Customer Ratings & Reviews

Performance is pretty good, battery life is what you'd expect playing AAA titles (maybe 1-1.5 hours) at 1080 with higher settings to get around 50-60 fps I am now getting random stuttering in the new NFS though for some reason. I've ran cod gtav also no issues. It does what you want it to no hoops to jump through getting other launchers to work like steam deck. Thing gets hot fans make some noise nothing you wouldn't expect though. If you can sit near a plug and play this thing it's awesome, reminiscing of my PSP days

I still own a Steam Deck, but I prefer the ROG Ally. Having said that, I think console-only gamers will prefer the Steam Deck because, in a strange reversal, the Linux-based operating system "just works" as a prepackaged experience while the Windows-based ROG Ally requires frequent tinkering (this is literally a desktop version of Windows, after all). Tinkering isn't easy with fat fingers and a tiny screen, which is another point in favor for Steam Deck and its unusually precise dual trackpads. ASUS's Armoury Crate is a preloaded application that attempts to simplify the front end experience, but I often find myself avoiding it because it isn't as slick as SteamOS and requires updating far too often. I think most PC veterans will prefer ROG Ally as well, especially those who frequently emulate older consoles or plan to use the device for anything other than Steam-related activities. Yes, you can also emulate games on Steam Deck, but I just don't like jumping through the hoops Emudeck requires (such as constantly switching between Gaming Mode and Desktop Mode) and I've had no issues running Fightcade on the Ally either. I find it's a lot easier for me to set up shared folders for ROMs and save states to get a more seamless transition from desktop gaming and portable gaming. Having said that, Steam Deck probably scores yet another point for even having the option between Gaming and Desktop mode, whereas the Ally is pretty much Desktop mode only (unless you count Armory Crate as its gaming mode). I even prefer the Steam Deck's face buttons, battery life, and speakers just a TINY bit more, but the 120hz display is enough for me to look past those barely perceivable shortcomings. The display is also 1080p, but let's be real: 720 and 1080 look pretty much the same at this size. Yes, Windows is awkward to get the hang of in a touchscreen interface, but doing anything outside of Steam Deck's Gaming Mode is also awkward without a keyboard and mouse. Which brings me to another point: either one of the devices is improved by a USB dock ($40-100) for peripherals. I find that these "extras" are more necessary than optional in the long run, so there's another expense you can look forward to. You should also plan on a case as well; D-Brand just came out with theirs, but I had already purchased the Skull & Co. GripCase for $20 which massively improves the grip and has a simple solution to requiring a dorky kickstand. I can think of quite a few features I like better in the Steam Deck than in the ROG Ally (I haven't even mentioned the Ally's overheating SD card issue, which is frankly a ridiculous oversight in this day and age), and yet I still prefer the ROG Ally overall.

Many reviews here feels like they haven’t spent enough time with the device. If you ever owned a Windows laptop or pc you know how terrible some stuff is on it but that’s not asus fault, you have tinker ir to your liking . I agree some units might be defective which you should replace till you find the one that work. Buy it to try yourself dont let these negative reviews discourage you. Its pefromance is ourstanding in games, battery could be better but gaming laptops have same durations of battery life. You cant compare it to a console like steam deck this is a mini PC. All Gaming pc have some flaws you just have to be patient. Do all the updates before you start playing. There are 3 sections of updates. Windows update, asus app update and armory crate updates. This could be an add on device to steam deck but cant replace it. So keep your steam deck.

Basically the ROG Ally is like one of the lower end gaming laptops based off an AMD APU put into a handheld form factor. Bonus is that it’s using AMD’s most powerful APU yet with the latest CPU/GPU architectures, and it has the most GPU CU’s ever in an APU outside of gaming consoles. It’s impressive. Depending on the game and settings you can get 60 fps with setting maxed out or close to it at 1080p or 720p, or 120 fps with low sometimes medium settings. Battery life is not that great considering the power this device has but I expected that going into this purchase so I’m giving 5 stars. It really is a windows PC and it can be tuned like one, flip side is you have to know your way around windows, drivers and updates to get the most out of it. If I had to nitpick I’d like better joysticks, these ones are good but not great.

Love this for gaming on the go. Powerful and very easy to use

Dont get me wrong I would recommend everyone to get this. The fact that its a portable pc and works great! The only reason why I didnt give this 5 stars is because of the battery life.

better than a steam deck. plays emulators very well. Only downside is windows sleep

This is my favorite device! I play this more than my ps5 lol. Just getting into modding. Battery sucks but i bought an upgraded battery and installed. Now, this is a BEAST!! Crystal clear and plenty of frames.

Best gaming handheld in my opinion in terms of build quality. SD card issues of course. Poor battery life.

Not too heavy and works great so far. Very fast and nice screen. I purchased a few more accessories like carrying case, bumber case and screen protector. This is my #1 must have to travel.

Works great, good quality, and plays an array of games with its great processing power. I do wish the battery lasted a bit longer though. I feel like I have to keep it plugged in for it to really be effective.

