Customer Ratings & Reviews

I got this on the night of the 21st and it came in a box with no kind of packing in it but the box came out fine. I do love how it looks and the way it is so portable and light. The gaming experience is pretty smooth and the way it utilizes Armoury Crate to adjust the settings such as FPS Limiters, Wattage, and even Refresh Rate. The way I see it, it is kind of like taking your own Gaming Laptop outside. I'm not a AAA gaming guy myself, but I do enjoy playing some Adventure RPGs that seem to just go only up to 30FPS. And the way I see it, it's really really great. One thing I like that made me buy this over the Steam Deck is that it doesn't have the limitations over what games can be played. As we know, Valve has verified games on their Steam Store of which games in one's library can be played on the Deck. The ROG Ally does not have these limitations and playing any Steam Game you play on it is definitely a big win in my book. But while I do love these new features and just generally how it looks, there are still some downsides that I do want to take note here. 1: Battery Life. I did some online research when the Ally was first announced and even watched videos like Linus Tech Tips to check out how it compares to the Steam Deck (which I also don't have out of choice). Now on it's own, it is reported to run at most five hours and some report it to being under an hour. Of which it is dependent on what games and settings are implemented. Now this is something I am considering to be one of the main problems here when it comes to ROG Ally. I don't believe it reaches that kind of level to be considered a portable Gaming Handheld in terms of battery life and how long one can actually use it especially if they plan on travelling. Now the solution I can see many say would be to invest in a power bank. While I do see this as a good solution, it really isn't for me. After all, I would need to buy a good power bank first of all, and I would also need it for my other essential items such as my phone. For me, in practice, it doesn't really click well. 2: Windows 11 Software. Essentially, the ROG Ally is kind of like a new computer to me with how the price is and the way it updates like a another computer. While I do find the idea to be a unique one, it also comes with its own downsides here. Connecting back to the first point with the battery, Windows 11 has a tendency to run a bunch of programs in the background which makes the battery life pretty terrible in my opinion. It gets to the point where I have to push my ROG Ally's settings to the lowest settings in order to see how long it can last. I was playing Tales of Zestiria and here are the results. 15 Watts Airplane Mode FPS Limiter at 30 LED at 0% Screen Brightness at 40% Refresh Rate at 60Hz Resolution: 1080P 96% - 30% 10:43AM - 12:02PM 10 Watts Airplane Mode FPS Limiter at 30 LED at 0% Screen Brightness at 30% Refresh Rate at 60Hz Resolution: 720P 91% - 15% 5:35PM - 8PM So as you can see, I can probably push upwards of two and a half hours if I put everything at the lowest settings aside from screen brightness as I need to actually see everything on it. And in my opinion, that's not what I am looking for here. All in all, I do love the ROG Ally. The features and the gaming experience is something I enjoy the most. It really helps when I want to play something if I am out on long car rides or airplane trips. For extended storage, a simply microSD card is definitely something I could invest in. As much as I want to keep it, returning it would be the best option for me. Battery Life isn't the best because of how much background programs are being run. And the constant need to do Windows 11 updates can be really irritating especially if considering that I would have to do this while on the road. It just doesn't work out at all. And I am sure that this is a reoccurring frustration for all PC users out there. And considering how much I paid for this, it is definitely more than what a Game Bundle PS5 is offered upon official release Overall, I do think that this is a good product and it is worthy of being a Steam Deck Competitor. But in my mind, it doesn't work out. I do recommend this to people who do not mind wanting to invest in a portable power bank that they could use to keep the Handheld running. Maybe I might buy it again once things get better down the line. But maybe not. If you took the time to reading this, then thank you for reading.

Love this thing. Portable PC that runs anything you can throw at it. If you arent good with PC gaming then it may be overwhelming. But having an Ally on a plane ride or a long car ride is so awesome. It makes the ride tolerable. The Allys screen is great even only being a LED. You can pick one up for cheap now. The only thing that isnt good is the battery, so maybe look at the Ally X for that.

The screen is perfect, the sound is perfect, is pretty lightweight compared to other handhelds, but I hate windows, updates can take a lot of time and it's more hassle because you need to check windows updates, myAsus updates and armored creat updates. It's pretty powerful but only above 15W, if you want more power you'll need either a power bank or play plugged in because the battery kinda sucks, if you don't want to do that I think the steamdeck oled version is a better option unless playing unverified games on steamdeck are a most for you, that and games that aren't on steam like minecraft, in that case go for the ally

It’s a decent system for what but is. Very power processor and GPU and that’s an awesome experience for a handheld. Unfortunately that means battery life will be less than stellar and you have to remain plugged in or gonna have to keep power banks on hand. Performance wise it handles everything I threw at it like a champ. It’s a new kid on the block so the issues are being ironed out through patches as with any new thing. If you can overlook the battery consumption issues then this may be the unit for you. I also was taking this beauty to work for a min watching movies on that beautiful screen. Invest in a decent dock as well. The paper one serves its purpose but a decent plastic one would’ve been preferred.

