Asus ROG Ally Hands-On: Handheld PC Gaming Reimagined

The Panic Playdate, Analogue Pocket, Valve's Steam Deck, and even the OLED Nintendo Switch have all made significant contributions to the handheld gaming industry in recent years. The ROG Ally is the newest product in this expanding category from PC manufacturer Asus. 

The Ally (ROG is Asus' "Republic of Gamers" brand) is a portable gaming PC similar to the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck uses the Linux-based Steam OS, whereas the Ally uses Windows 11. I recently had the opportunity to experience a brief hands-on demo of the Ally, and even though I went in with some skepticism—much like I did with the Steam Deck at first—I emerged cautiously impressed. Both portable gaming computers use AMD processors and graphics cards. Both handheld gaming PCs run AMD hardware for both their CPU and GPU, which is also similar to what you'd find in a PS5 or Xbox Series X.

While the price and configuration options for the Asus ROG Ally have not yet been revealed, I anticipate that they won't be much more expensive than the Steam Deck, which ranges from $399 (£349) to $650. The Asus ROG Ally should be available sometime around mid- to late May. 

Dan Ackerman/CNET

Deck variations

The Steam Deck's two tiny touchpads, which are used to control keyboard and mouse PC games and generally facilitate navigation, are one of the significant breakthrough features of the Steam Deck. This is the primary visual difference between the Ally and the Steam Deck. The Ally, on the other hand, relies on the traditional gamepad layout with two analog sticks, bumpers, triggers, four face buttons, and a directional pad. 

I was able to navigate Windows using the right analog stick, and it's a nice touch that each analog stick has a colourful ring light surrounding it. The Ally only has one left and one right paddle, whereas the Steam Deck has two sets of paddle buttons on the back, one set for each hand. 

Another distinction is how much lighter and more portable the Ally is than the Steam Deck. On paper, there isn't much of a difference between the weights—608 grams for the Ally and 669 grams for the Steam Deck—but the size and shape evenly distribute the weight, making it more comfortable to handle for extended periods of time. 

The major drawback of the otherwise superb Steam Deck is that it can only be used to play games purchased through the Steam marketplace, unless you go through a number of extra steps to install and set up third-party applications like those from the Epic Game Store or GOG, or use a browser to access Xbox Game Pass titles. 

 

The Ally, however, already has the necessary software loaded to access each of these gaming platforms. The system navigation seemed a little counterintuitive to me during my limited hands-on time with it, but I'll have to use it more to see how natural it seems with time. Performance mode toggles, a game launcher, and a free 90-day trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are all part of the special Armoury Crate software interface found on Asus' gaming laptops.

 

sharper display

Both the Asus Ally and the Steam Deck have 7-inch panels, but the Ally version looks better in my hands-on demo and is more impressive on paper. The maximum resolution and refresh rate for the Steam Deck are 1,280x800. Although it is not ideal for gaming, playing at lower resolutions makes it easier for the hardware to manage, which undoubtedly improves battery life. 

The Ally offers a brighter 500 nits and a more conventional 1,920x1,080 pixel resolution at 120Hz. The Ally screen is distinctive in person, but that can also affect battery life and performance, though you should be able to adjust both as necessary. 

 

Desktop-ready 

My last demo with the Asus Ally was turning it into a desktop computer. The Windows 11 system can perform like a mini PC by connecting a bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and display. If you feel comfortable using the Linux OS on the Steam Deck (or if you wish to force Windows on it), it can do the same function. 

However, the Ally takes an unusual action. Because Asus manufactures its own series of external GPU boxes, the Ally comes with the special connector needed to use an Asus XG Mobile. We've previously tested them with the Asus X13 Flow and X16 Flow laptops as well as the Asus Z13 tablet. They are available in Nvidia and AMD versions.  

While Asus hasn't yet disclosed the precise price or release date, we anticipate the Asus Ally to be available within the next two months and to be slightly more expensive than the Steam Deck. Once we obtain a review device, we will thoroughly benchmark the Asus Ally.  

 

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