REVIEW: ROG Ally, comfortable, beautiful and almost portable

O ROG Ally is the first portable PC console launched by ASUS and comes as a response to Steam deck, the laptop of Valve. Its difference, however, is being able to run any game on the PC because it has the Windows 11 operating system. While this allows more games to be compatible, it creates other problems in the usability of the product. Is it worth investing your money in it? Check it out now in the full review ROG Ally.

Design

The Rog Ally's color choice was one of the things I liked most. Following what we already saw in the last rog phone, the portable video game has an all-white body, with black details. To help compose this design, there are also other reflective details on the back. 

As it is a gamer product, the bases of the two analogs are RGB and can be customized using ASUS software to behave as you see fit. Since I mentioned the analogues, the front part of the device follows what would be a joystick that we already know.

On the right side we have the buttons X, A, B e Y, the right analog stick and two buttons close to the screen. The first works like the button options da PlayStation and the second is the button to access the hub of system games. On the left side, the analogue stick is at the top and at the bottom we have the d pad (the arrows). Just like on the other side, we have two more buttons, here being the equivalent of the touchpad and a dedicated button to access ROG system settings. On both sides there is a microphone and two speaker outputs.

On the top of the Rog Ally is where we have the LT and RT triggers and the LB and RB buttons. In addition to them, it is in this region of the device that the product's ports are located. From left to right we have a headphone jack, space to place memory cards, connection ROG XG to attach an external video card, a USB-C input to charge the console, volume buttons and a power button, which also works as a fingerprint reader.

Other important details in this region of the device involve two indicator LEDs. One to show that it is plugged in and the other to indicate that it is on. And of course, so that the console doesn't explode when playing, we have two air vents here, in a place where you don't even feel it and it does its job properly.

On the back, I start with the chosen texture details, which improves the grip, that is, it prevents slipping, especially on hotter days like the ones we are experiencing. Going towards the middle of the console, you can now see the two extra buttons, great for using in competitive games or games that require more precision in your movements.

Regarding aesthetic details, the ROG logos were placed on the sides with a reflective effect, as well as an air outlet formed by the logo on the rear. These are things that do not affect performance in any way, but that give a nice “tchan” to the product.

Something that was quite annoying in terms of aesthetics was the amount of code and stickers related to the warranty and model details on the body of the device. I know it seems silly, but the way it was put here, it makes the product uglier with information that you will only use if you need to use the warranty, for example. 

Fabric

The ROG Ally's screen is 7", slightly larger than that of a current top-of-the-line smartphone. Personally, I liked the size and I think it fits well with the idea of ​​being a portable. I think it could have a little less edges, but nothing that would really hinder the experience.

The screen uses IPS technology with FHD resolution (1920×1080) in a 16:9 aspect ratio, in addition to having protection Gorilla Glass Victory. The gaming experience is favored here thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium technology and 7ms response time.

It still responds to touch, with the 10-point multi-touch technology being chosen. Although the idea is good, the practice doesn't work very well due to Windows limitations. I'll go into detail about this later, but understand that the touchscreen is primarily there so you can type more easily when prompted.

Compared with other portable consoles, we have some advantages and disadvantages. In terms of resolution and especially the refresh rate, the ROG Ally comes out at an advantage. However, it is an improvement that in practice does not make much difference, as most games will not reach 120Hz on this screen.

In all the games I tested on the ROG Ally, the screen never became a problem and it always performed great. It's a good size choice and the fact that it doesn't use OLED technology isn't a problem, after all, it's an excellent IPS with colors that are just as excellent.

Performance

Considering that we are talking about a laptop, it was to be expected that we would not have processors and video cards used in desktop PCs. To solve this problem, the processor was used 1nm AMD Ryzen™ Z4 Extreme and the Integrated GPU AMD Radeon. 

The Steam Deck uses a similar processor, also from AMD, but the new version, included in the ROG Ally, is better in every way, naturally. This processor was designed precisely for the notebook market and does not disappoint when it comes to performance. Because it was Windows 11, I had to go through all the system bureaucracy when turning on the video game for the first time. Install account, possible installation of Office pack and others. 

As for storage, it comes with a 512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. My curiosity wasn't so great that I opened the ROG Ally to see if it was possible to install a larger SSD, but, according to the manufacturer's website and other international reviews, it is, yes, possible. However, being a device focused only on games, these 500 GB are ok. It would be great if it was 1TB, but it's not disappointing either. In terms of RAM memory, there are 16 GB integrated in the LPDDR5 standard.

I did what I needed to do in that sense and got to what matters: the games. From the factory, it already comes with the Armory Crate, ROG system for games. In it, we already have Steam, Xbox Games and other possible ones, such as Epic Games, for example. The experience in this sense is not the best, after all it is still a PC, but on a small screen.

