The AMD powered ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld is finally here
With a 120Hz display, fast charging, and quiet fans, the ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld has entered the niche market as a serious competitor. The compact device is perfect for gaming on the go for all types of titles from small indie games to the big AAA’s.
The ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld runs on an AMD Ryzen Z1 processor on Zen 4 architecture along with an AMD Radeon GPU. There’s 16GB of DDR5 ram on board and a 512GB M.2 SSD for storage. Although it currently has 512 GB of storage, a microSD card slot allows users to add more as needed, and WiFi GE support provides connectivity even in crowded networks.
Running on the Windows 11 Home operating system, the Ally can install games from any Windows-compatible library. Its IPS 7-inch, 120Hz display is surely a step up from the Steam Deck’s 60Hz limit. The display also supports Dolby Vision HDR and AMD FreeSync Premium.
The first configuration of the ROG Ally is scheduled to launch on June 13 at $699, using an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with 24 MB of total cache, 5.10 Ghz boost, and 12 CUs on its GPU. The latter $599 variant will arrive sometime in Q3 2023 with a 6-core, 12-thread CPU with 22 MB of total cache, 4.90 Ghz boost, and 4 CUs on the GPU. Both models use a 1080p resolution with a 10-point multi-touch display.
We expect the handheld market to grow rapidly as more of these handhelds pop up in the market. Needless to say, the Steam Deck is already on its second year and the Nintendo Switch is well overdue for another upgrade. The ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld seems to be a solid choice in the meantime, and those who order will receive three months of Xbox Game Pass for free. Cheers.
