The ASUS ROG Ally handheld console has launched a new version with a Ryzen Z1 chip, offering consumers another choice in handheld gaming devices. This release comes shortly after Steam Deck announced a price reduction. The ROG Ally is priced at $599, making it an interesting alternative. In this article, we delve into the detailed specifications, features, and pricing of this new product offering from ASUS.
Specifications: An Overview
The new ROG Ally handheld model goes by the identifier RC71L-Z1512 and comes equipped with a Ryzen Z1 processor. The processor features a 6-core Zen4/Zen4c APU and 4 RDNA3 compute units. When it comes to storage, this model offers 512GB, although there is no information available yet regarding 256GB or 1TB models.
Comparison with Previous Model
It's essential to note that the new model is less powerful than the Ryzen Z1 Extreme version. Specifically, the GPU performance of the new model is significantly lower compared to the 8-core Zen4 and 12 CU RDNA3 in the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Nevertheless, it is $100 cheaper, retailing at $599 in the United States.
Display and Memory Features
The device features a 7-inch 120Hz display with a 1080p resolution. Furthermore, it supports AMD FreeSync Premium and FSR (FidelityFX) and RSR (Radeon) super-resolution technology. The console comes with 16GB LPDDR5-6400 memory, a feature that users cannot upgrade manually.
Expandability with XG Mobile External Graphics Card
Similar to its Ryzen Z1 Extreme counterpart, the Z1 version also offers support for the XG Mobile external graphics card expansion. The connection to this external graphics card is enabled through a dedicated interface provided by ASUS. It's worth noting, however, that the price of the external graphics card surpasses that of the console itself.