Customer Ratings & Reviews

Excelent The ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is a powerful handheld gaming console that rivals traditional gaming laptops. Featuring the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and a 7-inch 120Hz touchscreen, it delivers smooth gameplay and vibrant visuals. Its ergonomic design ensures comfort during long gaming sessions, while Windows 11 compatibility allows access to a vast library of PC games. Despite its impressive performance, battery life remains a drawback, especially during demanding gameplay. However, its versatility, high refresh rate, and robust build make it an excellent choice for gamers seeking a portable yet powerful gaming experience.

The rog ally is a love and hate relationship. At times its amazing and the power is there for a handheld. Indy games at 1080p, 120 fps locked is truly awsome. Not everything will hit that taget, but thats the point of pc gaming, finding what settings and resolutions work best for you. A lot of moden AAA games i run at 720p for the better framerates. That being said there is some jank. The first brand new ally freaked out during the windows setup and completely locked me out of windows. I exchanged it. Went threw that whole set up process and no issues the secound time around. Sometimes feels like system will have a mind of its own and start doing to wierd stuff. For exsample I shut down my rog when not in use to conserve the battery life. Upon turning it back on it was in like a slow motion state. Taking about 5 mins to boot. So tryed hard restarting and same thing. Everything was at a snails pace. Well decided to plug power into the handheld and came right back to life. Wierd for sure but glad it was nothing major. Speaking of power delivery lets talk battary life. It sucks, if your coming from the steam deck this will be noticeably worse if running in turbo so hope your ready to sit next to a outlit. Unless your running indy games. not a lot of games will run off the 10 watt mode. Well, they will run if you like slide shows but yeah, i digress. The screen is top notch for a handheld and that 120htz vrr display is just the cream of the crop. It really is stunning for a lcd display and a higlight of the handheld for sure. Next i want to mention hand feel. Its different, I have heard people say its more comfortable then the steam deck. At times it is. At times im trying to ajust my grip on this machine. Its hard to explain but its hit and miss. If your sitting at a table or desk where you can take the weight off your hands and just play then the comfort is awesome, but if you're holding up in front of your face, it's awkward. The plastic feels a lot like a series x/s standard controller, which is not a bad thing. The back bottons are a lot more usable than i thought they would have been and can set them up with each game individually. Never had any of the bottons stick on me and really do like the placement of all the bottons. The sticks feel really good to use, and i personally like the tension. Its a little less rigid as something like a steamdeck but feels good in its own way. The dead zone out the box is awsome. I heard complaints aboht this in other reviews but for me it was very responsive. Asus needs to really flush out there softwear (as much as they can considering its windows) but so far they have been doing a ok job with the updates. I really hope they keep up that same energy but only time will tell. Now, heres the big one. The sd card reader. I really cant comment because i don't use one in there yet, but I do plan on installing emulation station and seeing if the card frys over time. If you are new to pc handhelds and can google problems then this handheld should just fine for you. If you are someone that does not want to tinker with setting or troubleshooting problems then i would not pick up this device. Maybe get a steamdeck or a switch but for those that love gaming and love messing with stuff to see if it will work than this is the product for you. Thank you for reading my random rambling and unorganized review. Had a lot to say and wrote a review for a chance to win a 400 dollar gift card. Figures crossed.

The ROG Ally is a marvel of technology. All that horse power in the palm of your hand is amazing. The screen and speakers are very very good and it's a joy to play. BUT...ASUS may have screwed up because of some design choices. The mSD card slot next to the exhaust fan is a fail. Over time (even with a custom fan curve) the card reader and the mSD card will get stressed and eventually fail. It should have been on the side or the bottom. It only has 1.5 USB ports and it's supposed to be a mini pc (Because it has Windows on it, lol). A secondary USB C or full size USB port would have been nicer. Especially on a device that costs $750 w/tax. Aftermarket docks don't work properly at this time and hopefully it's addressed in software updates instead of being locked in to a $70 w/tax ASUS dock with only two USB ports on it (technically 1 port, because the USB C port is for power). Hopefully Windows and the software will get better, because that is the last thing that is holding it back. IF ASUS takes the Valve approach then they will be fine. Valve had software updates coming in hot for like 2.5 months straight for the Steam Deck and they listened to the community. Only time will. Lastly IF you don't like to tinker around in Windows, and you want to pick up and play, get a Steam Deck or Switch.