How impressive is it to have a device in your hand that will compete with modern consoles, and even outperform them in some cases? oh and did i forget to mention it moonlights as a full fledged windows PC? The answer is... awesome full steam library, full gamepass plus excel if youre into that whole work sort of thing...battery life in turbo mide is not the greatest but you have to realize it is what it is. Storage is also a bit limited and i would not opt for an SD card even if there werent issues with them in this device. Get the adapter for a full size nvme drive and a nice 4tb unit and get off to the races. These negatives dont come close to the pure wow factor that this device delivers as a "portable" gaming console...highly impressed

I have a GPD Win 3, which is a similar PC from China. The Ally is a huge step up by comparison. It is bigger, has a beautiful display, is very comfortable, and is shockingly quiet even in the 30w turbo mode. The screen is amazing. While many newer games won't run at 120fps, older games definitely will, so it's nice to have that option. it's 1080p IPS. I wish it were an OLED, though. Controls are comfortable too. everything is laid out pretty well, buttons feel good and the sticks feel great. However, the sticks are not hall effect sticks so joystick drift is a possibility. Also worth mentioning is that both early review units, as well as the demo unit at my store had an issue where the X button got stuck if pressed at an angle. However, my retail unit does not have this issue. Performance is great. The Z1 Extreme has 8 Zen 4 cores and an RDNA 3 GPU paired with 16GB of DDR5 at 6400MT/s. CPU performance is excellent. for gaming it is plenty. IF you want to do some productivity work too, this will handle it fine. GPU performance is not as impressive as the CPU performance, but it is still excellent for a handheld device. I tested both Cyberpunk and Hogwarts Legacy with great performance. about 35-50FPS on both games at 1080p low settings with AMD FSR. I also tested Okami, which unfortunately had some performance issues and glitches at 10w. At 15w it ran just fine. My GPD Win 3 (i7 1165G7) ran Okami at 11w with no issues, so it's definitely an issue with the ROG Ally. Hogwarts Legacy had some stuttering, but after a BIOS update and setting the GPU memory from 4GB to Auto, it runs great now I did have some weird software issues, most of which were solved by a clean install. Armoury Crate is still a bit buggy and temperamental. Sometimes it freezes, sometimes it doesn't switch between mouse mode and gamepad mode. The Ally is also quite picky when it comes to chargers. You need a 5A cable and a >65w charger with USB PD 3.0 or newer to take advantage of the 30w turbo mode. Otherwise it will stay at 25w even if you charger can supply more power. Aside from that, I wish we had the option to chose between the XGm port and a second USB C port. I have no interest in the XGm external graphics, so I wish I could use the XGm port for something else, as a signle USB C port is quite limiting. If you don't mind tinkering a bit with your device, the ROG Ally is awesome. But it is still rough around the edges and needs work on Asus's part. Hopefully they don't just abandon this awesome little PC

Intended on purchasing a Steam Deck before this was announced but opted to wait and purchase this instead. The storage is easy to upgrade to a 2TB SSD and said upgrade is highly recommended because modern video games will quickly eat up the amount of storage you are left with. The screen looks much better than the Steam Deck and is well worth paying $50 extra to go from a maxed-out Steam Deck (512GB) to an ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme, 512GB). Battery life could be better but that's to be expected of putting a high end laptop chip inside something so small. The 120Hz screen is a joy to look at and all games look and run phenomenal on this, so long as you adjust the settings accordingly.

I bought an Ayaneo 2 before the Ally came out ans ended up selling it. The ayaneo was too heavy and ended up being uncomfortable to wield for a lengthy time, the performance was good, but i felt it coupd be more, and the right thumbstick not being staggered from the abxy buttons made the grip awkward for me. The Ally solves all those issues: its really light, really quiet, comfortable, and extra performance with the Z1 APU. Battery isn't that great, but I usually play AAA games on 30W plugged in for the best graphical fidelity. Speakers sound really good too. Most "cons" about being Windows I feel are somewhat irrelevant as you would deal with the same issues on a laptop/desktop. Beyond that, I had no bugs or issues. I have a desktop 4090 with a 4K 120hz that I will always prefer over the Ally when at home, but it is 100% worth it for the price for anyone that does a lot of handheld gaming.

