Note: Although this Pre-Order is at MSRP, we are promoting it on the Frontpage due to positive feedback from the community.
Best Buy has for
Pre-Order: 512GB ASUS ROG Ally 7" AMD Z1 Extreme 120Hz FHD 1080p Gaming Handheld (White, RC71L-ALLY.Z1X_512) for
$699.99.
Shipping is free.
Thanks to Community Members
pupster &
Chunkylemonmilk for sharing this deal.
Note: This product is scheduled to be released on 6/13/2023. Best Buy credit cardholders may be eligible for additional savings when you apply promo code
APR24EMOB25 or
MAY24EMOB25 at checkout.
Key Features/Specs:
- Access any game that runs on Windows across all game platforms, including Steam, GOG, Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming services, Android apps and more.
- Play anywhere, anytime, using handheld mode or by connecting the Ally to a TV and linking multiple controllers to play with friends. The Ally even transforms into a gaming PC by connecting to ROG XG mobile eGPU and dock - supporting mouse, keyboard, monitor, and more of your favorite peripherals.
- AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor on Zen4 architecture (8-cores, 16 threads)
- 7" 1080p 120Hz IPS Touchscreen with AMD FreeSync premium technology
- 16GB LPDDR5 6400 RAM
- 512GB NVMe PCIe 4 M.2 Solid State Drive
- ROG intelligent cooling
- AMD Radeon RDNA3 graphics (4GB VRAM, 12 compute units)
- Wi-fi + Bluetooth
- Virtual 5.1.2-channel surround sound powered by Dolby Atmos
- 3-Months Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included
- Weight: 1.34-lbs
- 1-Year Warranty
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Top Comments
735 Comments
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I like the idea of having a more powerful handheld, but not sure if the huge hit to battery life is worth it. The Ally is less efficient by all accounts, so just touting turbo mode speeds isn't the full story here. If you're planning to play mostly in docked mode, then sure its great if you don't already have a gaming PC/laptop. But if I can't optimize battery life by doing things like forcing 40hz or running a leaner OS like SeamOS, not sure if Asus really understands what makes the Steam Deck special.
SD = $400, easily upgradeable/repairable, tons of custom settings and 1st class software support
Ally = $700, better screen*, 120hz (that id never use), amazing fans, impressive docked perf
As others have mentioned, $700 is a good chunk of change that can get you a rtx 4070 with enough $ leftover to buy D4 ultimate edition. Its really a case by case of what hardware you already have and how you plan to use the Ally (docked vs handheld). Handheld Steam Deck seems like the winner due to efficiency, while Ally trounces SD docked (albeit for much more $).
A flash in the pan with awful battery life. I'll stick with Steam Deck, which has far better first-party and third-party better support.
Cancelling my pre-order and waiting on future handheld. Steamdeck will tide me over.
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The Asus, as the review points out, excels in a lot of ways and the SD excels in others. Really the only thing I was hoping for from the ASUS was better performance, but it doesn't appear to really offer THAT much advantage, not for the price difference. I suspect the actual horsepower is far higher, but it works out to be closer to even since its driving a higher res display. I am referring only to battery mode. The SD is the same performance battery or plugged in, which is nice. The Ally offers more power when plugged in which is fine, but doesn't matter to me since I don't want a tether.
I haven't had any complaints with the resolution on the SD. It isn't incredible, but it's a portable system and you won't be playing on "ultra" quality for most big games on either system. What I wanted from the Ally was smoother/more consistent FPS but it seems in battery mode it won't be much different than the SD on battery.
I don't play the SD plugged in so likely wouldn't with the Ally, kind of defeats my purpose for the systems. So the Ally having a big performance jump when plugged in isn't a selling point. As the reviewer says, if you have an SD this maybe isn't much reason to upgrade. Especially since the Windows 11 experience is far worse than the Steam OS one, even if it does open up being able to play more games that are currently difficult with the SD (Like Destiny 2 because of anti-cheat).
To each their own, it's an excellent sounding system. I may revisit if they eventually do Steam OS on the Ally. I suspect there is a lot more performance to squeeze out without Windows hanging around in the background..
Cancelling my pre-order and waiting on future handheld. Steamdeck will tide me over.
Really do like this but with my gaming computer, my xbox, and my cellphone dont really need another form of gaming.
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