The Asus ROG Ally has been on the market for over two months now, and it’s shaping up to be a strong contender in the handheld gaming PC space.
Although it’s more expensive than the Steam Deck, the Asus Ally offers a number of advantages, including a sharper display, a more powerful processor, and compatibility with Windows 11-based games.
However, the Steam Deck still has a few advantages of its own. It has a more intuitive Steam OS user interface, and it’s possible to install Windows games on the Deck if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort. Additionally, the highest-end Steam Deck($649) costs less than the ROG Ally($699).
While many consider the Steam Deck the uncrowned champion of handheld gimmicks, the Asus ROG Ally certainly doesn’t lag far behind. In fact, it stands as one of the most compelling alternatives to Valve’s impressive device, particularly for those with a penchant for Windows games.
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Asus ROG Ally Review
Below, we’ll delve right into our review of the Asus ROG Ally.
Groundbreaking Handheld Display
The Asus Ally’s premium display offering is undoubtedly the handheld console’s standout feature. The ROG Ally boasts a 7-inch 1080p console screen resolution with a monster refresh rate of 120Hz. The combination of a higher pixel count and an increased refresh rate results in not only visually stunning games but also exceptionally smooth gameplay.
Initial skepticism regarding the difference between 720p and 1080p on a 7-inch screen was swiftly dispelled by the ROG Ally’s performance. This visual quality is best experienced firsthand, as it truly enhances the sharpness and clarity of games on the device. Not many gamers will be able to push the ROG Ally’s incredible display specs to their limit. Achieving consistent 120 frames per second in games remains a challenge. That said, leveraging the higher refresh rate that Asus’ handheld affords will undoubtedly contribute to an overall smoother gaming experience.
In terms of color accuracy and gamut coverage, the ROG Ally also demonstrates notable prowess, achieving 108.6% of the sRGB color gamut and 76.9% of the DCI-P3 color space, with a commendable Delta-E score of 0.17 (lower scores are indicative of better accuracy).
Comparatively, the Steam Deck’s display showcased a less extensive range, with 68.5% coverage of the sRGB color gamut and 48% of the DCI-P3 color space, accompanied by a Delta-E of 0.25.
Adequate Performance
Performance is not the ROG Ally’s strongest suit. It’s not bad, but it’s not as good as expected from a handheld powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor.
When tested with Doom Eternal, Cyberpunk 2077, and Marvel’s Spider-Man at medium settings and 720p, the ROG Ally averaged 55-70 frames per second (fps) in Doom Eternal, 35-45 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, and 35-55 fps in Spider-Man. At 1080p, frame rates dropped to 35-45 fps in Doom Eternal, 25-35 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, and 20-30 fps in Spider-Man.
Following these results, you’ll notice that the ROG Ally’s performance at 1080p is comparable to the Steam Deck’s performance at 720p. This suggests that the ROG Ally’s processor is not as powerful as expected or that the Asus Ally is not using its full potential.
Overall, the ROG Ally’s performance is adequate for most games, but it falls short of expectations for a high-end handheld gaming PC.
CPU Benchmark
The Asus Ally outperforms the Steam Deck in Geekbench 5 CPU performance tests, with a single-core score of 1,933 and a multi-core score of 10,614. This is comparable to the MSI Cyborg 15 gaming laptop.
However, the ROG Ally sometimes struggles to achieve smooth frame rates at its native 1080p resolution. This is likely due to the lack of optimization for Windows-compatible games on the ROG Ally. The Steam Deck, on the other hand, has benefited from optimization initiatives for SteamOS games.
It is possible that we will see better performance from the Asus Ally if games are specifically optimized for it. However, this has not happened yet.
Generic User Interface
The ROG Ally’s other major weakness is its lack of a dedicated UI. The Armoury Crate app does a decent job of organizing games, but it’s not as seamlessly integrated as the SteamOS interface.
Armoury Crate now lets you see and select all of your downloaded games, regardless of their respective launchers. This is a welcome improvement, as you previously had to use the game’s associated launcher after selecting it.
However, Armoury Crate still doesn’t offer the same level of functionality as SteamOS. For example, it doesn’t provide as many performance customization options, and it doesn’t have a built-in web browser or media player.
A dedicated UI would make it easier to navigate and manage your games, as well as access other features of the ROG Ally. It’s also something that gamers expect from a handheld gaming PC.
Is the ASUS ROG Ally Worth It?
Whether or not the ROG Ally is worth it depends on your individual needs and budget. The Asus ROG Ally is a great handheld gaming PC with a sharp and colorful display, a sturdy design, and compatibility with numerous Windows games. Asus deserves credit for delivering such a stellar gaming device. However, there is still room for improvement in the next iteration.
Most importantly, the ROG Ally needs a dedicated user interface on par with SteamOS. It would also be great to see more games specifically optimized for Asus hardware. If and when these things happen, the ROG Ally platform could truly become the ultimate portable gaming PC
Having said all this, if you are looking for the most powerful and versatile handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally is a great option.
However, if you are looking for a more affordable and UI-optimized handheld, other options may serve you better, like the Steam Deck. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy the ROG Ally is up to you. Weigh the pros and cons carefully and decide what is most important to you in a handheld gaming PC.
