Gadgetren – In addition to the standard version, the ASUS ROG Ally also comes with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor that offers more powerful performance, even though it is priced higher.
This device can definitely be a better choice if we need a portable device that can play games anywhere and anytime. Although maybe it’s not really as perfect as we imagine.
As a high-performance gaming laptop, the ASUS ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme Edition still has some shortcomings that should be noted before we recommend it. That way you won’t regret it later.
Advantages of ASUS ROG Ally (AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme)
1. Iconic portable gaming machine
But before we discuss the shortcomings, let us first know the advantages of the device. One of them lies in the performance aspect which is a major support for ROG Ally to play games.
The capabilities of the ROG Ally version of the Ryzen Z1 Extreme can be said to be superior to the standard. The processor still uses the AMD Ryzen Zen 4 architecture combined with the AMD RDNA 3 GPU, but the number of cores and threads is different.
For the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, AMD specifically uses 8 cores with 16 threads. The combination carried by the processor with a 6nm manufacturing processor is capable of presenting a fairly high computing capacity that reaches 8.6 teraflops.
Not to mention, AMD didn’t forget to incorporate a number of its superior technologies into this processor. The Ryzen Z1 Extreme, for example, is equipped with AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Radeon Super Resolution so that the device’s frame rates remain high while maintaining image quality.
Just like the regular version, the ROG Ally, which carries the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, is also equipped with a very good memory configuration. This device already uses LPDDR5 RAM with a capacity of 16 GB and an internal SSD M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 storage medium of 512 GB.
2. You don’t need to worry that the performance will decrease
To compensate for its high performance, ASUS itself has integrated a cooling system called ROG Intelligent Cooling. It is also claimed that the device can handle temperature rises well, even though the usage position changes.
In the ROG Intelligent Cooling system, ASUS has integrated a number of technologies. It includes air conditioning and anti-gravity cooling pipes, dual fans with minimal friction shafts and ROG Dust Filters.
With some of these technologies, ROG Ally with Ryzen Z1 Extreme can work stably even though it is used for a long time. The device is also expected to continue to perform optimally for years to come.
3. Forgiving screen
ASUS has also incorporated a screen that can spoil the eyes of users in this gaming laptop. The problem is that ASUS has used a 7-inch IPS level panel with an image resolution that can produce up to Full HD +.
Additionally, the board used by the ROG Ally with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme also supports refresh rates up to 120Hz. This device is technically capable of producing game animation movements that look smoother.
It’s no big deal to use it outdoors like any other portable gaming device for the ROG Ally. The IPS level panel built into it supports a brightness level of up to 500 nits. So technically it can display images clearly even in bright conditions.
The ROG Ally itself, on the other hand, is also equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass DXC so that images can be seen more clearly in bright conditions. This special coating is designed to reduce annoying light reflections on the screen surface.
The DXC Gorilla Glass layer is actually hardened well enough to make the screen up to 40 percent scratch resistant. Even so, ASUS has still nailed the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus which has better protection.
4. Comprehensive features
Like portable game consoles in general, ROG Ally is also equipped with a set of controllers that make it easy to operate when playing games. Inside are ABYX buttons, two joysticks, R and L triggers, macro buttons, and a D-pad that’s positioned like an Xbox controller.
But this is not enough, the device also has a number of other features that allow us to play better games. One of them is a dual speaker integrated in the front side by side with the screen.
Interestingly enough, the speakers used support Two Way AI Noise Cancellation technology. ASUS uses this to reduce noise around the user by processing audio in two directions, both incoming and outgoing.
These dual speakers also support Dolby Atmos technology that allows the sound to be heard according to the scene of the content. Those of us who like to enjoy music can also listen to high-quality audio because the device also supports high-resolution audio.
Link mode is also present on the Ryzen Z1 Extreme version of ROG Ally. For those of us who are tired of playing with small sizes, we can project images onto larger screen devices such as monitors, TVs, to LCD projectors.
Those of us who want better graphics processing capabilities can also use an external GPU. The ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme edition also supports ASUS ROG XG Mobile with a choice of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon 6800XT.
On the software side, the ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme is also equipped with Armory Crate Special Edition. This application allows us to more easily access games from various distribution platforms, access various kinds of controls, manage settings.
Cons of ASUS ROG Ally (AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme)
1. No Windows support yet
On the downside, the ROG Ally version of the Ryzen Z1 Extreme is still based on Microsoft Windows, which are currently reserved for desktops and laptops. Therefore, this operating system is still not suitable for use as a portable gaming device.
Aside from actually needing a supporting controller such as a keyboard, trackpad, or mouse that isn’t included with the ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme, this OS also has a lot of built-in apps that often degrade performance.
Fortunately, the ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme also came equipped with Armory Crate Special Edition. It’s just very limited because there are several important functions that still can’t be done even if you use this app, such as pause and resume.
2. The battery is quite wasteful
Based on the information ASUS reveals, the ROG Ally’s battery life is generally around 2 hours when used to play games at the best settings, or 6.8 hours when playing media like Netflix or YouTube.
As a portable gaming device, this time duration can be shorter, especially if we like to travel long distances. It’s a different story if we don’t mind playing while staying close to a charging source.
In addition, the ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme also has support for fast charging. ASUS even claims that the device only needs about 30 minutes to reach 50 percent capacity.
