Customer Ratings & Reviews

The ROG Ally is a great console and its basically a Steam Deck with a few tweaks. The 1080p 120 hz looks nice, the controls are easy to get used to but the d pad is a bit flawed. The APU does a good job at playing games like Forza Horizon 5 and GTA V on the go. The speakers are loud enough that you dont hear the fans when they are working and doesnt feel like its cooking my hands. Only major flaw is the battery life and 512 GB of storage although that can be upgraded. Get this if you wanna play PC games on the go.

Its a great system, but I wouldnt recommend buying it if you already have a steam deck. The graphics are pretty much identical in real world tests. The screen is pretty crisp and is smooth when youre doing basic stuff. Dont expect good battery life, youll get about 45 minutes but to be fair, youre playing pc games and a gaming laptop gets the same battery life. If i were to choose, id choose the ally over the steck. But like i stated before, its not an upgrade that makes sense if you already have a steck.

Way bettwr than steam deck lcd in terms of power and screen. I am running bazzite, a custom thermal backplate, and an upgraded 74wh battery from the stock 40wh. This thing runs things with ease where the deck as struggled. Next project is upgrading the internal storage to 2tb and dual booting windows and steamos to get the best of both worlds.

I think better value than a Steam Deck because you can play any platform. ROG software is pretty nice as a launcher as well. Not a bad way to take games on trips. Only negative is the power block is a bit much

I'm obsessed with miniature computing. I've had just about every sub 8" PC built by all the big manufacturers, and none of them were any good for real gaming. When Valve came out with their handheld gaming device, the gauntlet was thrown down, and Asus picked it up. I actually sold my gaming laptop to fund this purchase, and I'm so glad that I did. As a gaming-first PC, Asus tries to take away the pain of navigating Windows 11 without a typical PC interface by providing a picture based menu featuring all of the games that you install. If you are already a PC gamer, then your entire Steam, GoG, EGS, and other gaming libraries are available to be installed, since this is fundamentally still a gaming PC. Windows could care less what it was wrapped up in, so long as you have the specs to run the game you can run it. You won't be able to run your game in ultra graphics mode with all the settings turned all the way up, but it's a small compromise to be able to play on the go. I have an old USB-C dock that I got for my wife's laptop, and I was pleasantly surprised to be able to use it to connect to multiple monitors and attach my keyboard and mouse. Why wouldn't it work, it's a Windows 11 PC after all! This came in super handy when I took my family on vacation. I docked the Ally to the large TV in the living room of the villa, and I had a full featured entertainment system. I was also able to login remotely to my work PC to pull a Winston Wolf during a little emergency that occurred back at the office while I was supposed to be surfing. And of course, it was a lifesaver on the long plane ride out to the islands and back, but a couple movies and a few adventure games, and I could hardly tell the difference. The device itself is pretty huge, but surprisingly comfortable to hold for long gaming sessions. I could do without the rgb lighting around the sticks, but there's a software option to customize it or turn it off entirely. Yes, like any other gaming PC, you have to deal with Windows and its quirks, but for real for real, if you're a PC gamer this is nothing new and nothing to complain about, you already signed the unholy pact long ago and dealing with the update cycle and drivers and tweaking every single setting is just the ritual sacrifice that we all partake in in order to bask in the phosphorescent glow of our favorite pixelated pastimes. Of course, there are launcher programs designed to replace Asus' Armory Crate launcher that incorporate emulators (yes, you can install them) but I sort of like dealing with the desktop, since I use mine for the PC part as well as the gaming aspect.

