We know how powerful the ASUS brand is. They are now entering the market for consoles under PC architecture. Today, we are going to give our detailed review of the ASUS ROG Ally. I know it was released on June 13. The reason we are publishing the review now is that people are still searching for it, and they haven't found the detailed information they are looking for. So, continue reading, and you will find out if it is still the best.
ROG Ally: a PC in a portable console format
As with the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally adopts a portable console design but operates under an architecture from the PC world. The advantage is compatibility with all the digital software libraries that you already have. Are you used to playing on a desktop or laptop PC? ROG Ally will let you play your games anywhere. The fact that the console runs Windows 11 makes your entire game library compatible, including games using anti-cheat software, which is often not compatible with the Steam Deck.
But make no mistake, the portable console format does not erase the specificities of PC video games. Here, you will need to configure your games to get the most out of the ROG Ally. Whether you want the best graphics, the best performance, or the longest battery life, you will have to play with the game settings to adapt the experience to your needs. It's a far cry from the ease of use of a Nintendo Switch, but, on the other hand, the inherent flexibility of the PC world will allow power users to do just about anything they want.
Design, screen, and handling
ASUS delivers its console in bling-bling packaging, as we like it, but surprisingly compact. The console is delivered well-packaged, with a USB-C mains charger compatible with 65W fast charging, but no carrying bag, which is essential for this type of device. In the box, you will also find a small support to keep it in “dock” mode.
The design of the console is more original than that of the Steam Deck. While we hope that it will age well without turning too yellow, the result of the new device is very pleasant. The design is gamer-oriented but with the right balance not to be too excessive. It is mainly the base of the two sticks, equipped with an RGB ring, that will bring this fanciful touch. Whether you like it or not, the functionality can obviously be deactivated.
The screen is perfectly integrated, and the two speaker grilles frame it on either side. Concerning the placement of the keys, we are on familiar ground here, as it is the classic Xbox placement. Two additional buttons are present to open ASUS configuration overlays. On the back of the device, the manufacturer has added two additional paddle buttons, useful for games that require many different commands, like simulators.
For our part, the handling seemed excellent, more comfortable than on the Steam Deck. Despite having rather small hands, there is no need to contort yourself to reach the triggers, the RB/RT or LB/LT side buttons. Likewise, the sticks are much more flexible than on the Steam Deck, approaching the flexibility of the DualSense sticks from PlayStation.
On the other hand, the directional cross with its slippery material seems imprecise to us, which may put off emulation aficionados. Note also that ASUS did not use Hall effect sticks, probably to reduce costs.
The plastics used for the case are textured to provide effective grip, and even after long gaming sessions, we did not have sweaty and slippery hands, nor any particular fatigue. The reduced size and lower weight than the Steam Deck considerably improve handling on this point.
A magnificent screen
A strong point put forward by ASUS over the competition, the ROG Ally features a 7-inch, IPS Full HD touch screen with a 120 Hz panel compatible with FreeSync Premium. It can go up to 500 nits and promises exemplary resistance to scratches by adopting the Gorilla Glass Victus present on high-end smartphones, as well as the DXC anti-reflective treatment.
We can legitimately wonder if equipping a console with such a high-performance screen is not counterproductive, because the higher the resolution and refresh rate, the greater the need for graphics and energy resources. But more can do less, and taking advantage of a Full HD 120 Hz display is very comfortable when used on the Windows desktop (we'll come back to this) and in low-power games.
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But what is striking when using this screen is the quality of it. The contrasts are excellent, the colors flattering, and the overall rendering is well above the Steam Deck screen, an excellent point for the ROG Ally.
Windows 11 and Armory Crate SE: Competitive advantage for ROG Ally
A strong point highlighted by ASUS, the ROG Ally runs Windows 11. Microsoft's OS is the main platform for video games on PC, so it is the only system that allows total compatibility with all stores and launchers on the market: Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, EA App, Ubisoft Connect, GOG Galaxy, and Battle.net. This is therefore a competitive advantage compared to Valve's Steam Deck, which runs under SteamOS and sometimes requires a little tinkering to launch certain titles (or even does not launch them at all).
