Asus has unveiled its latest addition to the mobile gaming platform, the ROG Ally, designed to offer a budget-friendly option for gamers with limited resources.
This new release is powered by AMD Ryzen Z1 chips and AMD Radeon graphics, following the company's launch of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme to compete with Valve's Steam Deck.
Priced at $600, the new device comes with similar technical specifications to its higher-priced counterpart. It boasts a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, an adjustable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and a brightness of 500 nits. Additionally, it includes a 512GB SSD internal storage, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a quiet fan, and a microSD UHS-II card reader.
The main differences between the two versions lie in the AMD Ryzen Z1 processor, which offers fewer cores for both the CPU and GPU, resulting in lower graphics performance compared to the higher-priced version. Therefore, the basic model is a suitable option for individuals willing to sacrifice some visual performance for a more cost-effective gaming laptop.
The ROG Ally provides an outstanding gaming experience thanks to its powerful processor and clear display, making it a suitable choice for those in search of a Windows-based gaming laptop. The device is compatible with platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and EA Play, as well as the Xbox app for Windows, granting players access to the Game Pass library.
Equipped with Bluetooth and a USB-C port, the device allows for the connection of PS5 DualSense controllers or wireless Xbox controllers for added gaming fun.
However, it's worth noting some minor issues, such as elevated microSD card temperatures and software glitches with Windows, which diminish Asus's promise of delivering a seamless mobile Windows gaming experience without significant compromises in performance. Early reviews indicate that the base model's performance with AMD Ryzen Z1 chips falls noticeably behind that of the $400 or higher-priced Steam Deck, without a substantial improvement in battery life to compensate for this difference.