This is a great little piece of hardware, or at least it has the potential to be. When I first got it, it was novel. I enjoyed loading my games onto it and played a couple of them as the picture is beautiful; seven inches at 120Hz FHD looks phenomenal. It's also blazing fast, even running Windows 11. The AMD Extreme processor that it comes with tears through even non-game related tasks and it also has a sufficient amount of RAM to make game playing at FHD smooth and fun. To ASUS's credit, the ROG Ally also runs Windows 11 natively and the hardware all has drivers written to work with Windows which allows a much broader swath of games to be played (Steam, GOG, Xbox PC Games, Amazon, EA, etc). I was excited for the prospect which blinded me to its faults. My one big complaint about the Ally, was the size of the SSD that came with it. It's only 512GB which in this day and age is virtually nothing. But I figured once it was out of warranty, I could upgrade the SSD to a larger one myself and move on with playing my games. So, in liue of a larger SSD, I kitted out the device with a 1TB MicroSD card and loaded the games i was eager to put through the paces on the Ally to that. Before the ROG Ally was even released, I got a first gen Steam Deck. I put windows on it to try for additional gaming platforms but because the APU is so customized for Steam, there are no native drivers for Windows for most of the on the Steam Deck hardware. This means that if you're not playing games through Steam, you had better connect a keyboard and a mouse because the control sticks, D-pad, mouse pads, and secondary triggers do not work for other gaming platforms. And intention is the mother of all screw ups. I got the Ally intending to play games on it but the Steam Deck and it's myriad of Steam games was still calling my name even through the novelty of the Ally. So, after the Ally showed up and I got it setup and the games installed that I wanted to play on it, I turned the majority of my attention back to the Steam Deck. Over the course of the next nine months, I powered on the ROG Ally around twenty times, mostly just to exercise the battery to make sure it didn't die. During those power ups, I played exactly two games on it. I didn't spend of lot of time with the Ally because I was still infatuated with the Steam Deck despite its obvious weaknesses when compared to the Ally. Three months ago, I finished the last game I was playign on Steam Deck, put it aside, and powered on my Ally, intending to FINALLY get some use out of it. Much to my chagrin, however, all of my games were gone. I tinkered with Windows, I rebooted, I reinstalled Windows but the card reader was gone; it had failed and it took the card that was in it with it. I tested 1TB MicroSD card in two different readers, and the card was not even recognized as a piece of hardware. When I attempted to open the card after it was inserted into the readers, Windows simply said, please insert a MicroSD card. The card was toast. And I mean that in an almost literal sense. What I didn't realize, as I excitedly popped in my very expensive (for the time) 1TB MicroSD card, is that the MicroSD card reader in the ROG Ally is sitting directly on top of one of the heat exhausts for the unit's graphics card, processor and chipset. That would be bad. I realized way after fact, that every time I powered on the device, I was literally cooking my MicroSD card because of where the MicroSD card reader was placed in the device. Eventually, the card and the reader both failed becuase of the excess heat. Well, I surmise it was from the excess heat. After the reader failed, I hit the net and down the rabbit hole I went. There are literally thousands of complaints on the net around the heat that's absorbed by the reader and the card it contains by it being placed on top of a heat pipe. I came to the conclusion that mine was another failure caused by proximaty to an excessive heat source. Fortunately, my Ally is still under warranty. I took it, through the direction of the ASUS website, back to Best Buy to have it fixed or replaced. They sent it off and when it came it had received a new motherboard to repair the card reader. The system was lauded as being full repaired by the technician that worked on it. I picked up my unit two weeks ago (after four weeks in the shop) and when I got it home, I powered it up and as I suspected they had wiped the SSD and I had to setup Windows again which I did, only to find that the card reader still doesn't show up in the Windows Device Manager. It either failed again after they repaired it, or the Geek Squad engineer said it was repaired but it never was. At this point, I'm unsure sure which to believe. I've made another appointment tomorrow, Saturday, June 01, 2024, to take it back in again. I'm going to ask for a replacement this time instead of it being repaired. If Best Buy doesn't grant that request, I may change my name to Karen and throw a stink fit. But I'll decide that in the car on the way over. If I get a new unit and it's functioning as prescribed, and doesn't fail again, I will update this review. I really, really do like the ROG Ally, but the layout of the hardware just isn't conducive to heavy long-term use. The failure rate is just too high. To top that off, ASUS has been remarkably silent on the issue of the misplaced card reader. They haven't admitted that there is a defect in their design. That, couple with the actual hardware failures I've experienced, leaves me with no choice to rate this device only two stars.

Pretty much sums up this device - its better than the steam deck in terms of performance, in terms of sheer library if games available without need to use proton and how easy it feels to just pick up and use. The BIGGEST downside is the battery, even locked at 720p on 15 watts I only get 1hr playing easy games like diablo 4. Another massive flaw is that i havent heard anyone mention is that because the exhausts are at the top of the device my big fingers always somehow rest over them and it causes my finger tips to get hot.

Powerfully fun device. Bought to replace Steam Deck. Feels great, plays AAA games at 60 with tweaks. Screen is great if you can’t get 60 with variable refresh rate. Be prepared for lots of windows and software updates on day one but once done windows 11 and ASUS software is pretty good. My SD card stopped working, but other than that annoyance, the device has awesome. ASUS has kept the software updates coming as well.