Good system. The display is excellent. Windows OS is clunky as always but has great advantages on a powerful machine like this (PC Gamepass, for example). It's not as comfortable to hold as the Steamdeck and can get rather hot. The SD card reader damaging is a real concern and happened to me almost immediately. Does not come with a case. I would suggest paying up to the LegionGo, but this is a serviceable machine.

Pros and cons: ROG Ally Z1 Extreme — The best handheld gaming PC with Windows. Pros: One of the most powerful handhelds on the market thanks to its AMD Z1 Extreme processor, this is a stellar gaming experience for AAA or even indie titles — and rivals some gaming laptops. Its 7-inch full HD touch screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate Wow! is gorgeous, crisp and buttery-fluent experience, for even the stutter-bug, butter glob game. The ROG Ally is different because of its adaptability. It runs Windows 11, natively supporting a wide variety of gaming platforms, from Steam and Xbox Game Pass to Epic Games (and beyond). When paired with its ergonomic design and light weight, this is a joy to use in long bouts of gaming. One of the most impressive features of the cooling system is that it is able to maintain a consistent performance without overheating. Battery life is decent for a device this powerful, and the option to hook up the ROG XG Mobile external GPU future-proofs it for even more demanding gaming. ASUS has built a handheld beast that sets a new standard for portable gaming. The ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is worth every penny if you're a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast.

I had my doubts, but I'm glad I was proven wrong - for the most part. I debated between the competition, but I went with the Ally solely for the FreeSync Premium screen. It's pretty. With that said, the cons of the handheld are: -capacity for only 2230 NVMe -a meager 16GB of shared RAM -one USB port?? -mushy, unresponsive, sluggish d-pad unsuitable for precise, fast rolling moves in fighting games; 3 or 4 out of 10 here... -white These are not small 'cons'. Sure, it's only a 1080p screen, but more is sorely needed here, in my opinion. I feel 32GB should be the standard right now if it's to be shared between the system and GPU, especially when we consider the games that are right around the corner. Textured super-white plastic for a handheld gaming machine? Um.... The pros: -lightweight -CPU performance (wow!) - GPU is impressive as well, just not as the CPU's performance given total package power -ergonomic (well designed chassis in terms of comfort) -gorgeous screen; Freesync is a game changer on handhelds -speakers/sound (very impressed) -USB4 + XG (hi-bandwidth I/O) port -quiet -face buttons, trigger, back buttons, shoulder buttons, and analog sticks all placed very well and feel good -effort at improving software/updates. I hope this will be an ongoing thing in the long term. I do like the Ally, but I think I would have liked it much better with those changes. Also, a black variant would have been nice, as it would have been much easier to keep clean. For me, it's kind of a love/hate thing with this device. I love it for the screen and its current overall performance, but I "hate" it for not having more RAM, and for not being able to take 2280 sized drives for longevity reasons. Also the sub-par d-pad is.... a pretty large let down for me. They definitely have room to improve here. Finally, the first-party accessory scene is an utter joke and clearly cash grabs. They are very poorly designed and would leave me wanting so much more than they unfortunately are. Third-party is, unfortunately, the only option for now. 3/5 stars for the Ally, but keep in mind that there is no other handheld that I would score higher.

Pros - the versatile nature of this handheld is awesome inspiring. Power of a windows gaming laptop in your hands! You can connect this to a TV or monitor to use it as a portable computer or as a gaming system on the run. I haven't tested it on AAA titles other then assassin's creed origins (which was fun to play on a handheld) Cons - the controls take something to get use to, going from a controller (ps5 and a Xbox PC controller) it's difficult to maintain a grip of the device and maintain that level of control (for me). overall - this was a fantastic buy, and I enjoy it more as I spend more time with the rog ally!

Powerful, light, comfortable to hold. Only complaints are the battery life is pretty bad, and storage is a bit small.

It was powerful enough to run AAA games to certain limitations. The hardware design is not the best one, but could be worse. The 7'' display may feel too small for high-end games, unless you dock it to a TV or use VR glasses. It's great for indies and emulation, but the rounded D-Pad is not great for precision-needed 2D games, e.g. Hollow Knight, Silksong, Celeste, etc. I'd recommend a Steam Deck OLED or a more recent device.

Great system. The only thing I wish is that came with better battery life and didn’t have an SD card holder issue. It’s a known problem though and can be fixed for free. ASUS all the way!

The size and feel of this system is perfect. Big or small hands, the system grips in well and the buttons are very easy to use. I also love the performance of this thing. Once you tune out Windows 11, you're able to run modern PC games with high settings and still average 40 to 60 FPS. The screen is clear and sharp. But the colors really pop. I was surprised it was not OLED. You can mod the system really easy and maintenance like replacing the thermal paster is done in just a couple of minutes. I was able to upgrade my system to 2TB and set the GPU to 7gigs and this thing ran like a beast! I was able to max some settings out in Cyberpunk 2077. I'm Very happy.

My only issue is how slow it dies, but other than that, the specs are great, it runs smooth and it has a good hand feel.