New handheld gaming console gamers are ‘going nuts’ for
In a first for ASUS, this new gaming console is a major competitor in the gaming field, and it’s about to come to Australia.
Gaming
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REVIEW
ASUS just released the ROG Ally, a handheld PC gaming console, and PC gamers are going nuts for it. I was lucky enough to have an early hands-on experience with the console before its Australian launch date.
The next best portable PC gaming console?
The new portable gaming console is a first for ASUS and is also a major competitor to the ‘Steam Deck’ handheld gaming PC. The ROG Ally has Windows 11 as its operating software, along with ASUS’s Armoury Crate special edition software and essentially feels like a PC has been squeezed into a handheld form-factor.
At 608g, the device is fairly comfortable to hold, and more importantly has good weight distribution and decent button placement. Better yet, the sound quality has clearly been well thought out with two front-facing speakers that are unlikely to be covered by your hands.
Setup
From start-up, the ROG Ally looks and runs just like a new PC and I’d recommend pairing a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and possibly even a monitor for your initial setup as the screen feels a little small when you’re not gaming.
However, if you don’t have these peripherals around, which is possible if you’re buying it as an all-in-one portable gaming PC, the setup is still fairly straightforward especially because the device even has a high quality touchscreen, aside of its thumbsticks and buttons.
If you do want to game on a big screen though, it’s easy to connect the device via USB-C to HDMI so you can play on a monitor or even TV with up to 4K output. You can also pair a bluetooth controller, such as an Xbox controller so you can get either a PC or console gaming experience.
Gaming
When it comes to games, you’ve got access to classics like Xbox Game Pass and Steam so you can pull out games such as Overwatch, Fortnite, Halo Infinite and FIFA from your backpack. I got to test some of these games handheld, and then also paired with the ROG XG Mobile external GPU and the performance was absolutely awesome.
Additionally, you can keep your gaming console secure and private with a fingerprint sensor in the power button or plug in earphones into its headphone jack.
Reality
When I initially tried this console it was already set up for me and I was pretty impressed with its performance but unfortunately the at-home experience was a little different. When taking this device home for myself, as someone who just dabbles in and out of PC gaming, the setup was not as streamlined as I expected. I think this device would be pretty awesome for PC gamers and tech enthusiasts but if you put this in the hands of someone who has less experience with PC gaming, it feels a lot more cumbersome.
Additionally, the battery life only lasts two to three hours, which might be enough for gaming on public transport to and from work but not if you’re wanting to use this as a portable console full-time. You are able to use it plugged in but I’d love to see some improvements here.
Where to get one
If you’re interested in getting a console for yourself, the Australian release date of the ROG Ally is June 13. The ROG Ally will be available at JB HI-FI for $1299.
Elly Awesome is an Aussie tech and lifestyle vlogger | @ellyawesometech | YouTube
Originally published as New handheld gaming console gamers are ‘going nuts’ for
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