The ROG Ally: A Handheld Gaming Beast with Windows 11

ROG Ally Review: A Windows 11 Handheld Gaming Beast

Are you a gamer who loves to play PC games on the go? If yes, then you might want to take a look at the ROG Ally, the newest handheld gaming device from ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG). The ROG Ally is a handheld gaming device that runs on Windows 11, the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft. It has a powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, RDNA 3 graphics, a Full HD 120Hz display, and a sleek design. In this review, we will explore the ROG Ally and see what it can do for gamers.

Design and Display

The ROG Ally feels comfortable and ergonomic in your hands. It has a 7-inch IPS touchscreen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The display supports FreeSync Premium, which makes your games smooth and stutter-free. The display also adapts to the ambient lighting conditions and adjusts its brightness and color temperature accordingly.

The ROG Ally has two analog sticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and two rear paddles. The buttons are clicky and responsive, and you can customize them using the Armoury Crate SE app. The rear paddles can act as extra buttons or as modifiers to give you more options. The device also has a fingerprint reader built into the power button, which lets you log in quickly and securely with Windows Hello.

The ROG Ally has a metal frame and a plastic back cover with a textured grip. It weighs about 608 grams and measures 280 x 111 x 32.4 mm. It has a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, a 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones, and a microSD card slot for storage expansion. It also has dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support, dual microphones with noise cancellation, and dual cameras (8 MP rear and 5 MP front).

Performance and Battery

The ROG Ally is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, which is built on the 4nm process and features both the Zen 4 architecture and RDNA 3 graphics. The processor has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and an iGPU engine clock of 2.10 GHz. The graphics have 16 compute units and support DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan, and OpenGL. The device has 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512 GB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage.

The ROG Ally can run most modern PC games at high settings and Full HD resolution. It supports FidelityFX Super Resolution and Radeon Super Resolution, which are upscaling technologies that increase your framerates while keeping your image quality high. It also supports Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which gives you access to over 100 games on PC and cloud gaming. The device comes with three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free.

The ROG Ally has a Zero Gravity thermal system that keeps the device cool and quiet in any orientation. It has dual fans that draw air from the sides and exhaust it from the top and bottom vents. It also has copper heat pipes that transfer heat away from the processor and graphics. The device has three performance modes that balance power usage and fan speed: Silent Mode (10W), Performance Mode (15W), and Turbo Mode (25W or 30W when connected to AC power).

The ROG Ally has a 25,600 mAh battery that can last up to six hours of gaming or eight hours of video playback. It supports fast charging with the included 65W adapter, which can charge the device from zero to 50% in about an hour. The device also supports Power Delivery (PD) charging with compatible chargers.

Software and Features

The ROG Ally runs on Windows 11 Home Edition, which is the latest operating system from Microsoft. Windows 11 offers a new user interface, improved performance, enhanced security, better multitasking, and more features for gamers. Some of the features include Auto HDR, DirectStorage, Xbox app integration, Android app support, Snap Layouts, Widgets, Microsoft Teams chat, Microsoft Store redesign, and more.

The ROG Ally also comes with Armoury Crate SE, which is a special edition of the app designed for the device. Armoury Crate SE lets you access all your games and essential settings in one place. You can customize keymaps, tweak Aura Sync lighting, change performance modes, see real-time monitoring data, enable an FPS limiter, and more with one quick toggle.

The ROG Ally also supports connecting to a TV or monitor for big screen gaming. You can use the USB-C port or an optional dock to connect to an external display via HDMI or DisplayPort. You can also use a wireless adapter or a Miracast-enabled device to stream your games wirelessly. You can use the ROG Ally as a controller or a keyboard and mouse, or connect other peripherals via Bluetooth or USB.

Conclusion

The ROG Ally is an amazing handheld gaming device that offers a PC-like gaming experience on the go. It has a powerful processor, graphics, display, and battery, as well as a comfortable design and a fingerprint reader. It runs on Windows 11, which brings many new features and improvements for gamers. It also comes with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which gives you access to a huge library of games. The ROG Ally is a great device for gamers who want to play all their games anywhere they want.

The ROG Ally is available in various countries at different prices. Here are some of the prices for the device:

• USA: $699
• UK: £699
• Australia: AU$1,299
• India: Rs. 69,999
• Russia: RUB 59,990
• Germany: €799

You can buy it from the official ROG website or from authorized retailers. If you are looking for a portable gaming device that can run all your favorite PC games, you might want to take a look at the ROG Ally. It is a handheld gaming beast that will not disappoint you.

FAQs

Q: What are the dimensions and weight of the ROG Ally?

A: The ROG Ally measures 280 x 111 x 32.4 mm and weighs about 608 grams.

Q: What are the color options for the ROG Ally?

A: The ROG Ally is available in two color options: Black and White.

Q: What are the accessories included with the ROG Ally?

A: The ROG Ally comes with a 65W adapter, a USB-C cable, a protective case, and a cleaning cloth.

Q: What are the optional accessories for the ROG Ally?

A: The ROG Ally has some optional accessories that you can buy separately, such as a dock, a wireless adapter, a gamepad, a keyboard, a mouse, and a headset.

Q: How can I update the software and firmware of the ROG Ally?

A: You can update the software and firmware of the ROG Ally using the Windows Update and Armoury Crate SE apps. You can also check the official ROG website for the latest updates and downloads. 

Q: How can I connect the ROG Ally to the internet?

A: You can connect the ROG Ally to the internet using Wi-Fi 6 via AMD/Mediatek RZ616 Chipset.

Q: How can I transfer files to and from the ROG Ally?

A: You can transfer files to and from the ROG Ally using the USB-C port, the microSD card slot, or a cloud service. You can also use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct to share files with other devices.

Q: How can I backup and restore the data on the ROG Ally?

A: You can backup and restore the data on the ROG Ally using the Windows Backup and Restore feature. You can also use a third-party app or service to backup and restore your data.

Q: How can I reset the ROG Ally to factory settings?

A: You can reset the ROG Ally to factory settings using the Windows Recovery feature. You can also use the Armoury Crate SE app to reset the device. Make sure to backup your data before resetting the device.

Q: How can I contact the customer support for the ROG Ally?

A: You can contact the customer support for the ROG Ally using the MyASUS app, which provides online chat, phone call, email, and remote assistance options. You can also visit the official ROG website for more information and support.