When is ROG Ally coming out and at what price?
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For the moment, Asus has not communicated no ROG Ally release date. Its price has not yet been announced either.
The portable console from Asus will compete with the Nintendo Switch OLED, the Steam Deck or the Logitech G Cloud, three latest generation portable consoles very different from each other.
The Switch is more aimed at the family and relies on Nintendo’s strong licenses as well as its hybrid format. The G Cloud, on the other hand, is based on a cloud experience. As for the Steam Deck, it is aimed at hardcore gamers.
What design for the ROG Ally?
All dressed in white, the ROG Ally has the same look as other portable consoles. In the center, a screen, surrounded by various buttons on either side. On the left a joystick and directional arrows and on the right another (asymmetric) joystick and action buttons.
On the top, Asus has positioned four triggers (two on each side). At the back, two paddles will delight FPS fans.
Asus says it worked for months and imagined dozens of form factors different before obtaining the final result. The reason ? He wanted the design of its console allows the best possible grip.
The result is convincing even if the 608 g of this pretty baby will end up weighing on the forearms for long gaming sessions.
Decidedly quick to seat players in an armchair, Asus has worked on the details. Thus, the “Zero gravity” ventilation system (with two fans) allows the air to be diffused with the same efficiency regardless of the position of the console. This ensures permanent comfort for the player while maintaining a high level of performance.
Finally, let us emphasize the quality of the design of the ROG Ally. The grip at the level of the palms of the hand and the detail given to the different keys ensure comfort never before seen on a portable console.
What screen does the ROG Ally have?
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To get the most out of the gaming experience, Asus has opted for a 7” Full HD Touch Screen with 120Hz refresh rate.
The manufacturer announces FreeSync compatibility, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, a response rate of 7 ms as well as 100% coverage of the sRGB color range. Add to that a brightness of 500 nites and Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
This beautiful screen comes with two loudspeakers positioned on the front. Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res compatible, they promise an immersive audio experience.
What technical characteristics for the ROG Ally?
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Under its beautiful case, the ROG Ally hides a very muscular technical sheet. In the program, an AMD Ryzen Z1 chip associated with a 512 GB SSD ( PCIE 4.0) extensible via microSD et 16 Go de RAM LPDDR5.
These state-of-the-art components promise very high level performance. ROG Ally can run the latest AAA games with ease and cool, thanks to its in-house cooling system.
Combined with an XG Mobile graphics card, the console can even turn into a gaming PC. Accessories (we will come back to this) make it possible to transform the console into a PC or home console.
What is the battery life of ROG Ally?
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If Asus is generous with technical information, it remains discreet about the battery capacity of its console.
What about autonomy? The brand hopes to be able to provide at least as much as the Steam Deck but with a higher level of performance. She explains that on this kind of device, autonomy depends on too many factors (game type, settings etc.) to give a precise indication.
She also ensures that the supplied 65 W charger with the console allows you to recover energy ” quickly “. Again, no further details.
What is the ROG Ally software?
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ROG Ally spins under Windows 11 with the Armory Crate SE overlay. The latter allows Asus to camouflage the Microsoft OS in favor of an interface focused on the gaming experience.
Armory Crate SE (for Special Edition) has been the subject of special care to keep the player in his gaming experience. It is thus very rare to be confronted with the Windows interface assures the manufacturer.
Armory Crate SE therefore presents all the games in your possession but also allows access to game stores such as Xbox Game Pass, Steam or EA Play directly in the interface.
This overlay also allows access game settings to optimize the experience as well as possible: display, sound, personalization of keys, performance management, everything is there.
What games can you play on ROG Ally?
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Pretty much everything except some console exclusives. Since the ROG Ally is based on Windows 11, you can install all the PC games available on the different game stores.
The console thus supports the entire Steam catalog, Epic Games, EA Play, Ubisoft Connect, Battle.net but also the Xbox Game Pass. Besides, Asus offers three months of Game Pass subscription with any ROG Ally purchase.
This openness to all catalogs is a real competitive advantage for ROG Ally. Especially since its technical characteristics will allow it to run most games, including those accessible online (Fortnite, League of Legends, Warzone etc.).
What accessories does ROG Ally have?
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Like the Nintendo Switch, the ROG Ally can, thanks to a series of accessories, transform into a home console or gaming PC.
Several accessories will be available at launch:
- the ROG Raikiri Pro allows the console to be posed for multiplayer
- the ROG Gaming Charge Dock allows you to charge the console while connecting it to a screen (HDMI 2.0). It then becomes a home console or, by combining a keyboard and mouse, a gaming PC.
- the ROG XG Mobile is a station integrating an external graphics card (up to GeForce RTX 4090) and therefore makes the ROG Ally an ultra-powerful gaming PC.
Finally, Asus offers a carrying case and a pair of ROG Cetra True Wireless headphones for a more comfortable experience on the go.
