ASUS has today formally revealed all about their handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally and it's releasing in June with a pretty competitive price. It runs Windows 11, so for the GamingOnLinux followers, it may not exactly be what you're after. However, with handheld PC gaming rising, especially with the Linux powered Steam Deck, it's good to keep an eye on the competition right?
Today they revealed the pricing after many leaks:
- AMD Ryzen Z1 model: $599 - launching in Q3.
- AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme model: $699 - launching June 13th.
Picture source - ASUS YouTube
Goes without saying really but I will anyway: I will be sticking to the Steam Deck and desktop Linux. Just because something new comes along, doesn't mean I'm going to instantly jump towards it. Not everyone has money to burn every time something a bit more powerful comes along.
IGN already have a review of it up and it sounds overall like a good device, with battery life also not long when playing bigger games like the Steam Deck. They do make a point that the initial experience with Windows 11 and ASUS Armoury Crate being a nuisance.
It will definitely be interesting to watch how this will affect the Steam Deck though. Competition is absolutely good! It benefits everyone and it pushes all sides to do better. Plus, the more companies that show there's a demand for handheld gaming like this, the better the future will be for it, including a potential Steam Deck 2.
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Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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mr-victory May 11, 2023
$599, now THAT IS actual competition after many attempts from other vendors.
5 Likes, Who?
herrorange May 11, 2023
I really like the hardware here and the resulting experience (based on video reviews we already had from LTT and D2D), but I really don't want a Windows device, if SteamOS will work fine on this device, then it's worth looking into.
3 Likes, Who?
As always, what makes or breaks these devices is software support, and ASUS recent troubles with their Ryzen motherboards do not instill any confidence in their ability to handle that.
8 Likes, Who?
So don't get me wrong - I have a 2021 'AMD Advantage' Asus ROG Strix gaming laptop that is my daily driver and spends 90% of its time in Linux, and while it has its quirks and drawbacks it's on the whole pretty good hardware wise. But I feel like this is kind of missing the point. New SoC is great performance wise, but as that review states: no touchpads (actually something I really like on my Steam Deck!) and the dodgy Windows experience vs. the work Valve's put in on SteamOS.
...and then the battery life kicker at the end. Yeah, you can get 8hrs out of it, 'just like the Steam Deck', if you drop to 720p and drop all your settings to Low so the thing isn't running full bore. Otherwise an hour and a half is a little quick for a handheld.
It'd be nice to have the option of brief, high power sessions and then a battery life preset, I guess, so at least they're trying something a little different, but if you already have a gaming desktop or laptop and are supplementing with a handheld, I feel like you probably want that battery life.
...and then the battery life kicker at the end. Yeah, you can get 8hrs out of it, 'just like the Steam Deck', if you drop to 720p and drop all your settings to Low so the thing isn't running full bore. Otherwise an hour and a half is a little quick for a handheld.
It'd be nice to have the option of brief, high power sessions and then a battery life preset, I guess, so at least they're trying something a little different, but if you already have a gaming desktop or laptop and are supplementing with a handheld, I feel like you probably want that battery life.
5 Likes, Who?
To think this device could have been $50 cheaper without the Windows licence...
10 Likes, Who?
buckysrevenge May 11, 2023
I'm sure Valve is fine with the competition, too, since they'll make their cut from game sales no matter what device you buy/play your games on 
4 Likes, Who?
To think this device could have been $50 cheaper without the Windows licence...Might as well be a strategic partnership...
5 Likes, Who?
The biggest negative is that the Ally lacks the Steam Deck’s (and the Switch’s) ability to suspend and resume a game at the touch of a button. This means that any time you want to stop playing for longer than a simple pause, you’ll need to save and quit out of your game entirely, and load up again fresh the next time you want to play. This is, of course, the standard way things go on desktop PCsDamn, I'll keep my Deck for this alone :/
7 Likes, Who?
ElamanOpiskelija May 11, 2023
1-2h battery...
