ASUS · ROG

ROG Ally (2023)

Released June 2023

A Windows 11 gaming handheld with a 7-inch 120 Hz touchscreen, Ryzen Z1 or Z1 Extreme processor and support for PC game launchers.

Type: Handheld
Output: –
Memory: 16 GB
Storage: 512 GB
Weight: 608 g

Plays handheld

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the Z1 Extreme model's bright screen and PC game compatibility, but criticise short gaming battery life. PC Gamer finds it powerful and easy to use; Tom's Hardware and Tom's Guide find the Windows experience less smooth and the performance gain over Steam Deck more limited when unplugged. Comfort opinions differ between the reviews.

From pcgamer.com, tomshardware.com and tomsguide.com

Specifications

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Performance

Type: Handheld
CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 or Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4)
GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 3 (4 CUs with Z1; 12 CUs with Z1 Extreme)
Memory: 16 GB
Storage: 512 GB
Disc drive: No
CPU: Ryzen Z1 Extreme has 8 cores, 16 threads, 24 MB total cache and up to 5.10 GHz boost; Ryzen Z1 has 6 cores, 12 threads, 22 MB total cache and up to 4.90 GHz boost. Both use a 4 nm process and have a published 9–30 W TDP range.
GPU: Ryzen Z1 Extreme has 12 RDNA 3 compute units at up to 2.7 GHz and up to 8.6 TFLOPS; Ryzen Z1 has 4 compute units at up to 2.5 GHz and up to 2.8 TFLOPS. These figures depend on the processor configuration. The three reviews cover the Z1 Extreme model.
Memory detail: 16 GB LPDDR5-6400 onboard memory in dual channel, shared with integrated graphics
Storage detail: 512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2230 SSD. The Z1 Extreme version first went on sale on 13 June 2023; ASUS announced the Z1 version as available on 18 September 2023. Both current US specification entries list 512 GB; an early 256 GB mention in reviews is not used here.
Storage expansion: UHS-II microSD card reader supports SD, SDHC and SDXC. ASUS's ROG community administrator confirmed in July 2023 that the reader could malfunction under certain thermal stress conditions, announced fan-speed changes and advised affected owners to seek inspection and repair.

Display and video

Built-in screen: 7″ LCD, 1920 × 1080, 120 Hz
Built-in screen: IPS-level touchscreen with 10-point touch, 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB and 75.35% Adobe RGB coverage; 7 ms response time; Gorilla Glass Victus and Gorilla Glass DXC; anti-glare and low-reflection finish
Video output: USB-C supports DisplayPort 1.4. The proprietary XG Mobile interface supports ASUS external GPUs; an external GPU's output capabilities are separate from the handheld's integrated graphics.
Variable refresh rate: AMD FreeSync Premium variable refresh rate
Audio: Two speakers with Smart Amplifier Technology, Dolby Atmos, built-in microphone array and AI noise cancellation; Hi-Res certification for headphones

Design and power

Weight: 608 g
Battery life detail: 40 Wh, four-cell lithium-ion battery; ASUS does not publish a gaming runtime in the current specification
Power use: 65 W USB-C AC adapter, 20 V DC at 3.25 A, with universal 100–240 V input. ASUS says charger inclusion varies by country, region and model.
Colours: White. Dimensions are 28.0 × 11.1 × 2.12–3.24 cm (width × depth × height).

Connections

Ports: One USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector within the ROG XG Mobile combo interface; one 3.5 mm headphone/microphone socket; one UHS-II microSD reader
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), 2×2 antennas. Current ASUS specifications list Bluetooth 5.4 subject to OS version; the May 2023 launch specification and contemporary reviews list 5.2.
Controller: Offset analogue sticks, D-pad, ABXY buttons, Hall effect analogue triggers, shoulder buttons, two assignable rear grip buttons, View and Menu buttons, Command Center and Armoury Crate buttons; HD haptics, 6-axis IMU and Aura Sync lighting. Fingerprint sensor in the power button and Microsoft Pluton security processor.
Backward compatibility: Windows 11 Home with Armoury Crate SE; supports compatible PC games from launchers including Steam, Xbox, Epic Games Store, EA and GOG. Game compatibility and performance vary by title.

Pros and cons

Pros

120 Hz Full HD touchscreen with FreeSync Premium
Supports Windows PC game launchers
Fingerprint reader and UHS-II microSD slot

Cons

One USB-C port, shared with the XG Mobile connector
Memory is soldered to the board
ASUS acknowledged microSD reader malfunctions under thermal stress

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Output	Memory	Storage	Weight	Released
LenovoLegion Go (2023)	Handheld	–	16 GB	256 GB – 1 TB	–	Oct 2023
SonyPlayStation Portal	Handheld	–	–	–	529 g	Nov 2023
ValveSteam Deck OLED	Handheld	8K	16 GB	512 GB – 1 TB	640 g	Nov 2023

Newer model: ROG Ally X (2024).

Sources

Photo: dlcdnwebimgs.asus.com

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