The Taiwanese electronics maker Asus unveiled the ROG Ally, a handheld mini PC that delivers stronger performance than Valve’s main rival, Steam Deck, according to Digital Trends and several other outlets.
The device combines a compact chassis with twin thumb sticks, a directional pad, four face buttons, plus dual triggers and bumper controls. Its 7-inch IPS display offers full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080 and a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals. Under the hood, buyers can choose between an eight-core AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, built on RDNA 3 technology, paired with 16 GB of RAM. Storage options are 256 GB or 512 GB, with an additional MicroSD slot for expandable memory. The unit is powered by a 40 Wh battery to keep gameplay mobile without plugging in.
According to Digital Trends and other reviews, the Asus ROG Ally outperforms Steam Deck in raw performance thanks to its Ryzen Z1 Extreme configuration. In Turbo mode, popular titles run at impressive frame rates: Cyberpunk 2077 around 65 FPS, Elden Ring about 33 FPS, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider near 77 FPS on the Ally, while the Steam Deck reportedly achieves roughly 39 FPS, 25 FPS, and 57 FPS respectively for the same games. These comparisons help explain why early hands-on impressions label the Ally as a notably more capable portable gaming rig in current benchmarking. (Source: Digital Trends; corroborating reviews from tech outlets in North America)
Early reviews also call out a couple of drawbacks. The battery life is clearly the limiting factor, with real-world playtime typically ranging from two to four hours on a single charge, depending on game and settings. Another point of critique centers on the Windows 11 interface, where navigating with a joystick can feel less intuitive to some users who expect a touchpad or mouse-like precision for cursor control. For players in the United States and Canada, this matters when selecting games, streaming services, or navigating the operating system mid-session. (Source: cross-media reviews)
The ROG Ally is scheduled to launch on June 16, with price points set between $600 and $700 based on configuration. This pricing places it squarely in the North American gaming handheld market, competing for buyers who want a portable Windows-based machine capable of running contemporary PC titles with strong frames and fast refresh rates. (Official launch details and regional availability noted by multiple tech outlets)