Title: "My In-Depth Review of the ROG Ally: A Gamer's Dream Come True" Hey fellow gamers! I recently got my hands on the ROG Ally, and I couldn't be more thrilled to share my thoughts on this gaming powerhouse. Let's dive into the nitty-gritty details. **Design and Build Quality:** The ROG Ally's design is a showstopper. The sleek and futuristic aesthetics instantly caught my eye, and the build quality is top-notch. The attention to detail is evident, and the RGB lighting adds that extra flair that every gaming setup needs. **Display:** Gaming on the ROG Ally's display is an absolute delight. The high refresh rate and vivid color reproduction make games come to life. Whether I'm exploring open worlds or engaging in intense battles, the display never disappoints. **Performance:** This beast is powered by some serious hardware. The processor handles multitasking seamlessly, and the graphics card ensures smooth gameplay even on demanding titles. The ROG Ally truly lives up to its reputation as a gaming powerhouse. **Cooling System:** One of the standout features is the exceptional cooling system. Even during marathon gaming sessions, the temperature remains in check. The well-designed ventilation keeps the internals cool, ensuring consistent performance. **Keyboard and Trackpad:** The keyboard is a dream for gamers and typists alike. The tactile feedback and customizable RGB lighting enhance the overall gaming experience. The trackpad is responsive and accurate, making it a breeze to navigate through menus and applications. **Battery Life:** Considering the powerful components, the battery life is surprisingly decent. Of course, for optimal gaming, it's best to have it plugged in, but the ROG Ally holds its own when you need to go mobile. **Audio Quality:** Immersive audio is crucial for any gaming setup, and the ROG Ally doesn't disappoint. The speakers deliver crisp sound, and the audio customization options allow me to fine-tune my gaming experience. **Port Selection:** The variety of ports available is a big plus. From USB-C to HDMI, the ROG Ally provides the connectivity options I need for all my gaming peripherals and external devices. **Software and Customization:** The ROG software ecosystem is robust and user-friendly. It allows me to tweak settings, customize RGB lighting, and optimize performance effortlessly. The level of control I have over my gaming experience is impressive. In conclusion, the ROG Ally is more than just a gaming laptop; it's a gaming experience. From its stunning design to its powerful internals, every aspect has been carefully crafted with gamers in mind. While it comes with a premium price tag, the performance and features justify the investment for any serious gamer. If you're looking for a laptop that can handle the latest titles with ease and turn heads while doing it, the ROG Ally is the way to go. Happy gaming!

It's an absolute powerhouse and I love the open accessibility that you get with Windows 11. It's basically a computer and it's faster than many lower end machines, but with that being said, there are still some minor glitches and performance stutters, but because of the open format, you can tweak a lot of how the system operates. The battery life and temperature of the handheld leaves alot to be desired but for what it is, its pretty great. I can play call of duty modern warfare 2 and most of the games in my steam library in bed, which is pretty awesome. As long as youre somewhere with outlets and access to wifi or mobile hotspots with decent connection youre good to go.

Purchased it as open box saved 40 bucks. I was skeptical of this handheld seeing the display hot as af and the demo of Forza horizon 5 could barely play. The plastic doesn't feel cheap, the d-pad and triggers feel nice. The screen is a beautiful 7" display with bright colors. The system is light weight even lighter than the Steam deck. The gaming performance is awesome with little tweaking. I recommend manual mode at 25 watts for cool temps 67 70 of you go 30 watts it's up in the 90s with little to no performance boost. I keep the screen res at 120 and 8 gb ram mode. I can play Forza horizon 4 at 60 fps high graphics with no issues. The system turns on fast and I can be gaming with in a minute unlike the steam deck unfortunately. I don't have to worry about concert updates thankfully maybe once a week. The Asus ROG ally plays what ever I throw at it.

The Rog Ally is smaller and lighter than most other pc handhelds, but is still pretty powerful with the Z1 Extreme processor. The screen, speakers, and controls are all great. Since it runs windows 11, you can play online games like fortnite and call of duty that dont work on steam deck and other handhelds that dont support anti-cheat.

This is a great handheld gaming PC. This is the 3rd handheld I've had and by far one of the best. Be warned if you are not interested in PC gaming, and want more of a console experience this is not for you. But if you don't mind checking drivers and doing the occasional trouble shooting it is fine. You will need to read up on what Bios and drivers people are using to get yours set up good. But I have been on vacation and on the road playing Automic Heart with medium settings getting 50-60fps and runnning for around an 1.5 hours before needing a charge. Now that doesnt sound like a long time, but this is a AAA game running on a handheld. Literally nothing else is going to do that. Now on less demanding games like WH40k Boltgun, you are going to get around 3 hours of run time. It all just depends on how demanding the game is. Cheers, I would buy this again.

