We delayed writing this review because, after testing the Asus Rog Ally console for a long time, there are things that we still wonder about its evaluation. On paper, the console presents itself with impressive numbers over its competitor Steam Deck. But being laptop players, from the world of consoles and not from this “new world” of consoles/portable PCs, there are still several aspects that this category must polish.
Focusing on the Asus Rog Ally, we love its design, its power, the ability to have Windows on something so portable, its specialized features, its immersive audio, and more. But we were (very) short of battery and connectivity to an external screen is something complex to carry out. We insist: it is a powerful and pleasant console, but the category in general needs polishing things. No console/portable PC today allows us good freedom without being tied to the power cord.
Analysis: Why trust this model?
Is she or not an ally when it comes to playing? Let’s remember that Ally is an ally in English. And without a doubt, this console is. To play a great PC video game in that last hour or maximum 2 hours before going to sleep, with the cold weather and being in bed, this console fits like a glove. And its features are quite good, and if you compare its price with that of a gaming notebook, you have nowhere to go.
Asus ROG Ally is ready to knock Steam Deck off its throne. With a more powerful spec sheet and the ability to dive into any launcher or gaming app you choose, this console is certainly a cut above.
However, we must remember that packing a complete gaming PC into a portable model is a difficult task for anyone. Asus has been producing some of the best gaming laptops on the market for years – you’d expect their product to be good.
Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4 architecture) with 8 cores and 16 threads and turbo up to 5.10 GHz.
- Graphics: AMD RDNA3 (12 CU) up to 2.70 GHz.
- TDP up to 30W plugged in and 25W using battery
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage
- Full HD IPS touch screen (1920×1080) up to 120 Hz. with brightness up to 500 nits
- Xbox type buttons, (ABXY buttons, L1, L2, R1, R2, analogues with button, Dpad and View and Menu buttons)
- ROG buttons to open the main interface and in-game menu
- Configurable rear M1 and M2 buttons
- 4-cell 40Wh battery
- Size: 28×11.1×3.24cm (width, depth and height)
- Weight: 608 grams
Design: beautiful, but you will need to have strong hands
Don’t lie: having more than 600 grams in your hands for a long period of time is NOT comfortable. This is a point that will depend on several factors: hand size, strength, among others. The Nintendo Switch Oled weighs 320 grams, and the difference after playing for more than 2 hours is noticeable.
However, in terms of design, regardless of its weight, the console is beautiful. In a white color, with lighting, good size buttons, good levers and details typical of the brand, the console falls in love at first sight. The audio has Dolby Atmos: it will envelop you.
Above the console we have volume and power buttons (which is also a fingerprint reader), charging and power indicators, and the ports. Obviously in the corners (at the back) we have our now classic R1, R2, L1, L2. And something shiny in the back: good ventilation.
Speaking of buttons, the console has 2 more than the “conventional” ones. These are the programmable M1 and M2 buttons on the back, within reach of your fingers in grip mode. Something that we have seen in controls, or that in the past players attached to some controls using mod kits.
The front? The queen is the screen: 7 inches. In general, the console is beautiful: a simple design, with many details, but without becoming overloaded. I am afraid of the white color due to possible stains or bad appearance in the long term with use, I would have liked it more in black, but it doesn’t look bad on it.
Control: we insist that it is a console for big hands
To construct this review, the console was used by a male user of average height, a female user of average height, and a 10-year-old child user. Why is this important? Because unlike the Nintendo Switch, where you can change the Joy-Con for alternative, larger controls, here the control “is what it is.”
And surprise: obviously not all of our hands were comfortable when playing. The male user was able to hold the console and reach all the buttons without problem, although the weight was noticeable and he could not maintain long gaming sessions. The user was not so lucky: with slightly smaller hands, it was uncomfortable for her to just hold the console, and it was a horrendous effort to try to reach the customizable M buttons. The same situation happened with the child user, who also found it difficult to access to other buttons. Conclusion? It is not a console for everyone.
Analyzing the control in general, its distribution reminds us of an Xbox control (although we insist that it is “bigger”). What we can highlight in this aspect is that the buttons are softer than one of those controls and that is a plus point in this case. One point that we did not like so much was “the travel” of the rear buttons (L,R) because it was short. The new generations of consoles have accustomed us to longer distances that contribute to sensitivity, especially in racing, shooting and other games that require greater precision.
The analogues worked well, although we had a little problem: it had a deadzone. For those unfamiliar with the concept, the dead zone, or deadzone, of a video game controller is the maximum range that a joystick or stick can move before the video game recognizes it. That is, even if you move the controller that way, there would be no action in the video game.