I have a steam deck too and I personally like the ASUS Rog Ally more. The ASUS Rog Ally is a mini handheld gaming computer. I just like that I don't need to bring my gaming laptop with me anymore because I can just use the handheld now. Despite hearing that the buttons were bad, I've had no issues with the buttons yet. None of the buttons were stuck or hard to push when I used it. I heard that there is no sleep mode and the system goes into the lock screen when the power button is pressed or the black screen shows when the system is idle. I turned the settings on the lowest since I heard the battery does not last long. So far, the battery has lasted for a long time but I guess that is because I was just playing older games like fallout 4 and genshin impact . Games like COD or Fortnite will drain the battery fast. I like the lights on the analog sticks when the system is turned off. If you want something cheaper, then the steam deck would be the best. I got the Steam Deck 512GB. One more thing too since I heard some people saying the system is not working when they open it. You are supposed to plug it in first and let it charge! As far as I know, every system is like that! Haha! The gameplay looks good and runs smoothy but it will make the system hot.

It's honestly an incredible device when fully set up. I don't mind setting things up if it's a one and done deal; download main launchers, configure Playnite for the all-in-one launcher, optimize for best performance settings, and create custom performance profiles. The problem with this device at the moment is Quality Control. There are lingering issues with joystick deadzones and the SD Card slot "killing" cards. Thankfully, ASUS is continuously listening to feedback and making the experience better for users. With that said, hopefully they will fix these other major issues, whether through a software update or mass RMA. Until that time comes, I will be sticking with my Steam Deck. However, if you're still okay with the above, here is what I would recommend if you are trying to make a decision between the two: Go with the Steam Deck if you want something cheaper, a better battery, easier out-of-the-box experience, more comfortable grip, better support, extra controls, and access to more accessories. The downplays for the Steam Deck are a worse screen, slightly worse performance, and less compatibility for games that use Easy Anticheat and similar systems. Go with the ROG Ally if you want better performance, slightly quieter fan, better screen (1080p, 120Hz, and FSR are great with the latter only being worth it imo), Windows 11, better game compatibility, and the ability to use it like a normal desktop by using the XG Mobile adapter (which has issues in itself with the Ally). As I mentioned, overall it's an incredible piece of tech and if I didn't already have a Steam Deck, I probably would have gone with this one. I would have dealt with the issues it's having by swapping out the m.2 drive with a bigger one so that I didn't need an SD Card reader, and could have modded or altered the joystick deadzones. Maybe I'll have both later on down the line as they are both fantastic devices for their specific cases.

easily replaced my gaming desktop but had controller drift since day first, besides that speakers are great perfomance is awesome and software is very smooth and responsive better than Legion Go in May 2024. imo the only downside is controllers sticks are cheaply made and in some games like fc24 you may find display to be on the smaller side. but the light weight is absolute breeze for carrying around and nice speakers add more joy to games.

Want to play your PC games on the go. Get one of these. It is better than a Steam Deck with it's higher resolution and refresh rate as well as it's ability to play games from other services like Epic and Xbox. I have played Red Dead Redemption 2, Forza 5, Control, and many others with excellent results. The Rog Ally has fantastic audio from the built in speakers as well. The only issue I have with it is the short battery life, so getting a good battery bank is a great addition. If you like PC gaming and travel a log, get this instead of a gaming laptop.

From emulating any old classic games of my choice like ps2 ,dreamcast and the list goes on and .. i felt like i relived my childhood playing those old games that i always wanted to play again..this device is beyond amazing.. I literally can do anything i want on it …i play any pc games .. i can play xbox games without actually owning an actally an real Xbox .. the graphics are phenomenal… im actually speechless on how i stop playing my ps5 …I played everday .. to not even wanting to play it anymore because this device had everything i wanted on it …im truly impressed..

After a whole month of owning it I haven’t had no problems. Literally runs any games I throw at it. The reasons why I give it a 4 star and not a 5 is because battery life. But what do you expect with a handheld this powerful. I recommend a 65w power bank if you do a lot of gaming on the go and also upgrade that SSD to higher storage capacity because trust me you’ll run threw that 512GB quick!

I love this device. It runs whatever I throw at it (albeit it with some settings tweaks) with no issues. The 512GB drive may be a bit slim for some but it's easily upgradable by the end-user. There is one major design flaw, however. The SD card slot is directly above one of the vents and the slot is prone to failure. Mine only works intermitently but as I upgraded the internal drive I'm not really stressing it.

