The wonderful world of handheld gaming is more popular than ever right now. Whether you're enjoying the nostalgic brilliance of the Nintendo Switch, or packing your hardcore gamer setup into a portable package with the Steam Deck, there really is something for everyone.
Now, there's a new competitor in the market – and it looks set to blow everything else out of the water. The Asus ROG Ally has seen multiple leaks and rumours in the past few weeks, and now we have a whole host of official specs to sink our teeth into.
Lets start with the processor. That's a purpose-built AMD Ryzen Z1 processor, with RDNA 3 graphics. That should make for a system which is fully capable of running AAA titles and intensive indies without breaking a sweat.
To help that further, a custom designed cooling system is in place to maximise performance. The ROG Ally features a Zero Gravity thermal system, where high-friction heat pipes ensure that cooling is always effective, regardless of what angle the ROG Ally is held at.
That's combined with ultra-thin heatsink fins, which provide a greater overall surface area and dual fan system which keeps everything cool. Asus say the fans are super quiet too, meaning it won't affect your gaming experience.
Of course, for top-tier gaming, you're going to want a top-quality display. The ROG Ally delivers in that department too, featuring a 1080p panel with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth motion. There's also 500 nits of max brightness, which should make it usable in most scenarios.
The device will run Windows 11 as standard, and a special edition of the Armoury Crate software – found on gaming phones like the Asus ROG Phone 7 – will bring all of your games on different launchers into one, convenient place. At launch, users will even get a 90-day free trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, bringing hundreds of titles to the device.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
The ROG Ally also weighs a respectable 608 grams, making it easy to hold for longer sessions. That undercuts the Steam Deck by about 10%, for reference. More details will emerge at the official launch event for the ROG Ally, which is set to take place on the 11th of May.
Online news writer at T3.com, Sam has five years of experience in online and print journalism, with work featured in publications like Metro and Last Word on Sports. After years writing about music and football, Sam now turns his hand to bringing you news about new phones, smart home products, smart watches, laptops and TVs. Sam is a longtime fan and user of Apple products, including iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches.He’s also T3’s resident football expert, bringing you everything you need to know about the big games, including how to watch them. In his spare time, Sam is a keen guitarist, watch lover and (very) amateur golfer.
-
Asus ranges a 14-inch high-performance gaming laptop that could replace your MacBook Pro
Smaller sized but super powerful
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Asus ROG Ally X official, will bring some significant upgrades to handheld gaming
Not quite an Asus ROG Ally 2 yet, but more than a basic refresh
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Asus ROG Ally 2 reportedly coming next month – at least one major fix is planned
Asus' next-gen handheld PC tipped to launch during Computex
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM review: a gorgeous gaming experience
Another stand-out monitor from Asus
By David Nield Last updated
-
ASUS ROG Ally gets a great free performance upgrade that will boost your games
The PC gaming handheld is getting even better
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Asus shakes up its ROG gaming laptops for 2024
A new take on old favourites
By Andy Sansom Published
-
The new ASUS ZenBook is here to usher in a new generation of laptops
There's something special under the hood
By Andy Sansom Published
-
Asus ROG Phone 8 launch date confirmed – could be more than just a powerhouse for gamers
A trio of cameras and plenty of power
By John McCann Published