Rumors about release, price and performance
With the ROG Ally, Asus will soon be releasing its own portable game console and could even put the Steam Deck under pressure. The PC gaming handheld with Windows 11 can do that.
With the Steam Deck, Valve was able to set foot in the promising market for powerful PC handheld consoles. Since then, other manufacturers have been trying to build on the success, some with their own concepts such as the cloud gaming handheld Logitech G Cloud – so far without success. Now Asus is also trying its luck with the ROG Ally.
When will the Asus ROG Ally be released?
The launch date is already known. From June 13th you can probably get your hands on your portable gaming console, provided you have pre-ordered it.
This is already possible with some dealers. While the console has only been listed on Amazon and is not yet available, you can already order the Asus Rog Ally from Media Markt or Alternate, for example.
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At ASUS eStore 799.00 euros*
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How much will the Asus ROG Ally cost?
Contrary to what WePC assumed, the Asus ROG Ally will not cost up to 1,000 euros, but will be priced closely to the direct competitors. Pre-orders cost 799.00 euros to 799.99 euros from various retailers.
You can also buy the ROG Ally in a bundle with various accessories in the ASUS eStore. Together with the external graphics card ROG XG Mobile Readon RX 6850 M RC you only pay 1,598 euros. According to the shop, you save 500 euros.
What’s running on the Asus ROG Ally?
Since the Asus ROG Ally runs Windows 11, a whole lot is possible. The handheld is said to work with Steam, Origin and other PC platforms. Asus itself puts the Xbox Game Pass in the foreground. You even get 90 days access to Microsoft’s subscription service when you buy it.
appearance and equipment
Testers like DaveD have already been able to test a prototype of the Asus ROG Ally and share initial facts and impressions. Below you will also find a new YouTube video by Linus Tech Tips.
design and connections
The display of the Asus ROG Ally is placed in the middle. Buttons and analog sticks for controlling the device are arranged on the sides. The layout is reminiscent of an Xbox controller. There are also four system keys near the screen and two freely configurable handle keys. Rings appear to be illuminated around the analog sticks.
On the top there are not only volume controls, MicroSD slot and fingerprint sensor, but also a USB-C port that looks a little different than usual. This is intended for an eGPU solution. In addition, there are of course also the shoulder buttons.
screen
The Full HD resolution display is 7 inches and has a refresh rate of 120 Hertz. In addition, the response time is seven seconds. The brightness goes up to 500 nits. This would make the content easy to see even in sunlight. Thanks to AMD’s Free Synch, it doesn’t matter if your games don’t reach 120 Hertz.
performance
For a handheld, it’s not just raw performance that’s important, but also how well the console performs at lower power draws just to conserve battery power. The new video from Linus Tech Tips took a look at this in comparison to the Steam Deck. At 10 watts of power with Metro Exodus, for example, the Steam Deck is still a lot better (an average of 53 frames per second, the ROG Ally gets 26 frames), but at 15 watts it looks different.
At 800p and medium graphics settings, the ROG Ally achieves 64 frames per second, the Steam Deck only an average of 54. It is also possible to operate the Ally with 25 watts. Connected to a power supply, ASUS also offers you a 30 watt mode that can boost the average frames to 98 per second.
An AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor works inside, which can clock up to 5.1 gigahertz with its 8 cores in boost. This is joined by 16 gigabytes of faster RAM and a graphics unit with 8.6 teraflops.
An SSD with 512 gigabytes is mentioned in the shop. In addition to all the other technology, two fans were packed into the case, which should do their job pretty well. There is also a micro SD card reader.
You get more performance in combination with ROG XG Mobile and an external eGPU. This makes the Asus ROG Ally a home console at first glance, which should make the switch look more than old.
Audio
Asus speaks of two built-in speakers with Smart Amplifier Technology and Dolby Atmos. In addition, there is an AI technology for noise canceling on the software side. The fans are another issue. Reviews, like the following YouTube video, praise how quiet the fans are even in “turbo mode”. You can also get a first impression of the sound of the speakers, even if the audio quality of the ROG Ally will certainly sound different.
weight and battery
The ROG Ally is powered by a battery with a capacity of 40 Wh. At 608 grams, it weighs about 60 grams less than Valve’s competitor product.
Note: This constantly updated article is based on leaks, analyst statements, editorial assessments and rumors, the veracity of which is difficult for us to verify from a distance. Until the formal presentation of the Asus ROG Ally, you should therefore view the information with a certain skepticism.