ROG ally does exactly what i need it to. The set up is not nearly as much work as people say it is. But ive had windows computers before so maybe thats why. The setup took about 45 minutes with my wifi. Gaming performace is very good. The new bios made my device get hotter especiialy at 25 WATS lt would reach about 95 c. All the buttons and joysticks have been working without getting stuck. Battery is trash but just get a portable charger that supports 65 watts to boost performace and battery.

Works great, it’s usually hooked up to a monitor and Xbox controller. I can play doom eternal for hours without any problems. As a mobile device, I played about 2 hours of video games and had 40% battery left. Which is better than I thought since the device is so light.

The Asus ROG Ally is a direct competitor of the Steam Deck that you may end up liking more. It's a tad bit smaller and has less handle on the back than the Steam Deck (the part of the device that rest in your palms). Display - The display is what really sets it apart. It has a nice bright 1080p display that looks really nice and you can tell immediately from first boot up the quality of the display. The images look nice and crisp. Features - The best feature is you can play any game that you can play on a P.C. on the ROG Ally because it runs Microsoft Windows. For instance, I can play COD Mobile on this device which is on a mobile platform form for Android and iOS but I can still play it on the Ally. Another stand out feature is the RGB on the joysticks that can be customized how you see fit. You can use the Asus dock (sold separately) or a third party dock to add a mouse, keyboard and monitor to have the ultimate gaming experience. Sound - The sound quality is amazing, the device really gets loud and in my opinion I don't see you having to put the volume pass 30. The overall sound quality is really good, I would say the tuned the audio perfectly. There is also a headphone jack when you want to play and not disturb anyone. The headphone jack can obviously be used to plug in a gaming headset so you can talk to your squad. Battery - The battery is just ok and is on par with what you get from the Steam Deck. I wish they could have figure out a way to extend the battery life but, I get about 2 to 2 1/2 hours of play before I have to place it back on the charger. Please keep in mind that battery life does depend on which mode you play on. I typically use Turbo performance so that is why the battery drains faster than the other modes in my use. The ROG Ally comes with a charger and cable combo so you really have everything you need to get it up and running. I am very happy with the device and would recommend it.

Great unit. Just know what you are getting into. Beautiful screen and loads of horsepower to run most games. The battery life is kind of short and the SD card issue is real. So you will likely want to plan to upgrade the internal storage. I was ok with these things because it's the nicest screen and the most horsepower for a handheld. If you are not ok with those then this may not be the unit for you.

As an avid gamer on the go, I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Rog Ally Handheld System, and I must say, it left a lasting impression on me. This compact gaming device from Asus is a true powerhouse, boasting impressive performance and features that elevate the handheld gaming experience to new heights. First and foremost, the design of the Rog Ally is sleek and ergonomic, making it comfortable to hold for extended gaming sessions. Its 6-inch high-resolution display delivers vibrant colors and sharp visuals, ensuring an immersive gaming experience whether you're playing the latest AAA titles or retro classics. The heart of the Rog Ally lies in its powerful hardware. Equipped with a cutting-edge processor and a dedicated GPU, this handheld system can handle demanding games with ease, providing smooth frame rates and quick load times. As a result, I was able to enjoy graphically intensive games without any noticeable lag or performance hiccups. One standout feature of the Rog Ally is its excellent cooling system. Gaming on a handheld device often raises concerns about overheating, but Asus has clearly addressed this issue. The device stayed cool even during prolonged gaming sessions, thanks to its efficient cooling design, which kept performance at its peak without any noticeable noise. The controls on the Rog Ally deserve special mention as well. The responsive buttons and tactile joysticks offer precise input, ensuring an enjoyable and accurate gaming experience. Additionally, the system supports various control configurations, accommodating both traditional and modern gaming preferences. To top it all off, the Rog Ally boasts an impressive battery life. With its large capacity battery, I was able to squeeze in hours of gaming before needing to recharge. Furthermore, the USB-C charging port allows for quick and convenient recharging, making it perfect for gaming on the go. While the Rog Ally shines in most aspects, it's not without a few minor drawbacks. The limited game library on its proprietary store could benefit from further expansion, and the higher price tag might be a concern for some budget-conscious gamers. However, given the performance and build quality it offers, the price seems justified for serious gamers looking for top-tier handheld gaming experiences. In conclusion, the Rog Ally Handheld System from Asus impresses on many fronts, offering remarkable performance, a comfortable design, and outstanding battery life. Whether you're a casual gamer seeking portable entertainment or a hardcore enthusiast who wants a full-fledged gaming experience on the go, the Rog Ally will not disappoint. Despite some minor downsides, this handheld system stands tall as a worthy investment for anyone looking to elevate their gaming on the move.