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Asus ROG Ally pre-orders are well underway, with a starting price for $699 / £699 and a June 13 release date firmly stencilled onto the calendar. The brand kicked off proceedings on May 11, with a full launch event cataloguing the system's full specs, a first look at the console in full, and all the numbers and dates we need to know about. With just a month to go, it's time to get your name down for an early order.
Thankfully, you won't need to go scouting the web for Asus ROG Ally pre-orders. Best Buy is the retail exclusive partner in the US, so we'd recommend heading over as soon as possible to secure your order. Similarly, you can also pre-order directly from Asus. Best Buy is listing a $599.99 alternative with a simpler AMD Z1 processing system, but it's currently 'Coming Soon', so we'll keep you updated if you're looking to save where possible.
Meanwhile, UK punters can head directly to Asus for pre-orders today or register interest at Currys. Asus has a retail exclusive with the highstreet electronics shop, though pre-orders will open a little later here, on May 16.
Article continues belowWhere to pre-order Asus ROG Ally
Asus ROG Ally specs
We were also treated to a whole new roster of Asus ROG Ally specs in today's event. The handheld will offer an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor with Zen 4 architecture boasting 8 cores and 16 threads. To help you out in the graphics department, we've also got 12 RDNA3 CUs running at up to 2.7GHz. You'll find the full specs just below
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor | Zen 4 architecture, 8-core /16-threads, 24MB total cache ,up to 5.10Ghz boost |
| Graphics | 12 RDNA3 CUs, up to 2.7GHz, 8.6 TFLOP |
| Display | 7-inch FHS IPS at 16:9, 120Hz, 500 nits peak brightness, 7ms response time, Dolby Vision HDR, AMD FreeSync Premium |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Ports | 1 x ROG XG Mobile | 1x USB-C | 1x 3.5mm audio |
| Controls | ABXY, D-pad, 2x triggers, 2x bumpers, 2x back buttons, 2x thumbsticks, View, Menu, Command Centre, Armoury Crate |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Battery | 40WHrs |
| Dimensions | 28.0 x 11.1 x 2.12cm |
| Weight | 608g |
What is the Asus ROG Ally?
The Asus ROG Ally appeared on our radar just a couple of months ago, but its specs (on paper at least) are already gaining on the Steam Deck to become the most powerful gaming handheld on the market. Crucially, this device runs on Windows 11 which means no faffing around trying to download launchers - it simply runs as a PC itself.
On top of that, the Armoury Crate launcher brings everything together for a truly console-like experience. Throw in a full set of controls, a 7-inch FHD display, powerful speakers, and a lightweight 608g form factor and you've got a serious contender to the Steam Deck's throne.
Should you pre-order Asus ROG Ally?
While the stock wars might be behind us, it might still be worth getting your name down early for an Asus ROG Ally. That's because we don't know how many units will be out in the wild, and - crucially - we don't know how many have been allocated to Best Buy / Currys. Because the Ally is launching with exclusive retail partners, competition to grab the next handheld PC is going to be fierce, even among early adopters.
If you're still deciding whether to take the plunge, there's a little more to consider. The Steam Deck is slightly cheaper but runs at lower specs and doesn't have the ease and freedom in its launcher system for things like Epic or Origin. Of course, you're also nearly at a budget gaming laptop price at $699 / £699 - though we're yet to see if performance can match similarly priced clamshells. If you've got the money to splash and you've been waiting for something to outclass the Steam Deck, now's the time to go for it. While our own review has been delayed due to issues with an early unit, we'd also recommend waiting for some verdicts before diving in if you're unsure.
We're also rounding up the full Asus ROG Ally vs Steam Deck debate, and all the best gaming PCs and best gaming laptops on the market - should you opt for something more substantial.
