Device hub · Handheld gaming · Desk research
ASUS ROG Ally (2023)
Original Ally is the 7-inch 1080p/120Hz Windows handheld with Z1 Extreme, 16GB RAM, a 40Wh pack, and an XG Mobile / USB-C combo port.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedASUS ROG Ally (2023)
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an ASUS asset). View official product image
ASUS product images are copyrighted. Use the official spec page.
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedNumeric rows were pulled from the US RC71L spec sheet, accessed 2026-09-19.
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an ASUS asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
In short
Original Ally is the 7-inch 1080p/120Hz Windows handheld with Z1 Extreme, 16GB RAM, a 40Wh pack, and an XG Mobile / USB-C combo port. Buy it for Windows storefronts and a 1080p 120Hz sheet that Deck does not publish. Skip it if you want SteamOS, dual trackpads, or Ally X’s 80Wh / 24GB / dual-USB-C refresh.
Who it is for
- Windows / Xbox Game Pass / Epic / Battle.net buyers who do not want SteamOS as the shipped OS.
- People who want a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz FreeSync Premium panel instead of Deck’s 800p OLED/LCD.
- Shoppers who specifically want the original RC71L Z1 Extreme 16GB / 40Wh / 608g / XG Mobile sheet.
- Users who will use Armoury Crate SE operating modes inside ASUS’s 9–30W TDP range.
Who should skip it
- SteamOS-first buyers. Ally ships Windows 11 Home.
- Anyone who wants Deck-style dual trackpads. Ally’s first-table `trackpads` row is None.
- People who need Ally X’s 80Wh battery, 24GB RAM, 2280 SSD, and second USB-C / USB4 port.
- Nintendo-first players. First-party Switch software is not this ecosystem.
Key differentiators
- Z1 Extreme + 12 RDNA 3 CUs and a published 9–30W TDP — a different power envelope than Deck’s 4–15W.
- 7-inch FHD 120Hz, 500 nits, 100% sRGB, FreeSync Premium, Gorilla Glass Victus / DXC on the spec sheet.
- ROG XG Mobile interface combined with USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen2, DisplayPort 1.4).
- Windows 11 Home, Armoury Crate, fingerprint + Microsoft Pluton, UHS-II microSD.
Caveats
- This hub locks the **Z1 Extreme 512GB** RC71L sheet. A Ryzen Z1 (6-core / 4 CU) SKU is on the same ASUS spec family — do not mix CU counts.
- ASUS does not publish a 3–12 hour gameplay range on this spec sheet. Do not invent Deck-style hours.
- Launch $699.99 is dated (13 June 2023 ASUS USA). Street prices go stale.
- GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested Ally. TFLOPS and 500-nit rows are OEM claims.
Handheld-category specs
Same rows on every handheld page (Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go, Switch).
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| SoC / APU | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme; Zen 4, 4nm, 8 cores / 16 threads, 24MB cache, up to 5.10GHz boost | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheetA Ryzen Z1 (6-core / 12-thread, up to 4.90GHz) SKU is listed on the same ASUS spec page. This hub is Z1 Extreme unless a sentence says otherwise. |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Graphics, RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7GHz, up to 8.6 TFLOPS | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| TDP / APU power (OEM) | 9–30W | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 on board (6400 MT/s, dual channel) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (2230) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Expandable storage | UHS-II microSD (SD / SDHC / SDXC) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Display size | 7-inch | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Display type | IPS-level, anti-glare / low-reflection (AGLR); Gorilla Glass Victus and Gorilla Glass DXC; 10-point touch | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Display resolution | 1920 × 1080 (16:9 FHD) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz; 7ms response; AMD FreeSync Premium (VRR) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Peak brightness (OEM) | 500 nits | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheetManufacturer nits claim, not a measured outdoor reading. |
| HDR / color (OEM) | 100% sRGB; 75.35% Adobe RGB listed. HDR mode is not named as HDR10 on this spec block. | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Controls | ABXY; D-pad; two full-size analog sticks; Hall-effect analog triggers; bumpers; View; Menu; Command Center and Armoury Crate buttons | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Trackpads | None | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet (no trackpad row) |
| Gyro / motion | 6-axis IMU | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Haptics | HD haptics | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Rear / grip buttons | Two assignable grip buttons | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Battery capacity | 40Wh, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Battery life (OEM) | Hours-of-gameplay not published on the ROG spec sheet (accessed 2026-09-19) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheetDo not invent a 3–12 hour Deck-style range. |
| Charging (OEM) | USB-C 65W adapter (20V / 3.25A). Inclusion varies by region. | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Store / ecosystem | Windows 11 storefronts (Steam, Xbox, Epic, and others the user installs). Not SteamOS. | ASUS launch copy / Windows 11 Home spec |
| Weight | 608 g (1.34 lb) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Dimensions | 280 × 111 × 21.2–32.4 mm (11.02 × 4.37 × 0.83–1.28 in) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Chassis / form | Integrated handheld with fixed grips (not detachable controllers) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Finishes | White / RC71L retail finish as sold at launch. Confirm the live SKU for later colorways. | ASUS ROG Ally product photography (not hosted) |
