Customer Ratings & Reviews

Three weeks in on the Ally. Have Game Pass, Steam and Epic Games loaded. Great little unit, but it has some pretty big challenges 1. the location of the SD card reader - lot of heat coming from that area and the design has been known to cook SD cards. I bought a 1TB card put pulled it immediately fearing my $120 investment may go up in smoke. My workaround was to purchase a SD card reader that I can plug into the USB-C port, but creates more issues which I will explain in a bit. 2. The unit has 1 single USB-C port. This single USB-C port handles charging so you have to pick what you are going to do with that single port. If you are playing a AAA that requires heavy lifting you will only get 30-45 minutes of gameplay on a charge so it is key to be able to connect to a charger for extended sessions. If we go back to my workaround for the lethal SD card port I mistakenly loaded my triple AAA games on the card. There is no way to have an extended session if the charger and SD card are fighting the same/only port. 3. Battery life is not very good. I can get 1.5 games of FIFA in on a full charge. Seems like the unit is constantly on the charger. 4. Windows 11 is a bit challenging to navigate through with a small screen. It is also not the most touch friendly OS. I am satisfied with my purchase so far. The unit feels much better to hold than the Steam Deck. I also appreciate that I am able to load all of my gaming services on the unit. Graphics are very impressive, though the most it has been pushed is with the latest Forza game for a few minutes until I lost interest. I have been enjoying so me lighter games on it like Sleeping Dogs and Broverse. It also runs FIFA 23 very well, though it seems to struggle with rendering hair, but if I up the performance setting then that resolves the issue. I have loaded a few FPS games as well. Far Cry 5 ran fine, but it did not recognize the onboard controls. I ran Battelfield 3 for a little bit and ran great. I really enjoyed playing Battlefront 2 on the Ally, but the game takes up a fifth of the of the hard drive. Next week I will be picking up a Lenovo Go which I hope addresses the issues that I am currently experiencing with the Ally.

I love this thing. I did have an issue with the OS and button function right out of the box, but factory resetting it solved it, so be prepared for that(according to what I was seeing online that frequent issue). Compared to other handhelds like the steam deck it requires a little more effort and knowledge with IT issues and windows troubleshooting, but anything you don't know you can find online without much effort. Plays games at mid-high settings with decent frame rates. It won't be top tier, but it's optimized better then the Legion GO when I tried one of those. The controls feel pretty good and they don't get hot. They did a good job venting the heat away from your hands. Space isn't great because of Windows taking up more space then you want and games being so large these days, but upgrading the SSD was very easy as well. I ended up getting 2TB with faster speed then what was pre-installed and it went smoothly restoring the system wasn't to bad. Everything is done on the device through the internet with tutorials online. MicroSD is useless if you want to use one for games, so I'd not waste time on it; it just doesn't get the speeds you will want and tends to bog down the system when trying to run them. Battery life isn't very good. maybe 2-3 hours of time depending on the game and settings. So expect to have to plug it in it, but that tends to be avg for handhelds currently on the market. A single USB-C port which you will use most of the time for charging is a little lackluster, which they added second one in the newest model. sadly you will be limited if you have a device to hook up unless it uses Bluetooth. It will work well with Steam, Xbox and any other game software launchers or apps just like a PC. It has a built in software for customizing controls and hardware functions that works pretty well with a single button for quick access, make sure to update windows and other software before installing games and other apps. Probably go through and uninstall anything you won't use to free up space. Price point isn't ideal for what you get, I'd wait until it is on sale to buy it. $650 is just a bit to much for since you will need to spend about $150 to get a new SSD which is highly recommended. I picked it up for $450 on sale at the store and I only even did that since I felt $450 was a good price for what it was and I do not regret it. I have a Gaming Desktop and Gaming Laptop and I still use this quite often and haven't come across a game yet(even new ones) that it doesn't run pretty well. So it feel worth a $450 price tag. All in all it's great device if you want a handheld that is windows based. Depending on what you play and your budget the new model of ROG is better and newer handhelds are sure to be out soon. If you can't get this on sale wait until it is.