You can install Windows on the Deck, but the experience is not optimal. For our part, we think that SteamOS is the Deck's strong point, despite its limitations in terms of compatibility.
Is Windows 11 suitable for a 7-inch screen? To our great surprise, we found the experience quite pleasant. The touch mode of Microsoft's OS works quite well, and using the right stick and triggers to emulate the mouse is also very effective for precision. Likewise, the virtual keyboard is responsive, and entering characters is done without a hitch.
Windows requires simply plugging in a USB-C hub equipped with an HDMI output to connect a PC monitor or TV, a keyboard, and a mouse to obtain a traditional office experience. Just know that for the moment, the external screen is not limited to 1080p60 or 2160p30. It is possible to connect an external screen with a resolution of 1440p60 and run it at that resolution.
Armory Crate SE: A convenient and versatile utility for the ROG Ally
To improve the experience and offer an interface closer to that of a home console, ASUS offers Armory Crate SE, a variant of its embedded software on all of the brand's laptops. This utility, which can be opened at any moment by pressing the dedicated button, allows you to configure the ROG Ally and manage your game library. A screen allows you to install all the main launchers on the market with a single touch (except Battle.net). Armory Crate SE then detects the installed games and allows you to launch them without going through the Windows interface.
Armory Crate SE also allows you to manage all the settings associated with the control surfaces, and to configure profiles for each game or application. Without going as far as the Steam Deck, the customization remains sufficiently advanced for everyone to find their way.
By pressing the dedicated button, an overlay allows you to quickly switch from one performance profile to another, change control mode (gamepad or "desktop" with virtual mouse), activate AMD features (RSR or RIS), adjust brightness, or modify the resolution and refresh rate of the screen (720p/1080p and 60Hz/120Hz). Finally, it is possible to activate a real-time performance monitor and an FPS limiter (multiples of 15: 15, 30, 45, 60).
On paper, it seems complete and ideal, but that's where the problem lies. The quick setup overlay is very finicky, and it often refuses to open or is very unresponsive when it does open. You sometimes have to press 4 or 5 times on an element for it to activate, or wait several seconds after pressing for the options to change.
We clearly feel that the software is still in development, and we really hope that Asus will release an update soon to address these issues. Especially since everything else works, the only thing missing is responsiveness.
Performance and battery life: Customized to your needs
Concerning autonomy, we tried to configure a very demanding game to find a good balance between graphical quality, performance, and battery life. So, we carried out our test on Cyberpunk 2077, in 720p (improving the sharpness with AMD Radeon Image Sharpening), then locking the frame rate at 40 frames per second. We selected the "medium" preset and activated FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.1 to "balanced", all on the ROG Ally "Performance" profile.
The thermal design power (TDP) can be lowered to 20 watts, and we were able to play in this configuration for almost 2 hours. By locking the frame rate at 30 and switching to a "low" preset, it is entirely possible to play for much longer.
Ultimately, the flexibility allowed by the settings of a PC game is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the power of the device allows you to play in exceptional conditions for such a compact device. On the other hand, the more you push the sliders, the more your battery life will be reduced, which can inevitably be disappointing. You will have to make compromises based on your needs and desires.
Regarding storage, ASUS has opted for a PCIe Gen 4 SSD. Our benchmark shows excellent read and write speeds, much higher than those of the Steam Deck, especially for reading. We will update this test with the read/write speeds of the microSD card reader, which we have not yet been able to test.
Asus ROG Ally price
The ROG Ally is now available for purchase at $699. It offers a superior configuration in every way, aside from software. If ASUS deploys even half of Valve's efforts to monitor and optimize its machine, the ROG Ally should improve further in the coming months.
It remains to be seen whether this console is right for you. Beyond the "technological gem" aspect, you need to ask yourself if your gaming habits are compatible with this format. If you're not willing to make concessions to get acceptable battery life, or if you don't already have a library of digital games, the formula doesn't work. On the other hand, if the flexibility of Windows appeals to you, you'll have the best possible machine for cloud gaming, emulation, and AAA gaming on the go in good conditions.
