ASUS ROG Ally RC71L Gaming Handheld Review: Power and Portability Combined

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is a groundbreaking entry into the gaming handheld market, offering PC-level gaming performance in a portable, handheld form factor. As part of ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) lineup, the Ally RC71L is designed to cater to hardcore gamers who want to enjoy AAA titles on the go without compromising on quality. With powerful hardware, a high-refresh-rate display, and robust build quality, the ASUS ROG Ally RC71L aims to set a new standard for portable gaming devices. In this review, we’ll explore the design, performance, display, battery life, and overall value of the ASUS ROG Ally RC71L to help you determine if it’s the suitable gaming handheld for your needs.

Design and Build Quality

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L impresses with its sleek, ergonomic design and premium build quality, making it stylish and durable.

• Ergonomic and Portable Design: The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is designed with portability and comfort. The device features a sleek, compact design that fits comfortably in your hands, making it easy to hold during extended gaming sessions. The ergonomic shape and well-placed controls ensure the device feels natural, reducing strain on your hands even during marathon gaming sessions.
• Premium Build Quality: The Ally RC71L is built with high-quality materials that give it a solid and durable feel. The matte finish and subtle RGB lighting add to the premium aesthetic, while the sturdy construction ensures that the device can withstand the rigors of portable gaming. ASUS has paid attention to every detail, from the reinforced buttons to the textured grips, making this handheld feel like premium gaming hardware.
• Compact and Lightweight: Despite its powerful hardware, the ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is surprisingly lightweight, making it easy to carry in a backpack or even a large pocket. This portability ensures that you can take your gaming wherever you go, whether traveling, commuting, or just relaxing at home.

Display Quality

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L features a high-quality display that enhances the gaming experience with vibrant colors and smooth performance.

• 7-Inch Full HD Display: The Ally RC71L has a 7-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display that delivers sharp, detailed visuals. The large screen size offers an immersive gaming experience, allowing you to enjoy the intricate details of your favorite games fully. The IPS panel provides wide viewing angles, ensuring consistent image quality from almost any angle.
• 120Hz Refresh Rate: One of the standout features of the ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is its 120Hz refresh rate, which ensures ultra-smooth gameplay with minimal motion blur. This high refresh rate is perfect for fast-paced games where quick reactions are essential. Combined with adaptive sync technology, the display offers a tear-free gaming experience, even during the most intense action scenes.
• Vivid Colors and High Brightness: The display on the Ally RC71L supports a wide color gamut, delivering vivid and accurate colors that make games look stunning. With a brightness level of up to 500 nits, the screen remains visible even in bright environments, making it suitable for indoor and outdoor gaming.

Performance

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is equipped with powerful hardware that delivers exceptional performance, making it capable of running AAA titles and demanding games with ease.

• AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor: At the heart of the Ally RC71L is the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a custom APU explicitly designed for handheld gaming devices. This powerful chip combines a high-performance CPU with an RDNA 3 GPU, providing the horsepower to run modern games at high settings. Whether playing graphically demanding titles or multitasking with different apps, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme ensures smooth and responsive performance.
• 16GB LPDDR5 RAM: The device has 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, offering fast memory speeds and low latency. This ample amount of RAM allows seamless multitasking and ensures that games load quickly and run smoothly, even when switching between applications or multitasking.
• 512GB NVMe SSD Storage: The Ally RC71L includes a 512GB NVMe SSD, providing fast storage for your games, apps, and media. The high-speed SSD ensures quick boot times, fast game loading, and responsive performance. Additionally, the storage can be expanded via a microSD card slot, allowing you to add more space as needed.

Battery Life and Charging

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L offers decent battery life for a device of its power, along with fast charging capabilities to keep you gaming on the go.

• Up to 8 Hours of Battery Life: The Ally RC71L has a 40Wh battery that provides up to 8 hours, depending on usage and game settings. While this battery life may vary depending on the intensity of the games you’re playing, it’s sufficient for extended gaming sessions on the go. The battery can last longer for lighter use, such as browsing the web or streaming media.
• Fast Charging via USB-C: The device supports fast charging via its USB-C port, allowing you to recharge the battery quickly. A 30-minute charge can provide several hours of gameplay, ensuring you’re never left without power when needed.