The Asus ROG Ally Extreme runs games effortlessly. The 7 inch screen looks fantastic, vivid colors and smooth movement. The built-in surround sound speakers system is mind-blowing. The thumbsticks, buttons, triggers and side grips were ergonomically engineered, it is comfortable and pleasant to handle for long periods of time. The power button is also an incredibly fast and accurate fingerprint reader for logging in effortlessly. The customizable LEDs around the thumbsticks add swagger to the Ally. It's operating system is Windows 11, making the ROG Ally not only a reliable gaming system, but also handheld PC. I love it. I use it plugged in while at home and rely on its battery when im out and about. I do wish it had better battery life... At 100% battery charge it can go for 3 hours of continuous playtime at full throttle before it needs to be plugged in. To sum it all up; get it. you do have 15 days to return it if you don't like it. But trust, you will like it. A lot! It's awesome.

The device performs very well, and has nice optimizations and easy to access software options similar to the steam deck, like frame-rate limiting on the fly resolution changes and APU power limits. The 120hz 1080p screen concerned me as a possible issue for the power of the system, but it doesn't struggle to hit 120fps at 1080 full settings in games like BioShock remastered. That being said, temper your expectations for brand new graphically intensive games. Its also nicer to be able to play game pass games and Epic Game Store games without having to do work arounds. The downsides would be QA, for example my unit has issues with the left speaker crackling, not a big deal to me since i always use headphones, and the fact that my unit was open box, and therefore cheaper than the listed price made it a worthwhile sacrifice, though it would have been nice for BestBiy to disclose this when buying, as id imagine this is why it was returned. I have also had issues with the SD card alot, which seems to be a common experience, as many users have reported the device killing SD cards due to the slot being against an exhaust vent Overall i would recommend the device if you dont plan to use an SD card. The step up in performance and the quality of the screen make it a worth while purchase for those who would prefer a portable windows experience over the portable console experience the Steam Deck offers.

Product Name: ASUS ROG Ally Price: $700 Pros: • Powerful performance • 1080p touchscreen display with 120Hz refresh rate • Portable and lightweight • Comfortable controls • Runs Windows 11 • Supports external GPUs Cons: • Short battery life (3-4 hours) • Software can be buggy • Expensive Overall: The ASUS ROG Ally is a good handheld gaming PC. It is powerful, portable, and has a great display. However, the battery life and software could be improved. If you are looking for a powerful and portable gaming PC, the ASUS ROG Ally is a good option. However, if you are looking for a long-lasting gaming PC with a bug-free software, you may want to consider other options. User Reviews: • "I love the performance of the Ally. I can play most of my favorite games on it, and it even handles some newer titles pretty well." - u/The_Gaming_Nerd • "The display on the Ally is amazing. It's bright, clear, and has great colors. I really enjoy gaming on it." - u/Avid_Gamer • "The battery life on the Ally is pretty short. I only get about 3-4 hours of gaming on a single charge." - u/GamerGirl123 • "The software on the Ally can be a bit buggy at times. I've had some issues with games crashing or not launching properly." - u/PC_Gamer Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Recommendation: The ASUS ROG Ally is a good option for gamers who are looking for a powerful and portable gaming PC. However, if you are looking for a long-lasting gaming PC with a bug-free software, you may want to consider other options.

