Asus ROG Ally

Asus jumped into the handheld PC market on June 13, 2023 with the ROG Ally, a Windows 11 device built to run full desktop games on the go. It comes in two versions: one with an AMD Ryzen Z1 processor and a pricier model with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, both based on Zen 4 architecture and paired with RDNA 3 graphics. The Ally looks like a chunky Nintendo Switch, with a 7-inch 1080p screen running at 120Hz, built-in controls, and a white shell that houses cooling fans and a 40Wh battery. Because it runs Windows, you can install Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games Store, and other launchers without any workarounds, which sets it apart from the Linux-based Steam Deck.

You can play it as a handheld, or plug it into a TV or monitor with a dock or dongle and use it like a small desktop or console. The device also supports external controllers and Bluetooth accessories. Asus sells the Ally as a premium option in the handheld space, and the price reflects that. The Z1 Extreme model launched at $699, while the standard Z1 version came in at $599. Early reviews praised the screen and performance but flagged battery life and Windows quirks as trade-offs. The Ally targets players who want a portable PC rather than a dedicated console.

Since launch, Asus has expanded the line through a partnership with Microsoft. The ROG Xbox Ally brings a console-style Xbox full-screen experience to the same Windows handheld formula, starting at $599.99 for a 16GB RAM / 512GB configuration. A step-up ROG Xbox Ally X pairs the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme with 24GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. And for 2026, Asus has listed the ROG Xbox Ally X20, which moves to a 7.4-inch OLED "Nebula HDR" display and TMR joysticks while keeping the Z2 Extreme chip. That OLED generation marks a clear break from the original 2023 Ally, and early hands-on coverage has already started to weigh in. [edit]

What you play on the Ally depends entirely on what you install. It runs the full Windows PC library, from big-budget AAA releases to indies and emulators, and performance scales across three TDP profiles: silent, performance, and turbo. The 120Hz variable-refresh display supports AMD FreeSync, which keeps frame pacing smoother when the chip is working hard. The Z1 Extreme model pushes meaningfully higher frame rates than the base Z1, which reviewers generally found underpowered for its price. Battery life lands around one to two hours under load, a figure that comes up in almost every critique of the device.

Controls are built in, console-style, so you can play without a separate gamepad. Docking to a TV or monitor turns the Ally into a small desktop or console, and Bluetooth handles external controllers and accessories. Multiplayer is whatever the installed games support, locally or online. There is no DLC or expansion content in the traditional sense, because the Ally is hardware, not a game with a campaign. Its "content" is the PC games you already own or buy. [edit]