ROG Ally Gains Momentum: Asus Boosts Performance to Match AYA NEO 2S

Asus has unlocked new levels of performance for its gaming handheld, the ROG Ally, which competes directly with the Steam Deck. Previously, the ROG Ally, powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, did not fully realize its potential due to early software limitations. However, a recent firmware update has significantly improved its performance by over 20%, bringing it on par with the AYA NEO 2S, another handheld device based on Zen 4 and RDNA 3 architecture.

In a recent demonstration by Dave Lee, a prominent figure in the tech industry, the performance enhancements made by Asus to the ROG Ally were showcased. This handheld console has been highly anticipated, drawing comparisons to the popular Steam Deck. Dave Lee, along with Linus Sebastian, was among the first to preview the ROG Ally, and subsequent reviews of early firmware versions were posted on various websites.

According to Lee, the ROG Ally initially fell behind other gaming consoles powered by the Ryzen 7040U, such as the AYA NEO 2S. Recently, AYA NEO introduced the 2S model on Indiegogo, featuring the Ryzen 7 7840U and the GEEK 1S. In comparison, the ROG Ally struggled to deliver satisfactory performance in triple-A 720p gaming at different power levels, as reported by Dave Lee.

While the Asus handheld outperformed the Steam Deck in most games, the gap between the two devices was not as significant as initially thought. However, Asus has managed to extract an additional 20% performance from the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor through its latest firmware update. This update is expected to be available by mid-June when retail units start shipping.

Although the YouTuber does not anticipate further performance improvements at lower power levels, it’s important to note that AMD did not design the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor to operate at power levels as low as those of the Steam Deck’s Van Gogh APU. Therefore, for playing older or simpler games, the Steam Deck remains the preferred choice, as it offers a better balance between performance and battery life.

Asus ROG Ally price and availability

For those interested, the Asus ROG Ally, featuring a 7-inch display, an AMD Z1 Extreme Processor, and 512GB of storage, is currently listed on Amazon.com and Newegg.com for $999, available in white.

Last year, Logitech also entered the highly competitive handheld gaming console market with its offering, the G Cloud. The Logitech gaming device boasts several advantages, including an impressive battery life of twelve hours, a Snapdragon chip optimized for gaming, and a new user interface. The Logitech G Cloud is priced at $299.99.