The ASUS ROG Ally ain't cheap, but it's easier to find than a Steam Deck in Australia.
Where to buy the ASUS ROG Ally in Australia
2 min read
What is the ASUS ROG Ally?
The Steam Deck still hasn't come to Australia yet, but the ASUS ROG Ally is an option to consider if you're looking for something similar. With a larger (and nicer) screen than the standard Steam Deck plus a more recent AMD Ryzen processor and the freedom to install whatever you want on it, there's a lot to like about ASUS' on-the-go handheld gaming PC.
Under the hood, the ROG Ally is powered by a Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The latter can be upgraded but the former is what it is. When it comes to form factor, the ROG Ally doesn't mess with your expectations too much.
The front of the device is where you'll find a familiar arsenal of joysticks and buttons, plus a set of front-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos. Meanwhile, the upper-most edge of the ROG Ally houses a power button with a built-in fingerprint sensor, a set of volume keys, a MicroSD slot and an ROG XG Mobile port (with an integrated USB Type-C slot) that can be used for charging.
"This thing’s screen trumps any Steam Deck or Switch I’ve seen with my own two eyes, no question."
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How to buy the ASUS ROG Ally in Australia
Picking up a Steam Deck or Steam Deck OLED in Australia can be a bit of a dice roll depending on which importer you go with. Thankfully, getting your hands on the ASUS ROG Ally is significantly more straightforward.
You can find ASUS' handheld gaming PC through both traditional retailers like JB Hi-Fi and online shopping sites like Amazon. If you're ready to cut to the chase, check out the list below for a round-up of places you can find and buy the ROG Ally in Australia.
ASUS ROG Ally Australian prices and deals
Right now, the price of acquiring an ASUS ROG Ally in Australia starts at roughly $1299. However, you can save on that sum if you know where to look. See below for a list of ASUS ROG Ally deals currently available through Australian retailers.
Model | Details | Price | More info |
| 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB RAM | From $1099 | See it at Amazon | |
| 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB RAM | From $1179 | See it at Kogan | |
| 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB RAM | From $1099 | See it at Mwave | |
| 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB RAM | From $1099 | See it at ASUS Australia |
ROG Ally versus Steam Deck OLED
When it comes to the specs involved, the ASUS ROG Ally has what it takes to give Valve's Steam Deck a run for its money.
Check out the table below for a breakdown of how the display and processing specs on the ASUS ROG Ally compares to both the original Steam Deck and its OLED-enhanced upgrade.
Frequently asked questions about the ROG Ally
If you're having issues with the ASUS ROG Ally and think that resetting the device to its factory settings is the answer, doing so takes a few steps. You'll also have to have the device plugged into a power source with a charger first though.
- Turn the device off.
- Hold the volume button down
- Press the power button
- Once the device has booted into BIOS, click the Y button.
- Open the BIOS tab marked Advanced
- Select the ASUS Cloud Restore option
Whether or not the ROG Ally is worth it depends mostly on what you're looking to use it for and a little bit on how much you're paying for it.
If you're after a portable emulation machine, it's a solid pick with performance that sets it apart from its rivals. On the other hand, those coming to the handheld with the expectation that it'll offer an experience as simple and seamless as the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck out of the box may find it likely to disappoint. The ROG Ally might look like the aforementioned, but it's a Windows 11 PC for better or worse.
Connecting the ROG Ally to a TV isn't a super complicated process, but you will need a USB-C to HDMI cable to do it.
Alternatively, you can use the ROG Gaming Charger Dock. Sold separately, this accessory allows you to wire up a standard HDMI cable straight to your TV.
The ROG Ally runs on Windows 11 and should be able to play anything that runs on PC. However, your mileage is going to vary depending on the technical requirements of any given game.
The ROG Ally may be able to run Cyberpunk 2077, but you might have to tinker with those graphics sliders a fair bit to get it running smoothly enough to play on a regular basis.
Given the speed with which ASUS pumps out new laptops, it's likely that an ROG Ally 2 isn't too far off. It's less a matter of if and more a matter of when.
Speaking to Techlusive earlier this year, ASUS India Vice President Arnold Su revealed that the company will "most likely will launch a second-generation [handheld gaming console] this year."
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