Ally Turned Enemy

If you are a regular user of the ROG Ally consumer device, it is common practice to install updates when they become available. However, if you already own a ROG Ally and are satisfied with its high performance, it is advised not to update to BIOS version 319 through the MyASUS app. Although this update addresses a few bugs, mainly related to ASUS' cloud storage service, it significantly diminishes performance.

Version 319 was recently released by ASUS with the promise of improving the poor performance observed in the 9W low-power configuration during extensive reviews. However, our own testing indicates that it does not deliver the expected improvements. In fact, it could be argued that the performance is even worse, particularly at 15W and 25W power levels. While we do not have precise data to present, popular tech YouTuber ThePhawx does, and he reports performance drops of up to 20% with the latest BIOS update.

Even ASUS itself has advised users to refrain from installing the new update if they desire optimal performance. In a video titled "The Best ROG Ally tips and tricks," which we will provide below, ASUS marketer Whitson Gordon acknowledges that "some users have reported lower performance with the latest 319 BIOS" and suggests that users can choose to "hold off on installing" that specific BIOS update.

If you have already installed the update, there are a few options to consider. If you primarily play games that are not particularly sensitive to performance, the new update might offer better battery life, although we have not yet conducted thorough testing in that regard. In this case, you could opt to leave the update as is.

However, if you specifically chose the ROG Ally over the Steam Deck for its promised superior performance, we recommend reverting to the maximum speed offered by the device. This involves downgrading to the 317 firmware. Please note that ASUS does not make the downgrading process easy, as it cannot be done within the Windows operating system.

This article is written by Gaurav Advit.