I'll start off and just say, the ROG Ally is great. I've had a Steam Deck and I enjoyed it a lot but I would choose the ROG Ally over it. If you want a portable gaming PC device, this is the one to get. The screen is great. The colors are vibrant and a pleasure to look at. In comparison, the Steam Deck screen was awful and is no comparison, even when using enhancements. It is powerful. It plays everything so well. I almost exclusively play AAA games and I have no issues at all. I found the Steam Deck much more limiting in game playing and the quality of the game playing.. The battery life is not amazing but fine. I get 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. I don't usually play longer than that at a time so it isn't a big deal. That is pretty much the exact same amount of battery life I was getting with Steam Deck. Windows 11 is both a strength and a weakness. I enjoy that I can play from all the different sources. You can also install more third party apps to help. For example, I wanted to use an Xbox controller with Playstation Plus on PC but needed to be able to map a button for that center touchpad that Dualshock has and I was able to install a third party mapper. The downside is that it can be challenging without mouse and keyboard for certain things. If all you are doing is getting on to play a game, it isn't a big deal. Anything beyond that, it is difficult on a small screen. Steam Deck definitely has an easier, console type interface but it is also more limiting. I have no major complaints about the software (Armory Crate). It's fine. I wish there were more auto TDP capabilities. I also don't mind as much the updates that lots of people complained about. Once you get through the ones when you first set it up, it isn't that often. Setup takes awhile but is fine afterwards. Overall, I like the buttons. They feel good. I'm not the biggest fan of the joysticks. They feel less restrained than what I am use to but I'm adjusting to it. I do like how light the device is and that it is smaller than the Steam Deck. It is comfortable enough but I will give the Steam Deck credit for being more comfortable. I did install a larger SSD and used the cloud recovery. It was super easy. Just two words of caution. At the time that I did it, you had to be on the latest bios or the recovery wouldn't work (317 didn't work but 319 did) so make sure to update your bios (go in and check again after installing a bios version because it updates incrementally and not to the latest) before installing an SSD. Second, the cloud recovery takes a really long time so get it going and set it aside.