| Cooling | Internal cooling; no named “Coldfront” row on this spec sheet (accessed 2026-09-19) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Ports | 3.5mm combo jack; ROG XG Mobile + USB-C combo (USB 3.2 Gen2, DisplayPort 1.4); UHS-II microSD | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) tri-band 2×2 + Bluetooth 5.4 (BT version may change with OS) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Speakers / audio | 2-speaker Smart Amplifier; array mic; AI noise canceling; Dolby Atmos; Hi-Res headphone certification | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Dock / TV output | DisplayPort 1.4 over the USB-C / XG Mobile combo port. XG Mobile eGPU is a separate accessory. | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| US MSRP (launch) | $699.99 US for Z1 Extreme 512GB (ASUS USA, 13 June 2023). Z1 model was announced at $599.99 for later in 2023. | ASUS USA launch note, 2023-06-13Street prices go stale. |
| Price band | Flagship Windows handheld (~$700 US launch) | Derived from $699.99 start |
| Announced | 11 May 2023 (unveiled); US sale 13 June 2023 | ASUS Pressroom / ASUS USA |
| Availability | Original RC71L generation. Ally X (2024) is the refreshed sibling hub. | ASUS ROG product family, accessed 2026-09-19 |
ASUS ROG Ally (2023) extras
Unique to this line or SKU. Other handhelds keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| ROG XG Mobile | Combo USB-C / XG Mobile interface. External GPU docks are separate SKUs (launch note listed RTX 4090 Laptop and RX 6850M XT XG Mobile units). | ASUS ROG Ally spec sheet; ASUS USA launch note |
| Armoury Crate | Dedicated Armoury Crate and Command Center buttons on the spec sheet | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Fingerprint / Pluton | Built-in fingerprint sensor; Microsoft Pluton security processor | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Aura Sync | Yes | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| SSD form factor | M.2 2230 (not the 2280 slot Ally X uses) | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
| Ryzen Z1 (non-Extreme) SKU | Same spec family lists Zen 4 6-core / 12-thread, 4 RDNA 3 CUs, up to 2.8 TFLOPS. Do not use those numbers on a Z1 Extreme sentence. | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) spec sheet |
Overview
ROG Ally (2023) is ASUS’s first Windows handheld. The locked sheet on this page is RC71L Z1 Extreme 512GB: 7-inch 1080p 120Hz, 16GB LPDDR5-6400, 40Wh, 608g, XG Mobile combo port, Windows 11 Home.
We have not bench-tested this unit.
Display
7-inch FHD 16:9, IPS-level AGLR, 120Hz, 7ms, 500 nits, 100% sRGB, 75.35% Adobe RGB, FreeSync Premium, 10-point touch, Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC.
SoC, RAM, and storage
| ASUS’s words | Ally Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|
| CPU | Zen 4 8c/16t, up to 5.10GHz |
| GPU | RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 8.6 TFLOPS |
| TDP | 9–30W |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 dual channel |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe 2230 + UHS-II microSD |
Controls
Hall-effect triggers, full-size sticks, ABXY, D-pad, bumpers, View/Menu, Command Center, Armoury Crate, two grip buttons, HD haptics, 6-axis IMU. No trackpads.
Battery and charging
40Wh 4-cell. 65W USB-C (region-dependent inclusion). No gameplay-hour row on the spec sheet.
OS and dock
Windows 11 Home. DP 1.4 on the XG Mobile / USB-C combo port. XG Mobile eGPUs are separate paid accessories.
Weight, chassis, dock
- Weight: 608g.
- Size: 280 × 111 × 21.2–32.4 mm.
- Form: integrated grips. Not detachable Legion controllers.
- Dock path: DisplayPort 1.4 on the XG Mobile / USB-C combo. Official XG Mobile eGPUs are separate paid accessories — do not write them as included.
How this page compares on a desk (not a vs-page)
| Desk fact (OEM) | 2023 Ally RC71L | Ally X 2024 | Xbox Ally 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| APU | Z1 Extreme 8c/16t | Z1 Extreme | Z2 A 4c/8t |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 | 24GB | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 |
| Battery | 40Wh | 80Wh | 60Wh |
| Ports | XG Mobile combo + 2230 | Dual Type-C / USB4 + 2280 | Dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 + 2280 |
| Weight | 608g | 608g class on that hub | 670g |
Winners belong on a future -vs- URL. Xbox Ally / Xbox Ally X are /handhelds/asus-rog-xbox-ally/ and /handhelds/asus-rog-xbox-ally-x/.
Price, SKUs, and what not to invent
$699.99 US for Z1 Extreme 512GB (ASUS USA, 13 June 2023). Z1 non-Extreme was announced at $599.99. Street prices go stale.
Do not invent a gameplay-hour curve, a 4–15W Deck row, or dual trackpads. Do not merge this SKU with Ally X or Xbox Ally.
Sources
- ASUS — ROG Ally (2023) RC71L spec sheet (US) — accessed 2026-09-19
- ASUS — ROG Ally (2023) product page (US) — accessed 2026-09-19
- ASUS USA — ROG Ally launch note (2023-06-13) — accessed 2026-09-19
- ASUS Pressroom — ROG Ally unveiled (2023-05-11) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Is this Ally X?
No. This hub is the 2023 RC71L Ally (16GB, 40Wh, 2230 SSD, XG Mobile combo port). Ally X is `/handhelds/asus-rog-ally-x/`. 2025 Xbox Ally / Xbox Ally X are separate RC73 hubs.
SteamOS or Windows?
ASUS ships Windows 11 Home. Community SteamOS installs are not the OEM SKU.
Does Ally have trackpads?
No. The handhelds-v1 `trackpads` row is None. Deck keeps dual pads; Legion Go has a small right-controller pad.
What TDP does ASUS publish?
9–30W on the spec sheet. Do not invent a 4–15W Deck row here.
How long does the battery last?
ASUS publishes 40Wh. It does not publish a gameplay-hour range on this spec sheet. We will not invent one.
Official product page: ASUS ROG Ally (2023). Tech specs: ASUS ROG Ally (2023) specs.