Now that the brand new and improved Asus ROG Ally X has arrived, we’re beginning to see some strong offers on its predecessor, the Asus ROG Ally. Now till August nineteenth, as an example, the Home windows-based gaming handheld is obtainable at Finest Purchase with a Z1 Excessive chip for an all-time low of $499.99 ($150 off). That’s nearly half the worth of its successor, which prices $799.99, rendering it different for those who’re on a tighter funds. The lower-end mannequin with the Z1 chip can also be on sale for $379.99 ($120), although, given the efficiency downgrades, we’d advocate sticking with the Excessive configuration.
At this value, the usual Asus ROG Ally provides good worth, even when it didn’t impress us as a lot as ROG Ally X in terms of consolation, efficiency, or battery life. It’s nonetheless extra highly effective than Valve’s Steam Deck, although, because of its Z1 Excessive chip and enhanced efficiency when the hand held is plugged in and engaged in “Turbo” mode. It additionally includes a quieter fan and a bigger 1080p show with a 120Hz variable refresh price, the latter of which is surprisingly clean for its dimension.
Sadly, its battery solely lasts a mediocre 4 hours at greatest, which is disappointing given it’s designed to be a conveyable gaming PC. It’s additionally held again the Home windows 11, which isn’t well-designed for small, handheld-like gadgets. That stated, Valve is engaged on including help for SteamOS on rival handhelds like Asus’ ROG Ally, so maybe we may see it working another working system down the road.