Imagine playing any game that has ever relased on Steam, Epic games launcher, GOG Galaxy launcher, EA games launcher, Battlenet, and virtually any other games launcher that runs on Windows, on a high performance gaming handheld. We're talking the classics like Portal 1 & 2, all the Resident Evil remakes, all the Diablos, the Bioshocks, and practically any game that has ever been ported to PC. The list is endless! This is what makes the Asus ROG Ally so special for me. Being a handheld console junkie, the Ally has reconnected me to nostalgic titles on Steam such as N2O:Nitrous Oxide (from the PS1 days) or NiGHTS Into Dreams (from the Sega Saturn days). Titles that I'd never thought I'd be able to play on the go in such a portable form factor and with incredible performance. Don't even get me started on the emulator possibilities! In my review below, I highlight some of the key details during my time using the ROG Ally. Design & Construction: ========================================================================== I love the shape and design of the ROG Ally. It feels very ergonomic and comfortable resting on my medium to large sized hands. At only 608 grams, I've been able to play with it for hours without hand or arm fatigue. I also love the thoughtful button placement. I get a much more natural grip with the position of the left raised thumbstick and the slightly lowered right thumbstick as opposed to some of the Ally's main competitors that have both thumbsticks parallel to each other.The Ally is constructed from a beautifully matted white plastic that feels "grippy" and premium in the hands. The buttons, triggers, and thumbsticks also feel well built. The buttons and triggers feel firm, have a very smooth actuation, and also have solid feedback when pressed and released. I'm also a big fan of where Asus placed the mini exhaust vents. They're nested on the top rear of the housing so that you never feel any hot air blowing anywhere near your hands or face. The shortcut keys next to the display are also incredibly convenient as they allow you to quickly access things like the Armoury Crate software or Command Center for on-the-fly power, performance, or lighting adjustments. Performance & Battery Life: ========================================================================== The ROG Ally packs a huge punch in performance and it's currently the most powerful gaming handheld on the market. I have been extremely impressed with the performance of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU in AAA games. I've also taken the liberty to list some of my performance results when playing a couple of these AAA games (this includes my preferred resolutions & settings when on battery versus when on charger): Dead Island 2: ROG Ally Operating Mode: Turbo (30 watts) Plugged in Screen Brightness: 75% Resolution:1920x1080 Overall Quality: High Low FPS: 27 Avg FPS: 40 High FPS:52 GPU Temp Average: 82°C ROG Ally Operating Mode: Performance (15 watts) On Battery Screen Brightness: 75% Resolution:1280x720 Overall Quality: Medium Low FPS: 35 Avg FPS: 47 High FPS:67 GPU Temp Average: 62°C Doom Eternal: ROG Ally Operating Mode: Turbo (30 watts) Plugged in Screen Brightness: 75% Resolution:1920x1080 Overall Quality: Nightmare Low FPS: 55 Avg FPS: 64 High FPS:76 GPU Temp Average: 81°C ROG Ally Operating Mode: Performance (15 watts) On Battery Screen Brightness: 75% Resolution:1280x720 Overall Quality: Ultra Low FPS: 51 Avg FPS: 62 High FPS:80 GPU Temp Average: 63°C I love the different performance modes that Asus includes for the Ally in it's Armoury Crate software. When plugged into power, it automatically defaults to "Turbo" mode and utilizes a TDP of 30 watts for maximum performance. However, when you're on battery, it auto defaults to "Performance" mode and utilizes a TDP of 15 watts to increase battery life (yet still delivers solid performance). What's really neat though is that you can set a manual operating mode to your liking. For example, maybe you want to squeeze out a bit more performance while on battery at the expense of a little less battery life. Instead of using the default 15 watt "performance" mode, you can set it to manual mode. You can then choose a slightly higher TDP like 18 watts instead. I love having the ability to select these tradeoffs to my liking depending on the situation. During testing, I manually set my TDP to 18 watts when running Forza Horizon 5 (1920x1080 with Medium settings) and was getting an average of 89 FPS! For less graphically demanding games such as 2D, indie games, or platformers, you can easily hit upwards of 100 FPS to really utilize that 120hz refresh rate! In terms of battery life, in "Performance" mode with a TDP of 15 watts, I got close to 2 hours of battery time. What I love about the Ally though, is that Asus includes a 65 watt power brick that charges it from 0 to 100 percent in just a little under an hour and a half. Display/Sound/Overall Experience: ========================================================================== The dispay on the ROG Ally is gorgeous. It's a 7 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) glossy IPS display capable of 500nits peak brightness with an sRGB of 100%. While it may not be an OLED panel, colors still look very rich and vibrant and blacks don't look washed out. For such small speakers, the sound is INCREDIBLE on the ROG Ally. While the Ally is Dolby Atmos capable, even non Dolby Atmos content sounds really good given it's form factor. It gets pretty loud at maximum volume with no audible distortion. Even some of the lower frequency audio effects (such as explosions) have some bass behind them. I also love that the ROG Ally includes a 3.5mm headphone jack which gives you backup option if your bluetooth headset dies. Aside from all of the praise I've given the ROG Ally, one must keep in mind that at the end of the day, it's still a Windows device. As a result, it will usually involve some level of tinkering with software and visual settings. A great comparison of a gaming handheld that a lot of people are likely cross shopping is " The Deck". While gaming handhelds like this may give you a slightly more seamless out of the box experience, due to their native OS and UI, I feel that a lot of PC gamers (including myself) will naturally gravitate toward the ROG Ally for it's versatility and performance. Just knowing that I can run virtually any Windows games launcher on the Ally opens up an endless gaming library possibility that is just simply not available on several other gaming handhelds on the market. And even if those handhelds are running Windows, the ROG Ally still has the most powerful hardware on the market. As you can tell by now, I'm absolutely floored with the gaming experience and performance that I've had on the ROG Ally and I can't wait to take this thing with me everywhere I go!!