Therefore, if a controller has a lower dead zone, it will be much more sensitive and will detect any slightest movement that occurs. In contrast, a larger dead zone will make it more insensitive, causing the input device to ignore subtle movements. We realize that Chilean colleagues from Paperweighthad a similar problem and several other sites.
Processor, graphics, it’s time to play: power is what stands out in this console
But don’t think we complain about everything. We insist that, in its product category, this console is quite good and now we will explain why. Don’t forget these 3 key facts:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4 architecture) with 8 cores and 16 threads and turbo up to 5.10 GHz.
- Graphics: AMD RDNA3 (12 CU) up to 2.70 GHz.
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
These numbers are what transform this portable console into a powerful machine. Regarding performance, the console delivers what is expected: powerful games at average quality, very playable and decent. Don’t order them 100%, because remember that you are putting a PC in laptop mode.
But we tried, for example, Forza Horizon 5 and it played amazing. Of course, with that title the battery did not give “approximately” one hour of battery life. Here is our initial story that this console is a gem “for that hour before bed”, after a long day of work in the office. Do you want to save battery? You can do it through the graphical settings, but you lose quality and the experience is lost a little.
We insist that “the beauty of this” is feeling like you have the power of a PC in your pocket. Of course, a Microsoft Flight Simulator on high, impossible. The console has its limits. And with Forza, or Baldur’s Gate on high: the team got a little hot. The game that gave us a pleasant experience was Stardew Valley. Almost four hours, 120 Hz, a pleasure.
But we insist that to enter to “compete” with “non-PC” portable consoles, the battery is low. The Oled Switch HEG-001 It gives a minimum of 4.5 hours and a maximum of 9. In conclusion, for this part of the analysis: we love the power it gives us, but that power would need a better battery.
Own software: a card up your sleeve
The console has an additional “detail” that adds many positive points: its Asus Armory Crate software. We loved the options it provides.
You can configure the controls, customizable buttons, play with your RGB and Aura Sync, you have access to your game catalog in a more organized way, among other options. It is undoubtedly a success, it takes you a little away from this feeling of a “pocket Windows PC” and reminds you again that the concept points more to a console.
And my HDMI?
I missed an HDMI, even if it was in a mini version. The console features Asus’ proprietary ROG XG Mobile connector for connecting external graphics cards and through that, you could connect it to an external display.
We saw a review where a foreign colleague connected the console to an RTX 4090 giving an INCREDIBLE result. But the investment already becomes very high (console + external graphics card + monitor), something that perhaps the notebook solves in a simple way (it comes with its own larger screen, and you can also connect a monitor without the need for something “extra” .
Here we don’t know whether to “miss the HDMI” or use this as an impetus to transform the Rog Ally into a powerful monster. Because really, connected to the extra external card, the result is phenomenal.
Conclusions: an ally for “after” work
Maybe we needed a little more time to experiment with the “Windows 11” console. But using it for what it came prepared for: games through the Xbox app and Steam, the console delivered. Compared to Steam Deck, the best-known console in this segment, Asus managed to enter the category with a much better model, there is no doubt about that.
But it still has shortcomings in the segment such as the battery and the issue that, by not being able to exchange the controls like a recent leaked model from Lenovo or the Nintendo Switch, it is limiting its audience, since more and more we have PC gamers. at early ages. It is a more massive trend than 10 or 15 years ago, and it is something that was not considered. Not to mention the female audience, which could also make us a little uncomfortable (yes, one of our editors participated in this review).
Who is the console for? If you like heavier games than those mentioned, opt for a PC. If you like games like Forza 5 (or similar needs to run it), this console will give you 1 or 2 hours of high-quality entertainment, ideal for the player aged 30 or over who wants to relax for a while after getting home from work. If you play occasionally and games with much less demands, the console can give you 4 hours.
Considering everything you can do with Windows: access other programs, retro video game platforms, browse, and more: this console is a success for those who know how to get real use out of a computer and are not simply limited to official video game stores. on-line. Without a doubt, Asus Rog Ally is an excellent first approach of the brand to the world of portable consoles and it is to be expected that these details that we, like many other journalists worldwide, mention, will be considered for a second generation that we will undoubtedly look forward to. .
Because for the price and what it brings, this console can undoubtedly become a good product regarding its sales for 2023.
Availability and prices
The ASUS ROG Ally has been available in the Chilean market for a few days, it went on sale on September 4 in this country. It is priced at $769,990, which includes 3 free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.