I hate to bring this up, but my also-ASUS laptop with Fedora can play most games at 15W TDP, and that lasts me definitely longer than 2 hours.
I hate to bring this up, but my also-ASUS laptop with Fedora can play most games at 15W TDP, and that lasts me definitely longer than 2 hours.
6 Likes, Who?
They do make a point that the initial experience with Windows 11 and ASUS Armoury Crate being a nuisance.
The biggest negative is that the Ally lacks the Steam Deck’s (and the Switch’s) ability to suspend and resume a game at the touch of a button. This means that any time you want to stop playing for longer than a simple pause, you’ll need to save and quit out of your game entirely, and load up again fresh the next time you want to play. This is, of course, the standard way things go on desktop PCsDamn, I'll keep my Deck for this alone :/
As usual... Linux is just more user friendly! :D
10 Likes, Who?
Touchpads are a must with these devices because they play PC games and are not setup like a console device with controller first support.
7 Likes, Who?
Touchpads are a must with these devices because they play PC games and are not setup like a console device with controller first support.
For me, playing mostly point and click, something to actually point and click feels vital. For others, this may not so much be the case.
3 Likes, Who?
It really depends on what games you play. Just took a sneak peak on IGN review comments and naturally, someone claimed the ROG would play more games because windows. I actually don't think so. Anything not designed around controller input will be extremely uncomfortable or plain unusable and that's a huge chunk. Does it even have gyro?Touchpads are a must with these devices because they play PC games and are not setup like a console device with controller first support.
For me, playing mostly point and click, something to actually point and click feels vital. For others, this may not so much be the case.
Well, whatever. Hardware wise, this absolutely has it's strengths and for some people it might actually be the better choice. Not for me.
6 Likes, Who?
wait, there is a "," instead of a "." or "!" after the word free? LOL
1 Likes, Who?
" Competition is absolutely good! "
so long as there is competition.
windows marketshare make it pretty much impossible to compete.
so long as there is competition.
windows marketshare make it pretty much impossible to compete.
3 Likes, Who?
It really depends on what games you play. Just took a sneak peak on IGN review comments and naturally, someone claimed the ROG would play more games because windows. I actually don't think so. Anything not designed around controller input will be extremely uncomfortable or plain unusable and that's a huge chunk. Does it even have gyro?Touchpads are a must with these devices because they play PC games and are not setup like a console device with controller first support.
For me, playing mostly point and click, something to actually point and click feels vital. For others, this may not so much be the case.
Well, whatever. Hardware wise, this absolutely has it's strengths and for some people it might actually be the better choice. Not for me.
its time for valve o promote some touchpad friendly games
XD
4 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir May 11, 2023
Available at BestBuy... Physical presence or only online? This could hurt the Steam Deck.
Imo, GPD, OneXPlayer and AyaNeo are in danger.
I guess we'll see...
Imo, GPD, OneXPlayer and AyaNeo are in danger.
I guess we'll see...
1 Likes, Who?
Is this sort of a counterstrike(*) by Microsoft as well? ASUS cannot hand out game passes without an agreement with Microsoft, and MS could be interested in fighting that the PC handheld market is Linux dominated at the moment...
(*) Is it a global offensive already? :-D
Last edited by Eike on 11 May 2023 at 4:58 pm UTC
(*) Is it a global offensive already? :-D
Last edited by Eike on 11 May 2023 at 4:58 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
It's going to hurt the Steam Deck for sure. Moreover, I'd expect Steam Decks to start shipping with Windows configurations soon.
Also, it's no coincidence that Microsoft is buying up all the big game publishers. It also wouldn't surprise me if Asus was getting near free OS licensing from Microsoft as a carrot.
Also, it's no coincidence that Microsoft is buying up all the big game publishers. It also wouldn't surprise me if Asus was getting near free OS licensing from Microsoft as a carrot.
2 Likes, Who?
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