Did the Asus ROG Ally 2 just get announced at this laptop reveal?
Jan. 25, 2024Asus' Steam Deck rival could get a sequel soon
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Thebest gaming handheldscene has changed dramatically, and theAsus ROG Allyis somewhat responsible for the shift.Valve’sSteam Deckcertainly paved the way for the platform overall, but the Ally has ultimately helped facilitate more competition in the space in terms of cost and performance. Plenty of familiar brands are now making moves to grab a slice of the tasty portable PC pie, and now that theLenovo Legion GOand upcoming MSI Claw serve as alternatives, it makes sense that Asus is planning its next move.
Word of the Asus ROG Ally 2 comes courtesy ofTechlusive, who recently claims to have sat down for a chat with Asus India Vice President Arnold Su at a Zenbook 14 OLED event. During the interview, the VP seemingly stated that the company “most likely will launch a second generation [handheld gaming console] this year.”
In addition, Su revealed that the Asus ROG Ally 2 “will still keep the Windows features, but we will focus more on gaming.” Whether that means it’ll boast a software suite that better bridges the gap between Windows 11 and a console-like experience remains to be seen, and the comments could realistically refer to any number of changes that improves the overall core experience.
It’s worth noting that while news of a potential Asus ROG Ally 2 reportedly comes from the senior Asus India VP, the company hasn’t officially announced plans for a new gaming handheld. Therefore, I’d absolutely take any mention of it for now with a grain of salt, as this could just be a reference to vague plans that are on the cards. That said, Asus consistently puts out new hardware, so the idea of a new portable PC arriving this soon isn’t completely farfetched.
For now, there are plenty of handheld gaming PCs out there, and if you’re looking for something truly premium, you may want to swing by ourAyaneo 2S review. Alternatively, we’ve also got a few current deals below that may come in handy.
Looking for something with a portable punch? Check out thebest gaming laptopfor a selection of powerhouse rigs.
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I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
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