Lets start with what it does good, which is a lot. The screen gets rather bright, is 1080p, and has a 120hz refresh rate. Its a very nice screen to use and I have yet to feel like its too small. The ergonomics of the device are fantastic, as well as the two programmable buttons on the back. The RGB is a nice touch, the speakers are plenty loud, and the addition of a dedicated button to quickly pull up the command center to change perfomance modes, see battery life, and adjust other settings like volume and brightness. The AMD Z1 Extreme in my model provides more then enough power, especially when connected to power. Finally, the fingerprint scanner that is built into the power button makes signing in to the device much easier as it will scan your finger as it starts up and then just let you into the device. Lets talk about some of the negatives. Depending on what game you are playing, the battery life will not last very long, especially in the 30 watt power mode. The storage of the device can be somewhat easily upgraded, but by default it only comes with 512 gigabytes, some of which is already used by Windows and other such needed software. Due to thermal problems, the SD card slot is best left alone as it can destroy SD cards by causing them to get too hot. Also, the edges of the chasis wear down the thumb sticks due to the abrasive nature of the RGB rings around the thumbs sticks. Speaking of the thumb sticks, they use potentiometers as opposed to hall effect sensors making them susceptible to developing drift. I do believe these can be switched out for aftermarket hall effect sensors however, it would desirable for the device to come with them from the factory.

First one had a defect out of the box with the hardware. Exchanged for another which is going strong. Love being able to play games on the go without having to take a bulky laptop with me. Battery life sucks but thats to be expected for something as powerful as this. Can play most AAA games without an issue. I was able to play MSFS2020 on high settings while running around 40 FPS. SSD size is a little small for gaming though. Wish they made a 2TB option. However its easy to install a 2 TB.

Title: Impressive Handheld PC for Xbox Gaming with Stunning Display Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4 out of 5 stars) Review: I recently had the opportunity to experience the ROG Ally, and I must say it's a game-changer for portable gaming. One of the standout features of this handheld PC is its seamless compatibility with all Xbox games. As an avid Xbox gamer, being able to enjoy my favorite titles on the go was an absolute delight. The display on the ROG Ally is undoubtedly the best I've come across in the market. The visuals are incredibly crisp, vibrant, and immersive. Whether I was exploring vast open worlds or engaging in intense battles, the display brought every detail to life, enhancing my gaming experience to a whole new level. However, it's worth noting that the battery life of the ROG Ally is somewhat limited. While it's understandable given the power-packed performance, it's essential to keep the charger handy, especially during long gaming sessions or when traveling. It would have been great to have a longer-lasting battery for more uninterrupted gameplay on the go. In terms of design and portability, the ROG Ally impresses with its sleek and ergonomic build. The controls are responsive and comfortable, allowing for hours of gaming without any discomfort. The device feels sturdy and well-built, reassuring me of its durability. The software and user interface of the ROG Ally are intuitive, making it easy to navigate through the various gaming options and settings. It provides a seamless gaming experience, without any noticeable lag or performance issues. Overall, the ROG Ally is an impressive handheld PC that caters to Xbox gamers who desire the flexibility to play their favorite games anywhere. With its exceptional display quality and solid performance, it delivers an immersive gaming experience. While the battery life may be a drawback, it can be managed by carrying the charger along. If you're an Xbox enthusiast seeking portable gaming convenience, the ROG Ally is a worthy investment.

Amazing hardware, undeniable. But very poor software. My retro emulators all failed. Returned the device the next day.

I plug in, plug out, try every method can’t even boot it up. So disappointed!

Love the Ally so far. Note that it’s not exactly a pick up and get going product like a Switch. If you’re experienced with PC gaming then you’ll feel right at home as far as tinkering goes. Pros: -Screen (resolution, vivid colors, brightness, refresh rate) -VRR (Freesync, makes a big difference in how smooth games feel) -Controls -ASUS software (*when it prompts you to update bios/ASUS software/radeon drivers make sure you always have windows completely up to date or the ASUS software may not work correctly) -Performance in AAA titles -Very comfortable to hold -Lightweight Cons: -I think an 8” screen would make a huge difference in playing AAA titles. The Legion Go has it right with the larger screen in my opinion. The Ally screen now has all the right specs except for the size. Just make the exact same screen but bigger is what I’m recommending. -Obviously better battery life would be great too, but there’s not a lot ASUS can do about that. They’re limited by current battery technology.

