Speaking of bugs, it sometimes takes automatic screenshots even after disabling the shortcut key for it.
Overall, the software experience with the ROG Ally has room for improvement due to these bugs. Some users find it challenging to navigate Armoury Crate SE and Windows, making it better suited for tech-savvy individuals who can fine-tune settings to their preferences. Hopefully, future updates on the software for the ROG Ally will iron out these issues.
The Battery
The ROG Ally battery it has is 40Wh. In our experience on a 70% brightness, playing games on a 15W mode we are able to reach almost an hour and 30 minutes at most. When switching to 25W it will be under an hour and if it is 10W it is over two hours.
If you will be having it as your travel buddy it will for sure be lacking. Even if you will be tweaking its settings for most AAA 3D titles you will be playing it on a 15W mode to be playable. Most of the time if given a chance to plug it into a wall socket you will likely grab the opportunity to really maximize its capability and prolong its use as it has a really short battery life.
The included 65W charger in the box can charge the ROG Ally within an hour and 30 minutes if left charging. However, if you will be playing while plugged in it can charge over two hours on a 15W mode. It is reasonably fast in my opinion.
ASUS ROG Ally Verdict
The ROG Ally is an impressive handheld device, notably given its price point. The performance delivered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the 120Hz display, the controller, and the quiet cooling solution exceeded our expectations and outperformed its competitors. However, there are noticeable downsides, primarily regarding its battery life and software.
The battery it comes with is limiting for extended travel, making it less than ideal for long journeys. On the software front, both the Windows OS and Armoury Crate SE still have room for improvement in catering to this type of device. Windows OS proved frustrating to use, particularly with the touchscreen display, and having a touchpad alongside the thumbstick would enhance the overall user experience. As for Armoury Crate SE, it requires further polishing to offer a smoother and more intuitive experience.
In summary, the ROG Ally is undeniably a niche product that opens up the possibility of playing your Windows PC games on the go with ease. However, to expand its reach in the market, it needs to address its battery and software issues to make it more appealing.
The ROG Ally we reviewed, featuring the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, is priced at Php 43,995. However, there is now an AMD Ryzen Z1 version available, equipped with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and it is priced at Php 39,995.
