Asus ROG Ally: the handheld games console that takes on the competition
· Michel Aguilera
For once, we are going to talk about gaming, and more precisely mobile gaming. In the jungle of Switch consoles and other solutions, one product stands out from the crowd: the Asus ROG Ally. A PC in a console format with plenty under the bonnet. In this article, we will see what Asus has to offer on the gaming front and how their product stands out from the rest. Discovery and hands-on.
Game on… or what?
The Asus ROG Ally is a handheld games console that lets you enjoy your favourite games wherever you are. It comes in the form of a 7-inch touchscreen tablet, with a 120 Hz Full HD display and an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor (Ryzen Z1 on the entry-level version). It also has 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD (256 GB with the Ryzen Z1) and integrated AMD Radeon graphics based on the RDNA 3 architecture. It supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, and has a USB-C port combined with the ROG XG Mobile interface (for an external graphics card). It is offered with the possibility of adding an (optional) dock that lets you connect it to an external screen, a keyboard and a mouse, as well as a wireless game controller. You can also add a microSD card to increase the storage capacity for games.
What are the strengths of the Asus ROG Ally?
The Asus ROG Ally offers many advantages over its competitors, including:
- Impressive computing power, which allows it to run the latest games in high resolution and with advanced graphics effects.
- An efficient cooling system and a 40 Wh battery that charges over USB-C (65 W charger); battery life varies greatly depending on the game (around 2 hours in demanding titles).
- Versatility of use, allowing it to switch from tablet mode to PC mode in an instant, depending on your needs and wishes.
- Optimal ergonomics, with a responsive touchscreen, quality stereo speakers, a comfortable game controller and a practical dock.
A short review video of the Asus ROG Ally console:
What are the weaknesses of the Asus ROG Ally?
The Asus ROG Ally is not perfect and has a few drawbacks, such as:
- A high price, which puts it out of reach for those on a tight budget. It costs around 799 euros, which places it in the range of high-end laptops.
- A considerable weight, which makes it less easy to carry around than other handheld consoles. It weighs 608 grams, which is heavier than a Nintendo Switch or a PlayStation Vita.
- Limited compatibility, which makes it dependent on the games available on PC. It cannot access the exclusives of home consoles, such as Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft games.
On this last point, it is possible to make up for this by playing via cloud streaming platforms or by installing emulators (EmulStation, for example), not only to add compatibility with other consoles but also to do retro gaming, i.e. to be able to bring in games from older consoles (including home games consoles). This is also one of the points taken up by Asus’s most significant rival, the Steam Deck.
If we had to compare these 2 consoles, the Asus ROG Ally has a more elegant and slimmer design than the Steam Deck, which is thicker and heavier. The Asus ROG Ally weighs 608 grams, compared with 669 grams for the Steam Deck. The Asus ROG Ally also has a touchscreen that lets you type text (via the Windows on-screen keyboard) or control the cursor. The Steam Deck, for its part, has more classic buttons and joysticks, as well as trackpads that offer better precision. The Steam Deck is better suited to gamers who prefer a simpler, more affordable device that is more faithful to the Steam ecosystem. The Asus ROG Ally is better suited to gamers looking for a more elegant, more powerful and more versatile device. Coming back to the emulation of other consoles, the Asus ROG Ally has the advantage of being first and foremost a PC with a good integrated graphics chip. For those who are not familiar with the practice, retro gaming is the activity of playing video games released on old consoles or computers, often considered obsolete or outdated. It is a way of revisiting titles that have made video game history, or of immersing yourself in retro universes that have a particular appeal. Retro gaming can also be linked to nostalgia, challenge or curiosity. A short video from the Retrogaming shop explaining the concept:
The idea, then, is to install on the Asus ROG Ally what you need to “emulate” various games consoles, so as to enjoy an additional experience (and since the hardware configuration is up to it, so much the better!)
In short… is it game on?
Let’s not kid ourselves: there are still quite a few teething problems with this product (it heats up easily, insufficient battery life) and a Windows 11 environment that makes itself (too) noticeable. It positions itself as a console for tinkerers, but one where you need to get your hands dirty with the technical side to make the most of it (so not necessarily for a non-expert audience). It remains less polished than the Steam Deck, but can easily compete with, or even surpass, the other consoles on the market in terms of performance.