Pretty good handheld gaming device. I got this to play pc games and was too impatient to purchase a steam deck and wait for it to ship, so I ran into Best Buy and left with this. Pros: The aesthetic- it's a pretty nice looking device. I love the white and the rgb lighting. Very customizable, can dig around in settings and fix it just how you like. Plays most games very well (mainly casual games). However, Spiderman Miles Morales was a no go for me. Was kinda laggy so i stopped playing pretty quickly. Beautiful screen and very good sound, gets pretty loud! Cons: It gets pretty hot very quickly. The battery life is honestly not great (like an hour to hour and a half of play before needing to charge). I play games like Coral Island, Lake, A Little to the Left, etc so any games that are more intense will probably kill the battery quicker. The console is uncomfortable in hands after a while, just not the right shape to be comfy in hand.

Not going to go into crazy detail here. Let me just say this thing is awesome. I was originally leaning towards the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go, but after seeing this on sale I pulled the trigger and I’m so glad I did. It performs excellently on every game I’ve tried. 45-55 fps on RDR2, 60fps on HZD, 120fps on all 2D games. The screen is gorgeous even though it’s not OLED. The controls are comfortable enough that I can play for hours. My only complaints are nitpicks. I wish battery life was a little better. It’s actually quite good for what is going on under the hood and there’s a good amount of control to maximize battery life. But I also feel like they could have made it a few millimeters thicker and put in a slightly bigger battery. I also wish there was a larger storage option as 512gb goes pretty fast with AAA games. Lastly, I with the charging port was on the bottom because the cable coming out of the top is kind of awkward when playing. After seeing all the reviews of the other devices I’m so glad I went with this option. The Legion Go is massive and the controllers are not great, the Steam Deck is amazing but underpowered and limited to specific titles. The Ally sits perfectly in the middle. I would recommend grabbing a 2TB SSD to replace the one it comes with if you like to keep a lot of games loaded.

 I can’t even connect to my Wi-Fi network, because keyboard is not working. Lol. Asus did it again.

Overall a pretty solid system. I like the design, buttons and triggers feel good, screen is vibrant and 120hz is a nice addition. My unit does have the notorious faulty SD issue. It's annoying knowing I can't use it, for now, sure, but I have other ways of expanding storage and playing games, so not a total loss. And I don't want to rule it as a total loss because Asus hasn't fully addressed a possible solution to it, so hopefully this can be rectified without being a hassle. Battery life is too short. Wish I was able to play a little more than 80 minutes tops before needing to find an outlet. However it is true that you can literally throw any game onto this unit and it will play, pretty well I should say. Is it worth hoping on the Ally train right now? It's hard to say, because it is a great unit with some real power under the hood, but aside from the SD card issue, others have mentioned other 1st gen issues with this unit. A lot of this can be found on reddit threads. Personally, my unit thankfully (knock on wood) only has the SD card problem, but being that this is the 1st gen of the Asus handheld, I would wait a few months for kinks to be ironed out so that your experience can be seamless.

Couldnt play Call of Duty on it. Controls were awkward and was heavy making it a bit unweildy

This is the best Windows gaming handheld on the market. The screen is absolutely amazing and I love that I can control how I play my games (it’s a PC after all). Windows users will feel right at home. Those new to the platform can learn, especially with all the information available on the web. I’d love a bigger battery in a future model. The power we have here is incredible. Older games can be played at high settings, while newer games are a nice experience as well. The back buttons are a nice touch and the way Ally can seamlessly switch control modes is awesome. Customizing things like game settings, power modes, and fan curves is what makes this machine so versatile. PC gaming is simply the best and Ally is a perfectly viable way to enter the platform. If you’re already a PC gamer, Ally is a great way to keep your library portable. Streaming from a desktop is possible with sunshine/moonlight. GeForce Now can stream at 1080p/120fps with good battery life. Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus work as well. Since Ally is a PC, you can expect to do all sorts of PC things. Streaming video looks great on the screen. While not perfect, I’m perfectly happy with Ally. ASUS support should continue to improve this gaming handheld.

Now i am out of school pell grant over bby ruining orders