ASUS has opened pre-orders for the ROG Ally, its high-performance handheld PC aimed at competing with devices such as Valve's Steam Deck and Nintendo's Switch.
Announced in May 2023, the ROG Ally is built around AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, runs Windows 11, and targets 1080p handheld gaming with the flexibility of a full PC ecosystem.
Hardware and platform details
The ROG Ally ships with Windows 11 and supports native PC storefronts including Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Game Pass access.
ASUS says the device is capable of delivering Full HD (1080p) visuals and 60 FPS performance in "many" current AAA and indie titles when used in handheld mode.
ASUS contrasted the Ally's 1080p display with the 720p panels found on competing handhelds, positioning the unit as a higher-resolution portable option.
ASUS also detailed optional accessory support.
In addition to a dock for connecting the Ally to a TV for local multiplayer and couch play, the system can be paired with ASUS's XG Mobile external GPU enclosure.
When combined with an XG Mobile housing up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, ASUS says the Ally can deliver high-end desktop-like experiences — including 4K output with ray tracing and NVIDIA DLSS 3 — when used with a keyboard and mouse or as a living-room gaming rig.
Pricing, availability, and offers
Pre-orders for the ROG Ally began on May 11, 2023.
ASUS confirmed UK availability from June 13, 2023, with the 512GB model priced at £699.
To support PC gaming on the go, the ROG Ally package includes a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code, enabling access to a large library of PC titles and cloud-streamed games.
Industry statements
Renato Fragale, senior director of product management for AMD's Consumer and Gaming Client Business, noted that AMD invested more than a decade developing the technologies that enabled the Ryzen Z1 Series and that collaboration with partners such as ROG produced a platform intended to redefine mobile gaming.
Roanne Sones, CVP and Head of Xbox Hardware, said that Game Pass Ultimate gives members access to hundreds of games and that combining Game Pass with the ROG Ally offers a way for players to discover and play titles on the move, whether via native Windows installs or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
With its Windows 11 foundation, high-end AMD silicon, and accessory ecosystem, the ROG Ally represents ASUS's most direct bid yet to capture the portable PC gaming market currently served by the Steam Deck and to offer an alternative to Nintendo Switch-style living-room flexibility.
Announced in May 2023, the ROG Ally is built around AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, runs Windows 11, and targets 1080p handheld gaming with the flexibility of a full PC ecosystem.
Hardware and platform details
The ROG Ally ships with Windows 11 and supports native PC storefronts including Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Game Pass access.
ASUS says the device is capable of delivering Full HD (1080p) visuals and 60 FPS performance in "many" current AAA and indie titles when used in handheld mode.
ASUS contrasted the Ally's 1080p display with the 720p panels found on competing handhelds, positioning the unit as a higher-resolution portable option.
ASUS also detailed optional accessory support.
In addition to a dock for connecting the Ally to a TV for local multiplayer and couch play, the system can be paired with ASUS's XG Mobile external GPU enclosure.
When combined with an XG Mobile housing up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, ASUS says the Ally can deliver high-end desktop-like experiences — including 4K output with ray tracing and NVIDIA DLSS 3 — when used with a keyboard and mouse or as a living-room gaming rig.
Pricing, availability, and offers
Pre-orders for the ROG Ally began on May 11, 2023.
ASUS confirmed UK availability from June 13, 2023, with the 512GB model priced at £699.
To support PC gaming on the go, the ROG Ally package includes a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code, enabling access to a large library of PC titles and cloud-streamed games.
Industry statements
Renato Fragale, senior director of product management for AMD's Consumer and Gaming Client Business, noted that AMD invested more than a decade developing the technologies that enabled the Ryzen Z1 Series and that collaboration with partners such as ROG produced a platform intended to redefine mobile gaming.
Roanne Sones, CVP and Head of Xbox Hardware, said that Game Pass Ultimate gives members access to hundreds of games and that combining Game Pass with the ROG Ally offers a way for players to discover and play titles on the move, whether via native Windows installs or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
With its Windows 11 foundation, high-end AMD silicon, and accessory ecosystem, the ROG Ally represents ASUS's most direct bid yet to capture the portable PC gaming market currently served by the Steam Deck and to offer an alternative to Nintendo Switch-style living-room flexibility.
