Summary
Since its launch in 2023, following the groundbreaking release of Valve’s Steam Deck, the Asus ROG Ally has worked its way into the hearts of players needing a high-performance gaming PC on the go. Unlike the Steam Deck, the Ally comes with considerably better specs, particularly in native resolution, performance, and hardware. Unfortunately,handheld gaming PCsare plagued with terrible battery life, so getting aportable gaming power bankfor on-the-go use is strongly recommended.
Although the ROG Ally is terrific when used in handheld mode, it’s also a top performer when you need to play your favorite games on thebest TVs.Playing on a bigger TV not only makes gameplay feel more immersive, but you get to experience a higher resolution. While there are a handful of docks that can support the ROG Ally, only a few are standout figures, like the iVANKY 6-in-1 dock. If you’re undecided about a dock to buy for your ROG Ally, here are a few reasons why the iVANKY dock is best for an improved gaming experience.
Multiple Connectivity Ports
Getting a dock is an excellent decision if you want to plug in several peripherals to enrich your gaming experience. Seeing as the ROG Ally doesn’t come with many ports, the iVANKY’s 6 connectivity ports allow players to hook up their favorite gadgets such as gaming mice, gaming keyboards, and more. For starters, there’s an HDMI 2.0 port that can support 4K/60Hz, a feature that’s reminiscent of ourbudget gaming TVs. You also get a Gigabit Ethernet port that can reach up to 1,000 megabits per second. Since Ethernet ports are generally more secure than Wi-Fi and are an amazing backup plan if you have limited Wi-Fi connectivity, it feels like a great feature to have.
Three USB-C ports can support compatible peripherals, giving you plenty of options if you own many accessories. And finally, there’s the power delivery port which is capped at 100W, ensuring that your Rog Ally gets the right amount of power it needs to charge while rendering your favorite AAA game on a big TV display.
Full-Speed Charging
Like other handheld gaming PCs, the Rog Ally performs at a level that supersedesportable consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the handheld PC has been known to get hot quickly, especially when running demanding games likeBaldur’s Gate 3andA Plague Tale: Requiem. With this in mind, the iVANKY dock is the perfect fit for your Rog Ally as it offers 100W fast charging which should rapidly add more juice to your battery.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the dock’s maximum power delivery for the Rog Ally is 45W. Although it’s slightly lower than the 65W that the official charger offers, a power delivery of 45W should ensure that your handheld PC’s battery is replenished while hooked up to the big screen. Besides, 45W is pretty good, seeing as that’s the maximum power delivery of Valve’s Steam Deck, another popular handheld gaming PC. If you’d like a quicker charging time, the official ASUS Rog Ally charger is your best bet.
4K/60Hz Gaming
Although the Rog Ally supports gaming at a higher resolution (1080p) than the Steam Deck (800p), several players desire more vibrant images and life-like scenes. Enter the iVANKY dock, which allows you to upgrade your visual expectations to 4K resolution, bringing a level of realism that’s similar to what you’d see on TVs and monitors. Using its single 4K/60Hz port, you can enjoy four times the picture quality of the Rog Ally’s native resolution.
Beyond improved picture quality, you get to witness smoother motion transitions, which makes gameplay feel more enjoyable and immersive. Of course, playing competitive FPS titles such asBodycamandApex Legendswould be better on a 1080p/240Hz display because it can handle fast-paced scenes better. But then, 4K/60Hz is an amazing upgrade from the 1080p you’re used to playing on when in handheld mode. Besides, it’s still the standard for gaming consoles like the PS5. So if you’ve played on consoles before, the visual experience should be just about the same when using the Rog Ally in docked mode.
Although the iVANKY dock is advertised for the Rog Ally, that’s not the only handheld gaming PC it supports. Some users have confessed to erroneously purchasing the dock on Amazon, thinking it was limited to the Rog Ally. However, they claimed it supported other handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck, MSI Claw, Ayaneo Neo, and Lenovo Legion Go just fine. It’s worth mentioning that the dock’s power delivery will vary between each device, though the Rog Ally and Steam Deck’s max delivery are both 45W when hooked up to the TV screen. So if you’ve got multiple handheld PCs lying around, this dock allows you to easily switch between them depending on your preferences.
The Best Handheld Gaming PCs
Asus ROG Ally
The Asus ROG Ally is the ultimate handheld system for PC gamers. Relying on the new AMD Ryzen Z1 series of processors, the ROG Ally can handle any game thrown at it. The 7-inch 1080p Full HD display with FreeSync Premium on the system provides gamers with a crystal clear and smooth gaming experience. The advantage of the ROG Ally is that it can run most Windows-compatible games and is compatible with Xbox Game Pass titles. It also comes with 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate. The ROG Ally also features an ergonomic design that makes gaming for long periods enjoyable.
Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is Valve’s entry into the handheld PC market, using a custom Linux-based OS to bring your Steam library wherever you go. Launched in 2022 with an LCD screen, an updated model with an OLED screen followed in late 2023.
Lenovo Legion Go
Lenovo Legion GO takes a page out of the Nintendo Switch’s playbook with its ability to separate the left and right controllers from the 8.8" 2500x1600 screen. The PC gaming handheld boasts one of the most powerful specs seen in a handheld device, but that comes at the price of battery life. Ultimately, any Windows-based handheld has its advantages and risks. However, Lenovo has done well to give its device enough reasons to intrigue handheld-leaning gamers.
Steam Deck OLED
The Steam Deck OLED is the perfect handheld gaming console for gamers who wish to take their games on the go. It brings the entire Steam library in a handheld form factor that is ergonomic, grippy, and easy to use. The OLED model is an upgrade to the standard LCD model of the Steam Deck, and it boasts a slightly larger display that is brighter, sharper and refreshes at 90 Hz.
FAQ
Q: Is the ROG Ally good when docked?
Yes. In docked mode, you can enjoy a huge boost in resolution, thereby increasing the realism of your gameplay. Plus, there are other ports that you can use to hook up other devices.
Q: What ports does the ROG Ally have?
The ROG Ally comes with three ports — a 3.5 mm audio jack, an XG mobile interface and USB-C combination port, and a UHS-II microSD card reader. You can expand your connectivity options by getting a dock, though.
Q: Does the ROG Ally overheat?
Yes. Last year, Asus confirmed that the SD card reader in the ROG Ally can overheat, thereby causing serious malfunction. Adjusting the fan curves should help, though.