I started testing with a calmer game called Broforce. It's a 2D game in which your mission is to destroy everything and everyone in the best way possible. The game ran perfectly and fits very well with the idea of ​​being played portable. Moving on to something heavier, I tested Sunset Overdrive, which was playable, but I expected more because it wasn't such a recent game.

Yes, Fortnite turned the poor console into an entry-level smartphone. The graphics were not in the best condition and the FPS was terrible. I actually thought it would be different in this case, so it was a negative surprise. Now something that really surprised me in a positive way was Death Stranding. By default, the game came with everything activated, but on medium settings. I then adjusted it to make everything very high and to my surprise everything continued to work perfectly and with frames above 60 at all times. This is one of the best game optimizations I've seen recently.

I tried to play Starfield, but this was a task that became impossible. I believe that the console even has the specifications to run the game, but the game simply closed when I pressed “create new game”. Finally, I tested Lies of P and this one ran very well, around 60 FPS when in performance mode.

System

The ROG Ally comes equipped with Windows 11 and that alone already has a problem. I'm not a hater of the Microsoft system or anything like that, but you need to understand that it works perfectly on PCs and notebooks, but it's quite doubtful when it needs to be used in other ways, especially because it doesn't propose that.

Let's think about it like this: you bought a Nintendo Switch, added your account, updated the system and bought your game. Now just play, right? So, in the case of the ROG Ally the answer could be no if you had an error driver on the system or with the game in question, something very common on PCs.

And that's where we have an annoying problem. From the moment it sees itself as a PC with a small screen and not as a portable console, all the PC's problems follow. The difference is that on the PC you have a little help from the keyboard and mouse and of course, it is not sold as just a gaming platform.

Hair Armory Crate It is possible to add special quick command functions to close apps or return to the home screen, but again, the fact that Windows 11 is on a small screen makes everything a bit confusing. The touch screen helps here, but nothing that changes the experience. Something that's cool and helps is the fact that the right analog stick works like a mouse.

In short, this system issue can be improved with updates, perhaps with some effort on the part of Microsoft itself in adapting the OS to be more functional on a laptop. However, I still find the idea of ​​creating a specific operating system for laptops more interesting, as is the SteamOS, installed on the Steam deck. It also carries issues and incompatibility with some games, but no PC issues being dragged into a video game.

Battery

Look, I remember thinking that Nintendo's decision to put only a 720p screen on the game was bad. OLED switch, but some time later I went to see how much this could impact on the baby's battery. In the case of the ROG Ally, the situation is delicate. The battery chosen is a 40WH 4-cell lithium ion battery.

This battery is the same one included in the Steam deck, which does not give credibility to its duration. In the competitor, even after more than a year of life, there are rare cases where it managed to spend more than 1:30 hours of life unplugged and this is strongly replicated here.

As much as I tried several different things, reaching just over 1:30 hours of life unplugged was borderline impossible. In heavier games like Death Stranding e Lies of P, if I managed 50 minutes unplugged it was a lot. I tested playing at 720p resolution, with less FPS, without RGB and other combinations, but it doesn't seem to have affected battery performance much.

I can't stop talking about Nintendo Switch. There are three versions: common, Small e OLED and even in the most basic version, the Lite, Nintendo's portable can hold its edges calmly for at least 3 hours, reaching almost 10 hours in OLED models.

With that comes the question. If the idea is to be portable, how can you deliver us a product that will need to be plugged in at least 80% of the time? It's an idea that doesn't make sense and proves that the portable market that escapes Nintendo's hands is still quite infant.

Yes, it's wonderful to be able to play anything you've bought on your PC on a smaller screen, but from the moment you need an outlet everywhere you go, the idea of ​​a portable is completely lost. And since it went wrong on the Steam Deck, it's a big mistake to opt for the same configuration here.

Connectivity

As it is a laptop, don't expect to connect the ROG Ally to the network cable. To get around this, the Wi-Fi choice here is wise and very up to date with the Tri-band WiFi 6E (802.11ax). Despite having a headphone connection, as it has Bluetooth 5.2. This allows you to connect the main Bluetooth headphones on the market without any problems and enjoy games with greater immersion.

When I commented on the design, I quickly showed that there is a door ROG XG. This port already exists on other ASUS devices and is basically used to install other video cards compatible with the ROG Ally. The two compatible models are the Radeon RX 6850M XT da AMD and GeForce RTX 4090 da NVIDIA. Both are exclusive models called eGPUs (External GPU). At the time I write this review, neither model is officially available in Brazil.