I am very pleased with the ROG Ally. It sometimes needs tinkering and the lack of touchpads makes somethings more convoluted than the Steam Deck, but it is a great piece of hardware. It is amazing to be able to play Halo MCC at 120fps on the go. The controller is very comfortable and it is light enough for long gaming sessions. It even runs Starfield(as seen in the picture). I highly recommend keeping demanding games on the ssd (which can be easily upgraded—512gb is fine, but you will want to expand if you play a lot of games). I would only keep indie or older games on sd cards if you choose to use one. The armory crate software can bug out, 95% of the time a restart can fix it. Sometimes you have fo reset the amd drivers if you have it docked to have it a 60hz on a tv and not 30hz. So some of those flaws keep it fron being perfect. It is still a very capable device. If you want something more powerful than a steam deck and have the abillity to problem solve the occasional glitch, this is a great device. Battery life depends on the wattage you select. I usually have a powerbank or charger near by. With this being their first device and most aspects of it are satisfactory I hope Asus continues to support it. It is important to note: they have had a couple of headlines with other products that could be concerning (like some of their high end motherboards frying and a bios update that would void the warranty), but speaking on the Ally: I feel this device is well made. Hopefully they have resolved some of the customer support complaints that people have been discussing.

... then this device is for you. Ally is a full portable Windows computer dressed in a light gaming attire, with enough ROG design elements. Software works well after series of bios updates. Armory Crate is still annoying in checking and forcing updates. Battery life is too short, better have some 65w PD USB C powerbank nearby. Audio is very good, especially in surrounding effects, formula 1 engine in Monte Carlo tunnel sounds realistic. Screen is fast, there will be no tearing but I got used to OLED type and is kind a small for my eyes. Game pad is fine, and device is not too heavy however that is where I find this device type problematic since it is much larger size than regular gaming pad, and it is what you get in terma of pad button stiffness, ergonomics etc. I used it with a hub, external monitor, and also with Mobile XG eGPU, not a hickup, everything works fine and 4k gaming performance is there. In such a small package! Great job AMD and Asus! However, small screen, short battery life, size that is not much smaller than a laptop with similar AMD CPU and gaming performance, are all cons that resulted in my separation with Ally. Oh yes, micro SD card slot is literally burning, my SD card still works but is severely burned, color faded, so this looks like a design error. Overall, device does not run hot, and fans are not loud, which cannot be said for Mobile XG 6500XT. Will check future implementations and kudos to Asus for bringing this device to market.

I’m so glad I bought this thing. I would just like to say that I love my ROG ally, and really enjoy gaming on it. It plays all of my games from every platform, and is as versatile as I need it to be. All that being said, the ROG is not perfect by any means. It has it shortcomings, but in my opinion they are far outweighed by the positives. The ally is a windows 11 fully functioning pc, so everything good and bad that implies is implied. The ally is not a plug and play device, it requires updating and tweaking to get the most out of it. There is lots up helpful information online, on the Asus website and places like the redddit ROG subreddit. After you get it dialed in you’ll enjoy gaming from all sources. I play X box games on it, pc games, I even cloud stream from the included game pass app and from the PlayStation plus app. You can buy games from steam, Microsoft sore, epic games store, and others. You can also download and play EA games with EAplay , which is included in gamepass. I have a series X, a ps5,and an acer predator helios 15 with rtx 4050 I got the same time as the ROG ally, and the ally is by far getting the most time. I think that tells you how much I like it. On the downside, the storage on the SSD could be bigger, and there’s the issue with the sd card slot reader, but other than that I love it. I save space by playing some games on cloud, as opposed to downloading them. The battery life can be a real issue, but I mostly play at home where I can plug up. Tou can adjust settings to help this, but if you plan on playing a significant amount of time without being plugged in I suggest getting a battery pack that can deliver 65W of charging. If you like gaming, I highly recommend one.

Out of the box I love that this is a Windows PC in the form of a semi-portable gaming device. Pretty much zero bloatware from ASUS, in fact the apps that are preinstalled from them I have found to be useful rather than obtrusive when I’m playing a game. The ability to connect to external monitors, pair Bluetooth controllers and audio devices is seamless and incredibly easy. The build quality and button placement is excellent. No fatigue when gaming for longer sessions, although unless you’re plugged into an outlet, you’ll be lucky to get more than a couple of hours of gaming when running off of the battery alone. Overall this thing is a beast and I love it. The only things I wish it had were improved thermals for better heat dissipation (which in turn would result in less fan noise) and improved battery life, but considering the amount of hardware that’s packed into this thing I’m not complaining.

I know it's in the early stages but this thing is great! Runs anything I throw at it with no problems! Slightly lighter and thinner then the Steamdeck (which makes a big difference for me and my tiny hands), better screen quality, performance, and you have access to alot more games/programs because it's Windows based OS. Only negative is the battery life (as expected). I also understand that they are releasing updates to have the unit perform better all around... They already released an update to increase battery life 10%-20%. Great job Asus!

