In addition to handheld use, the ROG Ally can be connected to a TV or monitor through a docking station or a dongle and be used like a desktop computer or home video game console.

[2] Development slowed down over the next few years but was accelerated after Valve's 2021 announcement of the Steam Deck, which quickly led to a renewed public interest in handheld gaming computers.

[7] At Computex 2024, Asus announced the ROG Ally X, an updated Z1 Extreme model with 1 TB of NVMe storage using an M.2 2280 slot instead of M.2 2230, 24 GB of LPDDR5X-7500 RAM, a larger battery, and other improvements, retailing for US$799.

[12] The ROG Ally ships with Windows 11 Home integrated with Armoury Crate SE, a software utility developed by Asus.

Tony Polanco of Tom's Guide described it as "solid but imperfect", complimenting its display and ergonomics but criticizing performance and battery life.

[14] Writing for Eurogamer, Richard Leadbetter wrote: "Various issues conspire to lend the impression that the ROG Ally isn't fully baked quite yet, while the Windows underpinnings may well be a limiting factor that may never be overcome.

[23][24] In May 2024, YouTube tech channel Gamers Nexus sent an ROG Ally in for warranty repair due to a faulty thumbstick.

[25] Several days later, Asus honoured the warranty and performed the repair of the original issue under pressure from Gamers Nexus,[25] as well as subsequently apologised for the poor service.