Finally, the ASUS laptop also has a slot for placing microSD cards, which may be a more practical memory expansion option than changing the SSD and having to reinstall the entire system. However, as the device undergoes constant updates, it is worth paying attention to the news, as it has already had updates where it overheated and ran out of microSD cards.

Audio

To make the most of your games, the ASUS laptop has two speakers that face the player. This design choice is very welcome and quite functional. Regarding the volume, it is very competent and more than enough for you to enjoy games loud and clear.

By having a p2 connection for headphones, the experience in this sense is even more complete and allows you to use everything from simpler headphones to the beefier models on the market. In the case of Bluetooth headphones, the ROG Ally it connects easily and works in the same way as on PCs. The difference is in the case of wireless headphones that use a USB plug instead of connecting via Bluetooth. In these cases, you will have to opt for an adapter to use them via wire.

Conclusion

O ROG Ally It is a new type of product called, a portable PC console, and therefore it deserves much praise. It still has first-generation product features (as expected with innovations), but it is promising in terms of what it delivers today and will deliver in the future.

In fact, it has impeccable construction and design, making its competitors, such as Steam deck and himself Nintendo Switch appear outdated. But it will still need more battery life to become truly portable, since the total of 1 hour and a half of our tests (or 3 hours, according to the manufacturer) is not enough.

And it has an interface that is not yet fully adapted for small screens, but we imagine that both ASUS and Microsoft will bring improvements in future software updates.

So if you play on PCs, a ASUS ROG Ally It will be a revolution in your hands. Even though you'll always need a socket nearby, it's a delight to play with it on the couch, on the plane or bus.

But it's also worth keeping an eye on your competitors. O legion go from Lenovo, for example, promises to soon bring even more fuel to this fire.

Putting all the points on the agenda, we can say yes that the ROG Ally is excellent. So, if you don't mind using it most of the time plugged into an outlet, it will fit like a glove for you. We recommend.

Price and availability

O ROG Ally arrived in Brazil on July 20th. It's costing R$6.299,10 in cash at the official ASUS store, or in up to 12 installments of R$583,25 on your credit card, totaling R$6.999,00.

ROG Ally technical specifications

Brand	ASUS
Córdoba	ROG Ally
Operational system	Windows 11 Home
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor (“Zen 4” architecture with 4nm, 8 cores/16 threads, 24MB total cache, up to 5,10GHz boost)
Graphics Card (GPU)	AMD Radeon Graphics (AMD RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 2,7 GHz, up to 8,6 Teraflops)
TDP (thermal design power)	9-30W
Fabric	7 inches
Resolution	FHD (1920 x 1080) 16: 9
Panel Type	IPS-level
Screen Coating	glossy screen
sRGB Color Gamut	100%
Protective Glass	Gorilla Glass DXC
Rear Protection Glass	Gorilla Glass Foods
Touch screen	Yes (10 point multi-touch)
Update Rate	120 Hz
Response Time	7 ms
Brightness	500 nits
AMD FreeSync Premium Technology	Yes
Memory	Built-in 16 GB LPDDR5 (6400 MT/s dual channel)
Internal Storage	512 GB SSD PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 (2230)
Entry and Exit Ports	1 3,5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 ROG XG Mobile Interface and USB Type-C combo port (with USB 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort 1.4 support) 1 card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)
Control and Entry	A, B, X, Y buttons D pad L&R Hall Effect analog triggers left and right bumper preview button Menu button command center button Armory Crate Button 2 x assignable grip buttons Thumbsticks: 2 x full-size analog sticks with capacitive touch HD haptic Gyroscope: 6 axis IMU
Audio	AI noise canceling technology high resolution certification Dolby Atmos Microphone 2-speaker system with Smart Amp technology
Network and Communication	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) (Tri-band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.2
Battery	40 WH, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-Ion
Power supply	TYPE-C, 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3,25A, 65W, Input: 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal
AURA SYNC	Yes
Weight	608 gr
Dimensions (L x D x H)	28cm x 11,1cm x 2,12~2,12cm
Xbox Game Pass	Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – 3 months free upon activation. (Terms and exclusions apply. Offer available only in countries eligible for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Eligible locations are determined upon activation. Game catalog varies by region, device and time). Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a service that uses the recurring payment system, therefore, in order for the redemption of the 3 promotional months to be completed successfully, it is necessary to obtain a Microsoft account and a registered means of payment.
Safety	Fingerprint sensor Microsoft Pluton Security Processor
Price	BRL 6.299,10 in cash or BRL 6.999 in installments

See also other features

https://www.showmetech.com.br/processadores-da-intel-meteor-lake-vao-superar-apple/

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (23 / 09 / 23)