Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE vs ASUS ROG Ally
The Verdict
These are fundamentally different devices serving opposite purposes, making direct comparison challenging. The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a traditional 16-inch productivity laptop with a 2560 x 1600 IPS display, Intel Core i5-1340P processor, 8GB RAM, and nine-hour battery life. It excels for everyday computing, web browsing, and document work with a full keyboard and trackpad setup. The ASUS ROG Ally is a 7-inch portable gaming handheld running Windows 11 with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, 16GB RAM, and 500-nit display. Its 1920 x 1080 resolution and 1.5-7 hour battery life prioritize gaming performance over productivity longevity. The Chromebook offers superior portability in its class (1.88 kg) and better all-day battery endurance, while the Ally delivers significantly more raw processing power and GPU capability at half the weight (608g), though Windows 11 and gaming-centric features limit its appeal for traditional work. Price-wise, the $50 difference is negligible given their disparate use cases. Choose the Chromebook for laptop duties; choose the Ally for handheld gaming. They're not competitors in any practical sense.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE if…
- →120Hz QHD+ display is best-in-class for any Chromebook
- →Cloud gaming optimized with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming
- →i5-1340P delivers strong performance for ChromeOS
Buy the ASUS ROG Ally if…
- →Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA 3 GPU outperforms Steam Deck in raw power
- →Full 1080p IPS display at 120Hz for sharper and smoother gaming
- →Windows 11 gives access to all PC game stores and launchers
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE
Pros
- 120Hz QHD+ display is best-in-class for any Chromebook
- Cloud gaming optimized with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming
- i5-1340P delivers strong performance for ChromeOS
- Ethernet port is rare and valuable for cloud gaming stability
- ChromeOS is fast, secure, and low-maintenance
Cons
- ChromeOS cannot run native Windows games or Steam natively
- 256 GB storage fills quickly for offline content
- 8 GB RAM is not upgradeable
- 1.88 kg is heavy for a Chromebook
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Windows
ASUS ROG Ally
Pros
- Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA 3 GPU outperforms Steam Deck in raw power
- Full 1080p IPS display at 120Hz for sharper and smoother gaming
- Windows 11 gives access to all PC game stores and launchers
- Lighter at 608 g compared to the Steam Deck
- MicroSD expansion for extra game storage
Cons
- 40 Wh battery provides very poor endurance — as low as 1.5 hours
- Windows 11 is not optimized for handheld — requires workarounds
- Only one USB-C port limits simultaneous charging and peripherals
- No OLED — IPS LCD has weaker contrast and no true blacks
- Fan noise is loud under heavy gaming loads
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE | ASUS ROG Ally |
|---|---|---|
| Software | ChromeOS | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.88 kg | 608 g |
| Material | Aluminum lid, plastic body | Plastic chassis |
| Dimensions | 357 x 254 x 20.4 mm | 280.0 x 111.4 x 32.4 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| USB-A ports | 1 | — |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 1 |
| Ethernet | — | |
| Headphone Jack | ||
| Microsd | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours | 1.5-7 hours (game dependent) |
| Capacity | 65 Wh | 40 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16 inches | 7 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 350 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | — |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5 | 16 GB LPDDR5 (6400 MT/s) |
| Cores | 12-core (4P + 8E) | 8-core CPU, RDNA 3 (12 CUs) integrated GPU |
| Chipset | 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1340P | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8-core / 16-thread, up to 5.1 GHz) |
| Memory | ||
| Storage options | — | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.2 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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