I've been using the ROG Ally for the past year, and it has seamlessly integrated into both my professional and personal life. As an intern working in Los Angeles, I rely on the ROG Ally for my daily tasks at work, and its performance has been nothing short of impressive. The device handles everything from managing servers to running network simulations with ease. But what truly sets the ROG Ally apart is its versatility. After a long day at work, I can switch gears and dive into my favorite games without missing a beat. The compatibility across different applications and games is fantastic, making it a reliable companion whether I'm in the office or at home. The device is powerful enough to handle demanding tasks, yet portable and convenient for on-the-go use. Overall, the ROG Ally has exceeded my expectations, providing a perfect balance of work and play in a single device. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a versatile, high-performance tool that can effortlessly transition between professional duties and leisure activities. --- Feel free to modify it as you see fit!

Excellent machine, really fast and reliable as the steam deck, but his battery lack on lifespan it runs out really fast on demanding games, the controllers are really robust the Asus feature for gaming really seamless to valve eco system. The screen is not oled but I can’t find so much difference. A really good product for his price I will not change it.

The ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) is a extremely compelling handheld device, with only one major flaw versus it's 2 closest competitors (The Steam Deck OLED and the Lenovo Legion GO) Despite having slower LPDDR5 memory vs the Legion GO for example, in benchmarks the Device tends to run faster than it, and to a margin that only widens when you are targeting lower wattages like 15W. And thanks to the optimizations and updates that have been made since it's release, at 15W it actually has relatively similar battery life to the Original Steam Deck, while performing appreciably faster. And the scenarios where it does run worse or less stably are mitigated thanks to the ROG Ally's greatest feature, the 7in 1080p 1-120hz Variable Refresh screen. Thanks to being a Freesync Premium panel, the Display has the ability to adjust its refresh rate all the way down to 1hz using low framerate compensation. This eliminates all forms of screen-tearing or vsync-jutter you'd see on other handhelds when the framerate falls out of sync with an even division of the Refresh Rate, masking over framerate drops if the game's logic and input are stable during the drop. The only major flaw the ROG Ally has beyond the battery-life tradeoff vs the Steam Deck OLED is it's QA issues with the SD card Slot. While ASUS has seemingly taken effort to do all they can on fixing it, the fact it was a issue to begin with is something to account. But apparently the most recent revisions of the Ally have corrected this with a motherboard revision, and my own unit (an R6 Unit made in July 2023) hasn't had it's SD-Card Slot die on me yet despite around a month of use with some play-sessions at 30W Turbo.

I bought thos because I didnt want to be locked into linux os and I'm pretty familiar with windows. It sets up just like a computer or laptop would. The screen on this thing is freaking awesome and crsip. It handles alot of AAA games well, but you will need to adjust your settings. The included space on the ssd is okay, just okay, since my purchase at the beginning of the month i have since upgraded to a 2tb ssd. Depending on your game settings the battery will not last long at all, i get about 2-ish hours on ff7 remake. Having said that it is a portable and a power hungry portable gaming pc with a built in screen so it is expected. I have about if not over 100 hours of using it and it's been solid. Even with the battery and storage shortcomings i still give it 4 stars just because maybe another hour or so of battery would help a ton, but the way i see it if you're out and about all day are you really gonna be gaming for hours on end? It gets the job done its fast and capable and I dont regret my purchase at all

Good: - Impressive performance - Expandable space - Controller feels good - Touch Screen is responsive - Awesome screen - Audio is good - Included power supply is very good for charging and playing - Basically a laptop if it was a beefed up Nintendo Switch - Can do 1080p at 120hz on handheld and 4K at 60hz when docked (depending on the dock) - RGB is a very nice touch Bad: - Not user friendly/hard to set up - Built in software needed to be re-downloaded - Face buttons are mediocre - Storage is a bit low for a handheld PC - Tough to swap between gamepad and desktop mode ("auto" setting doesn't help much either) - Does not come with its own dock. - Only color it comes in is white. Meaning that it can get dirty much quicker. All in all, I would recommend getting it if you know how to use a computer. Otherwise, the Steam Deck will be a better option due to its more user friendliness. I got the ROG Ally because of the fact that I can use multiple PC platforms. When Asus' Armoury app works, it works like a charm. Asus also sells their own dock-like power outlet to display to your TV/Monitor but I feel that it should be included here.

