ASUS ROG Ally: An Honest Evaluation and Why You Should Look Elsewhere.

THE DISPLAY

The ASUS ROG Ally boasts a commendable display, featuring remarkable color accuracy and an impressive ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). This combination contributes to a visually satisfying gaming experience, but not without its own drawbacks.

The ROG Ally has a 16:9 aspect ratio, a narrower display compared to most of its 16:10 competitors. While the display quality itself is excellent, the size difference is noticeable, particularly when compared to devices like the base Steam Deck or AYANEO 2S, both of which also feature 7" displays. Despite having the same 7" screen size on paper, the ROG Ally's 16:9 ratio makes it technically smaller, especially in person, with a worse field of view and large, frankly ugly bezels that choose to display the "ROG" logo instead of offering valuable screen real estate.

But it doesn't end there. When compared to newer handhelds like the Steam Deck OLED, which has the best screen we've seen yet, or the Lenovo Legion Go, the ROG really misses out on what the competition is offering. Yes, it'll get the job done, but not better than its competitors will.

THE IO AND PROPRIETARY ECOSYSTEM

When it comes to connectivity, the ROG Ally lags behind most of its handheld gaming counterparts. Opting for USB 3.1, a standard from 2013, more than 11 years ago, is a clear and deliberate attempt by Asus to force users into their proprietary ecosystem, particularly with their XG Mobile eGPU port.

This singular USB 3.1 port limits the device's potential for high-speed data transfer, especially when compared to more advanced standards like USB4 or Thunderbolt. It also means you're unable to use any USB4, Thunderbolt, or desktop-grade, non-proprietary eGPUs in the future, unlike competitors using open standards.

The device sports just a single non-proprietary USB port, falling short of the industry standard, which typically features at least two or three ports for Windows-based handhelds. This limitation can be quite challenging when juggling multiple accessories, like the charger and a wired headset, simultaneously, making a dock almost essential.

The Ally does have a second port, though, which at the time of writing, Asus's XG Mobile eGPU port only supports overpriced, unreliable, and poorly performing eGPUs from Asus themselves. This decision locks users into Asus's ecosystem, while competitors embrace open standards like Thunderbolt and USB4, offering a range of accessories from different brands without any ecosystem locks.

Currently, JB Hi-Fi's website offers only one XG Mobile eGPU, the 4090, for an exorbitant cost of $3,999 AUD. This price is unjustifiable, especially considering it doesn't even provide a desktop-grade GPU like competing handhelds with open, non-proprietary ports like Thunderbolt can offer. Instead, users receive a mobile-grade 4090, which competes with 4070ti desktop-grade GPUs. It's another blatant insult to consumers.

Update: Asus has since abandoned the XG Mobile range within several months of the Ally's launch. This means that people who likely spent between $2,000 and $4,000 on eGPUs now have devices that cannot be used on any future Asus products. Yes, this includes the incrementally updated Ally X. This is typical Asus behavior, and it gets worse. Even on the Ally X, which added USB4, you still cannot use any eGPUs that are powered by AMD. This is due to Asus choosing to outfit the Ally and Ally X with the Z1/Z1 Extreme chipsets, which are sold at a reduced price to OEMs like Asus, with one of their conditions being that Asus takes control of the drivers. This means that your graphics drivers don't come from AMD and are instead managed by Asus. Unfortunately, due to this, AMD eGPUs suffer driver conflicts, which is discussed in RetroGameCorps video, and cannot be used. Again, this locks you into their dead ecosystem, highlighting Asus's laziness and disregard for their customers.

CONTROLS

While the ASUS ROG Ally's controls generally get the job done, there are some notable quirks that prevent them from being truly great.  The most striking of these is the unusual looseness of the thumbsticks.  They simply lack the reassuring resistance and tactile feedback I've come to expect from a quality controller.  This "flimsy" feel, as I'd describe it, creates a persistent sense of imprecision that can be distracting, particularly in games demanding fine motor control.

Adding to the challenge are the unfortunately persistent dead zones. These hinder accurate aiming and can be a source of frustration, especially in games demanding precision. Despite nearly a year of software updates, this issue remains unresolved, which is disappointing for a device of this caliber.  Furthermore, reports of premature wear and tear on the thumbsticks themselves raise concerns about their long-term durability.

While gyro aiming is reportedly on the horizon for a future update, its current absence feels like a missed opportunity.  Gyro functionality has become a staple in many modern handheld gaming devices, offering enhanced immersion and improved aiming precision, particularly for emulation.  Even when implemented, it remains to be seen whether the Ally's gyro support will match the seamless compatibility provided by competitors like the Steam Deck, with its robust Steam Input system ensuring consistent control mapping across a vast library of games.

Another curious omission is the lack of integrated trackpads and a keyboard. While these may not be essential for gaming, they undoubtedly enhance the overall user experience, allowing for quick adjustments and efficient navigation within Windows. This absence is particularly noticeable when compared to competing devices such as the GPD Win4, Steam Deck, Legion Go, and Ayaneo Kun, all of which have embraced these features as standard.  Their absence on the Ally (And Ally X) is felt when simply navigating Windows.