ROG Ally Windows Gaming Handheld details and launch event

Republic of Gamers (ROG for short) revealed technical details of the ROG Ally yesterday and became it launch event announced. The eye-catching ROG Ally should let players play their favorite games in top quality whenever and wherever they want. The Windows 11 handheld features an AMD Ryzen Z1 processor that should ensure that the ROG Ally can run both AAA games and Indie games with ease. The 120Hz Full HD screen has a brightness of 500 nits, so gamers indoors and outdoors can always clearly see what’s happening on the screen. With a weight of only 608 grams, the Ally is easy to take anywhere and thanks to the ergonomic handles, a long playing session is no problem at all.

Specifications in brief:

• Powerful AMD performance: handheld gaming and PC gaming in one device, thanks to custom APU design
• Windows 11: Play games from any game library or streaming service supported by Windows
• Light (hand-held): ROG Ally weighs only 608 grams and fits comfortably in your hand for long-lasting gaming in comfort
• Free Game Pass Ultimate: When purchasing a ROG Ally, players receive 90 days of free Game Pass Ultimate

AMD mainstay of Ally’s performance
ROG Ally uses a new APU developed specifically for this device: an AMD Ryzen Z1-series processor with RDNA 3 graphics. Thanks to this processor, players should be able to play demanding AAA games, lighter indie titles and everything in between with ease, according to ROG. This is made possible in part by the ROGs Zero Gravity. This thermal system uses, among other things, two fans with extremely thin fins, so that the Ally never gets too hot.

Screen
The ROG Ally’s display is a 120Hz full HD (1080p) panel with support for Adaptive Sync. Thanks to Adaptive Sync, images always remain sharp, even during fast-paced games, without tearing or stuttering images due to FPS drops. The screen also has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, so that players – for example in the garden or on the balcony – can continue with their favorite games. At the same time, the display is a touchscreen, so players can adjust their settings or install a new game from the Windows desktop in no time.

Everything in one place thanks to Windows 11
The ROG Ally runs on Windows 11, which means that all game libraries and streaming services supported by it are accessible. This way, players have access to an endless amount of (new) games in one place. Navigating Windows 11 can be done in two ways on the ROG Ally: using the touchscreen or using the joysticks. To get off to a flying start immediately after purchase, ROG bundles no less than 90 days of Game Pass Ultimate for free. So players can get started with hundreds of AAA and indie titles right away.

Armory Crate, adapted for the ROG Ally
The launch of the ROG Ally is also accompanied by a special edition of Armory Crate: software that players can use to fully customize (game) settings. This software has been adapted to the functionalities of the ROG Ally and now has a toggle to enable performance modes, a game launcher, in-game monitoring software, Aura Syncsupport and more.

Ergonomic design, weight of only 608 grams
Weight and ergonomics are very important in handheld design. The development of the ROG Ally took just as long until the engineering team was satisfied with both the shape and the weight of the ROG Ally. The result is a machine with a lot of power, weighs only 608 grams and is comfortable to hold. This is partly due to Ally’s ergonomic handles. These are designed on the rear with a triangular texture to give the player control from multiple positions. Finally, to keep the palms from slipping off the handheld, lines have been added to the design – all in ROG style.

Prices announced at ROG Ally launch event
The official (virtual) ROG Ally launch event will take place on May 11, 2023. Full specifications and recommended prices will be announced here. The keynote kicks off at 4:00 PM CET and will be followed by a panel discussion with Shawn Yen, Product Management Director of Gaming Business Unit at ASUS, Roanne Sones, CVP of Microsoft Gaming Devices Ecosystem and Frank Azor, Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions and Gaming Marketing from AMD. They talk about the design story of ROG Ally and the impact ROG Ally will have on the gaming landscape.