Asus · Updated June 2026
Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme): price, specs & release date
Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme), released 2023-06. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: rog.asus.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) is listed at $699 on rog.asus.com as of 2026-06-27, the cheapest handheld gaming pcs (median $729.99); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Silver Deskmark — 48/100 pay-blind standing, #5 of 9 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Bright, sharp 120Hz 1080p IPS screen (measured ~465-474 nits) clearly beats the Steam Deck; Powerful AMD Zen4 Ryzen Z1 Extreme delivers smooth 720p/1080p frame rates for a handheld.
- Skip if Short battery life while gaming (~1 hour in Turbo, ~1.5-1.75 hours in Performance mode) is a dealbreaker.
Is the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) a good buy?
At $699, the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) is the cheapest of the 9 handheld gaming pcs we track, where the median is $729.99. On the spec sheet, its battery of 40 Wh is the lowest of the 9, its RAM of 16 GB is the lowest of the 9, and its weight of 608 g is below the median of the 9.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 2
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 7
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 2
Two independent labs measured this product across 7 physical metrics — brightness, battery, metro exodus stress and 4 more. With a second lab on record, each figure comes from more than one independent hands-on source — a measure of how much evidence exists, not a rating of the product.
brightness · battery · metro exodus stress · contrast ratio · the witcher 3 · gta v · power
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme)
Two whitelisted lab testers (Tom's Hardware, Notebookcheck) reviewed the exact Ryzen Z1 Extreme model. Both praise its bright 120Hz 1080p IPS screen (measured ~465-474 nits) and the powerful AMD Zen4 Ryzen Z1 Extreme, and both note the handheld is more compact and lighter than the Steam Deck. Both flag short battery life during gaming — roughly one hour in Turbo and ~1.5-1.75 hours in Performance mode.
Based on 2 reviews · 2 lab-tested · 2023-05-11
Tested by Tom's Hardware, Notebookcheck
Consistently praised
- Bright, sharp 120Hz 1080p IPS screen (measured ~465-474 nits) clearly beats the Steam Deck · 2 sources
- Powerful AMD Zen4 Ryzen Z1 Extreme delivers smooth 720p/1080p frame rates for a handheld · 2 sources
- More compact and lighter than the Steam Deck · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Short battery life while gaming (~1 hour in Turbo, ~1.5-1.75 hours in Performance mode) · 2 sources
- Performance differs notably on battery vs plugged in (Turbo) — Tom's Hardware only
- No webcam and no built-in kickstand — Notebookcheck only
Where reviewers disagree Real split on overall verdict: Tom's Hardware gave a cautious 3.5/5, citing a charging bug, sticky/squeaky buttons and worse ergonomics than the Steam Deck ('I don't love the way the Asus ROG Ally sits in my hands'), whereas Notebookcheck called it 'superior in pretty much every respect' and 'the best gaming handheld you can currently get.'
The sources (2)
Screen brightness (measured): 465 nits · Shadow of the Tomb Raider (720p, medium, on battery): 47 fps · Cyberpunk 2077 (720p, Steam Deck preset, on battery): 40 fps · Forza Horizon 5 (720p, high, on battery): 54 fps · Metro Exodus stress test (720p, low, DX12, avg of 15 runs): 77.7 fps · PCMark 10 Gaming battery life: 1:43 (1h43m) · Standard laptop battery test (web/video, 150 nits): 5:51 (5h51m)
If there is one spot where the Ally indisputably beats the Steam Deck, it's the quality of the screen.
At 465 nits of brightness, the Ally is also intensely brighter than the Steam Deck, which measured 169.7 nits when we tested it.
The ROG Ally is a handheld device, but one that doesn't last terribly long on a charge.
Average screen brightness (measured): 474.4 cd/m² (nits) · Maximum screen brightness (measured): 513 cd/m² (nits) · Contrast ratio: 1350:1 · The Witcher 3 (1080p, Ultra): 27.5 fps · GTA V (1080p, Highest): 25.7 fps · Battery life gaming (Witcher 3, Turbo): 57 minutes · Battery life video playback (H.264 1080p, 150 nits): 9.5 hours (9h 28min) · Power draw during gaming (Witcher 3 ultra, avg): 64.1 W
The Asus ROG Ally is an excellent gaming handheld.
Asus advertises a brightness of 500 nits, which is confirmed by our review unit in the center of the screen.
Our biggest criticism is the lack of a webcam as well as the short battery runtime when you actually play games.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $699 Launch MSRP, 512GB config |
|---|---|
| Brand | Asus |
| Released | 2023-06 |
| Chip | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8c/16t, RDNA 3 12CU) |
| Screen (in) | 7.0 in |
| Screen resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Refresh (Hz) | 120 |
| Battery (Wh) | 40 |
| RAM (GB) | 16 |
| Weight (g) | 608 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Source: rog.asus.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by en.wikipedia.org. Confirmed via official ASUS ROG US spec page and Wikipedia. Release date June 13, 2023 and launch price $699.99 verified. Battery 40 Wh, 7-inch 1080p variable-refresh up to 120 Hz LCD, 16 GB LPDDR5, AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4 / RDNA 3 12CU). Weight 608 g per ASUS/Tom's Hardware. No corrections required.
Is the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) worth it vs cheaper handheld gaming pcs?
Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) against its closest cheaper and pricier handheld gaming pcs on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 9 ranked
| Product | Price | Chip | Screen (in) | Screen resolution | Refresh (Hz) | Battery (Wh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) this | $699 | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8c/16t, RDNA 3 12CU) | 7.0 in | 1920x1080 | 120 | 40 |
| Lenovo Legion Go S | $729.99 | AMD Ryzen Z2 Go (Zen 3+, 4c/8t, RDNA 2 12CU) | 8.0 in | 1920x1200 | 120 | 55.5 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme)?
Two whitelisted lab testers (Tom's Hardware, Notebookcheck) reviewed the exact Ryzen Z1 Extreme model. Both praise its bright 120Hz 1080p IPS screen (measured ~465-474 nits) and the powerful AMD Zen4 Ryzen Z1 Extreme, and both note the handheld is more compact and lighter than the Steam Deck. Both flag short battery life during gaming — roughly one hour in Turbo and ~1.5-1.75 hours in Performance mode. Praised: Bright, sharp 120Hz 1080p IPS screen (measured ~465-474 nits) clearly beats the Steam Deck; Powerful AMD Zen4 Ryzen Z1 Extreme delivers smooth 720p/1080p frame rates for a handheld; More compact and lighter than the Steam Deck. Flagged: Short battery life while gaming (~1 hour in Turbo, ~1.5-1.75 hours in Performance mode); Performance differs notably on battery vs plugged in (Turbo) — Tom's Hardware only; No webcam and no built-in kickstand — Notebookcheck only. (From 2 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
How much does the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) cost?
The Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) has a US price of $699 (Launch MSRP, 512GB config), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) compare on price?
At $699, the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) is the cheapest of the 9 handheld gaming pcs we track, where the median is $729.99.
When was the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) released?
The Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) was released 2023-06.
What are the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme)'s key specs?
Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) (Asus): chip AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8c/16t, RDNA 3 12CU), screen in 7.0 in, screen resolution 1920x1080, refresh hz 120, battery wh 40. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $699 at rog.asus.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
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