So here is some news that I came across the other day. The ASUS ROG Ally a handheld gaming PC that initially seemed like an April Fools’ joke. (Pro tip: Never announce real products on April Fools’ Day, ASUS!) But it turns out ASUS is serious about entering the handheld gaming market, aiming to compete with the likes of Ayaneo and Valve. Let’s dive into what we know so far and whether it’s worth the hype.
ASUS has confirmed that the ROG Ally will run on Windows 11 and sport a custom AMD Ryzen chip. It even supports an external GPU. The device features a 7-inch touchscreen with a 16:9 ratio 1080p display and a 120Hz refresh rate. In comparison, the Steam Deck offers a 16:10 panel with only 800p resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. Surprisingly, ASUS’ handheld is narrower, thinner, and slightly lighter than Valve’s Steam Deck. But how will this affect battery life? That remains to be seen.
As of now, ASUS has not shared anything about the device, like pricing or release date details, but somehow, you can sign up for alerts at Best Buy to stay informed about pre-orders. Never seen that before either.
The success of the ROG Ally will largely depend on its price and performance in comparison to the Steam Deck (starting at $399) and high-end handhelds like the $850 Ayaneo 2 or $1000+ OneXPlayers. However, ASUS has an advantage in that the Ally can theoretically run any game its hardware can handle, unlike the Steam Deck’s limited compatibility. And with ASUS being a major brand, it’ll likely be easier to find the ROG Ally.
So, is the ASUS ROG Ally a game-changer or just a late April Fools’ gimmick? We’ll have to wait for more details and real-world release to find out. I’m hoping it’s the real deal.
Stay tuned with Mr. Technology for updates.