Very pleased with this purchase. Fast online purchase/store pickup. I was looking into buying a next gen console but I also researched handhelds weighing all the pros and cons for each. I went with the ally because I would be able to play the same games I would want to on a console but in portable form. And it seemed to be the better performer of the other handhelds available. Ive only had it a month but it has handled every game ive tried with minimum hiccups, it is a windows based device after all, so you get some bugs to deal with lol. It is very comfortable in hand, lightweight and the fans are very quiet. Screen is very vivid and displays everything beautifully. It has many adjustable features and device status info within the armory crate, the app that you use to orginize and launch your games. You can customize and key bind to your hearts content. Overall a great buy for me!

I would definitely recommend this device. As an avid gamer, I play thousands of hours of video games in a year. I had recently switched back to PC gaming and mainly utilize steam. My decision was between this and the Steam Deck. I saw some concerning reviews about the Ally compared to the Steam Deck but the Ally had more versatility which is why I chose it. I’m not playing anything super taxing like Call of Duty or similar titles. Pros: Ease of use. If you know how to use a computer, you’ll have no issues. The interface is not as simple as a Nintendo Switch or the Steam Deck but can be set up similarly. It’s a “laptop” after all. Options for game services. Steam, Xbox Gamepass for PC, Epic Games launcher, Good Old Games launcher, the list goes on. Performance. As mentioned before I’m playing minor or indie titles. Balatro, Orcs Must Die 1 & 2, and Dredge are what I’ve been revolving around. Cons: Battery Life. Depending on what you’re playing, the battery can drain quickly. I’m talking about an hour of playtime for something really taxing on the system. Most of the games I’m playing will run the battery down in 3-5 hours. Definitely not a long session system. Overall I love this thing. Make sure you get a protective sleeve, screen protector and a travel case if you plan on bringing this with you.

I can literally play any game I’d ever want to on this thing. Pc games, xbox games, playstation games, retro games. And they all run beautifully (as long as you’re willing to fiddle with settings from time to time). Pc gamers will feel right at home here when it comes to Windows’ wonkiness, but i could see it causing headaches for some. Battery life is by far the biggest negative, this can be remedied by either a portable battery and/or changing device settings to reduce battery usage. The possibilities really do feel endless sometimes with the Ally, with both it’s pc functionality and the quickly growing aftermarket of accessories. Also, streaming games directly from my pc while im in another room almost feels like a cheat code, ultra quality performance at minimal battery usage. Overall, I’m extremely happy with my purchase and have already found much more time for gaming lately. That’s a huge win in my book.

I absolutely love my ally. I've been searching for the past few years for a handheld that could check ALL the boxes for me. Steam deck was great, but I didn't like linux and performance is just okay and the screen was pretty meh. Logitech's GCloud was nice but the emulation performance was mid. The razer edge was just a repackaged phone. The Ally is the best of each of them. Stellar performance from a handheld that can play a ton of games at 60fps (and higher) and even those that run at 40-50fps punch up due to the ally's VRR and 120hz refresh rate. Speaking of VRR and the ally's beautiful 120hz screen, streaming things like game pass and GeForce Now has also never been better than with this handheld. Emulation on the ally is a breeze, esp with something like emudeck that makes it super easy for anyone to put 100s of their favorite retro games on the device. Its not all rainbows, the updating process is tedious when setting up the device the first time. There are lots of people reporting SD card failures after extended use, myself included, I've also lost an SD card to the ally already. I just put in an SSD and quit using the SD card altogether. The swap is super easy, 6 screws, unplug & replug. Problem solved.

Im really enjoying my New ROG Ally, the games play great and it’s just awesome to be able to play PC games on such a compact device. Would’ve given 5 stars if the battery life was a bit better.

I dont know. Is it better than the steam deck? Not really. The SD was really so thought out. Is it more powerful than the deck? Heck yeah. But power doesnt always translate to a good user experience. Lets start out with the good...screen is beautiful and 120hz is monumentially smoother than the 60hz panel you get on the deck. Weight is nice. Thermals are darn good for what power its churning out. The RGB is also nice looking. Loud, clear speakers. A lot to like. Now for the bad. The battery life is as awful as they say. One hour and it's done. Armory crate is glitchy. But my biggest complaint is these analog sticks, which basically make the machine pointless to me. Theres so much deadzone that cant be tuned out of these sticks. Ive been getting whipped in COD matches. Theres just no adjusting them. In armory crate it already says they're at 0% but it just cant sense sharp movements well. If single player games are your jam, this wont be your issue but if you play competitive like me, its not worth it. It's not a steam deck killer. Its a lovely PC handheld, but that's as far as I'd take it. Not impressed. I'll be returning it shortly.

Great handheld PC. Runs well once set up. Won't be disappointed. Will list my personal pros and cons with the device. Pros: Portability, Convenience, Speed, Versatility. Cons: Can use more space from factory at least 1TB will be nice. Battery life can drain quick depending on what you're running.