Asus ROG Ally Handheld Drops to $500 with Ryzen Z1 Extreme
▼ Summary
– The ROG Xbox Ally handheld device is currently available at a $100 discount, reducing its price from $599 to $499 at major retailers.
– It features a design with Xbox-style grips and updated internals, including an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD.
– The device has a 7-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness, and support for VRR and FreeSync Premium.
– It runs Windows 11 but can boot directly into an optimized Xbox Full Screen Experience, providing access to Game Pass and multiple game libraries.
– While not the most powerful handheld, it is positioned as a capable option for casual and mid-tier gaming, especially at the discounted price.
Gamers looking for a powerful yet affordable handheld PC now have a compelling reason to celebrate. The Asus ROG Ally, specifically the model featuring the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, has received a significant price reduction, dropping to $500 at major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon. This represents a $100 discount from its original launch price, making it one of the most accessible premium handheld gaming devices available today.
This device, developed through a collaboration between Asus and Microsoft, builds upon the foundation of the original ROG Ally with a refreshed design and updated internals. The most noticeable external change is the inclusion of large, contoured grips inspired by the Xbox controller, which aim to improve comfort during extended play sessions. Under the hood, it utilizes AMD’s specialized Ryzen Z2 series chips, engineered specifically for the thermal and power constraints of handheld consoles.
The version now on sale is powered by the Ryzen Z2 A processor, serving as the entry point to AMD’s lineup. This chip features a four-core, eight-thread CPU based on the Zen 2 architecture, paired with an RDNA 2 GPU sporting eight cores. It can boost up to 3.8 GHz and operates within a configurable TDP range from 6W to 20W, allowing users to balance performance and battery life. The system is equipped with 16GB of fast LPDDR5X-6400 memory and a 512GB M.2 2280 SSD for storage. Powering the experience is a substantial 60Wh battery.
For visuals, the handheld sports a 7-inch IPS LCD display with a 1080p resolution and a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The screen achieves 500 nits of brightness and supports both VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and AMD FreeSync Premium technology. While it is not an OLED panel, the display performance in testing has been found to be excellent and on par with the original Ally, offering vibrant colors and responsive gameplay.
A key software advantage is its seamless integration with the Xbox ecosystem. Although it runs Windows 11, the device can boot directly into the Xbox Full Screen Experience, a streamlined interface far better suited for handheld use than the standard Windows desktop. This interface resembles the Xbox app, providing quick access to recently played titles, Xbox Game Pass, and your entire game library from platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect.
With this price cut, the ROG Ally becomes a far more attractive proposition. It may not claim the absolute performance crown, but it delivers exceptionally smooth performance for casual and mid-tier gaming across a vast library of PC titles. For anyone who has been considering diving into handheld PC gaming but was waiting for a better value, this deal presents a very sensible entry point.
(Source: Tom’s Hardware)