Controls and Connectivity

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L offers responsive controls and a variety of connectivity options, making it a versatile handheld gaming device.

• Responsive Gamepad Controls: The Ally RC71L features a built-in gamepad with responsive analog sticks, tactile buttons, and precise triggers. The layout resembles a traditional game controller, making transitioning from console or PC gaming to handheld play easy. The highly responsive controls allow for accurate and smooth gameplay across various genres.
• Customizable Back Buttons: The device includes customizable back buttons that can be mapped to different functions, giving you more control over your gameplay. These extra buttons are handy for competitive gaming, allowing you to perform complex actions without moving your fingers away from the analog sticks.
• Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2: The Ally RC71L supports Wi-Fi 6E, ensuring fast and stable internet connectivity for online gaming, streaming, and downloads. The device also features Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting wireless peripherals such as headphones, controllers, and keyboards.
• Expandable Connectivity: Besides the standard ports, the ASUS ROG Ally RC71L offers expandable connectivity through the ROG XG Mobile interface, allowing you to connect to an external GPU for even more outstanding performance. This feature makes the Ally RC71L a powerful handheld and capable gaming hub connected to a larger display.

Software and User Experience

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L runs on Windows 11, providing a familiar and versatile platform for gaming and productivity.

• Windows 11 Experience: The Ally RC71L runs on a full version of Windows 11, giving you access to various PC games, applications, and services. You can easily install games from platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox Game Pass, as well as use productivity apps, web browsers, and more. The flexibility of Windows 11 makes the Ally RC71L much more than just a gaming device; it’s a portable PC that can handle various tasks.
• ROG Armoury Crate SE: ASUS includes its ROG Armoury Crate SE software, which provides a centralized hub for managing your games, adjusting performance settings, and customizing the device’s RGB lighting. The intuitive and user-friendly software allows you to fine-tune your gaming experience easily.
• Game Pass Compatibility: The device is fully compatible with Xbox Game Pass, giving you access to a vast library of games you can play on demand. This integration makes the Ally RC71L an excellent choice for gamers who want access to a wide range of titles without purchasing each game individually.

Price and Value

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is positioned as a premium handheld gaming device, offering top-tier performance and features at a competitive price.

• Price: The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L typically retails for around $699 to $799, making it a premium option in the handheld gaming market. While the price is higher than some competitors, the powerful hardware, high-quality display, and robust feature set justify the cost of severe gamers.
• Value: For gamers who want a portable device that can handle AAA titles with ease, the Ally RC71L offers excellent value. Its performance, portability, and versatility make it a standout choice for those who want the best of both worlds: PC-level gaming on the go.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Powerful Performance: Equipped with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and 16GB of RAM, the Ally RC71L delivers exceptional gaming performance.
• High-Quality Display: The 7-inch Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers vibrant colors and smooth gameplay.
• Versatile Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and expandable connectivity with the ROG XG Mobile interface.
• Customizable Controls: Features responsive gamepad controls and customizable back buttons for enhanced gameplay.
• Windows 11 Flexibility: Runs a full version of Windows 11, allowing access to various games and applications.

Cons:

• Premium Price: The high price may be a barrier for budget-conscious buyers.
• Limited Battery Life: Battery life can vary depending on usage, with more demanding games reducing playtime.

Conclusion

The ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is a powerful and versatile gaming handheld that delivers a premium gaming experience in a portable form factor. With its robust performance, high-quality display, and comprehensive feature set, the Ally RC71L is well-suited for gamers who want to take their PC gaming on the go without compromising quality. While the price may be higher than some alternatives, its value in terms of performance, portability, and flexibility makes it a worthwhile investment for serious gamers. Suppose you’re looking for a handheld gaming device that can easily handle AAA titles and provide a seamless gaming experience. In that case, the ASUS ROG Ally RC71L is an excellent choice that won’t disappoint.

ASUS ROG Ally RC71L FAQ