PROS 1. Can install games from any Windows-compatible library 2. Steady performance in most gaming scenarios 3. Armoury Crate SE has potential 4. Lighter than the Steam Deck 5. More powerful than a Steam Deck 6. Quiet fan with customizable curves 7. Fast charging 8. Very nice 1080p display CON 1. Janky Windows interface 2. Relatively short battery life 3. More expensive than Steam Deck 4. No LTE option 5. Not as ergonomic as the Steam Deck 5. The powerful processor still struggles to run Windows on a handheld 6. Many games require lower graphics settings for smooth performance

It's best to think of the ROG Ally as a Windows PC built inside of a controller. However it may look, it's still a computer and all the annoying Windows things come with that. Out of the box I had to plug in a keyboard to make it through setup. There may be a way to bring up the virtual keyboard but it wasn't made obvious. Upon first boot I had to install updates through Armory Crate, Windows Update, as well as the ASUS companion application. If you're used to gaming on PC this is probably not a big deal but it will be a hassle for anyone looking for a more console-like experience. ASUS has attempted to improve the Windows experience by integrating a game launcher into Armory Crate and it works fairly well. It picks up your installed games from Steam, Game Pass, etc and presents them in grid-based interface. It's passable but a more feature-complete 3rd party tool like Playnite makes the Ally even more enjoyable to use. The screen is really beautiful for an LCD. The blacks are much deeper than I would have expected. The sound is pretty great too. Performance-wise it's phenomenal for the price, You obviously won't be running games on ultra but for a device this small, on a screen this small, most games are going to look and run great. Since it runs Windows you're also going to get access to all of the online multiplayer games that run anti-cheat, if that's what you're into. Negatives for me are that the grips could be a bit fatter. It's not super comfortable to hold. It doesn't have trackpads which makes playing some genres more difficult than it could be. The sticks are too small and too loose with too large of a dead zonefor me to play any kind of shooter. I'd recommend the Ally to anyone who's looking to run more demanding games, Game Pass, or games that won't run on Linux for whatever reason.

The ROG Ally is a wonderful windows handheld that is both powerful and portable. I have been able to enjoy just about every game I own with little to no hiccups. Games run as smooth or as beautiful as you let the Ally run them. There is only one major con and two small ones. The battery life is pretty horrendous. If you’re by an outlet or need a quick session, it won’t be much of an issue. It is slightly hard to get comfortable with for long sessions and I periodically encounter minor game launching issues. Besides that I absolutely recommend this. More so if you can get a good open box deal!

I own the Steamdeck and the Ally. The Ally works very well if your used to working with Windows, its handheld every game I have thrown at it and the plus side you dont have to check for compatible like the Steamdeck but you need to be comfortable with playing around with game settings to get your best performance. This not a gaming console its a portable gaming PC. Battery life can be a bit low if you like high performance and push the Ally to its ability but you can find a nice balance with settings and increase the time the battery will last. If you couple up the Ally with the optional charging/dock and a some xbox wireless controllers youll have a grate gaming setup you could take over to friends and play your games on a tv. Well worth the money would recommend to anyone looking to play games on the go or just chilling and playing on the tv.

Let me start by saying the steam deck is really really good, however the Ally is on another level in my opinion. This thing hits all the things the steam deck can’t. When it comes to performance it’s amazing and the screen is amazing. The only downside to this thing is the battery life but it’s easy to just be sitting on a couch and plug it in and play. The fact that it’s windows based is a huge deal for me. Gamepass and any game you want to play runs perfectly. I think the steam deck might be a little more polished but with time the Ally will get there. Overall I highly recommend this if you are a gamer and don’t always want to sit at your computer or you want to game on the go the ally is the thing for you.

Plays a wide variety of games, and seems to perform well with all of them. From BG3, D4, to oldies such as ffix, it's been great going handheld. Light and feels great. Screen sharper than my old steam deck

Pros: Comfortable Runs Windows 11, so in turn you can run any launcher. Great screen. Cons: UI is clunky and glitchy at times Runs hot Durability issues(with the model I received) Joystick feel Battery life If you’re willing to look past the Ally’s short comings the device is truly wonderful. Amazing graphics and access to games at the tip of your fingers. But if you want to play on the go you’re better off looking elsewhere.