ASUS ROG Ally vs Microsoft Surface Go 4
The Verdict
ASUS ROG Ally and Microsoft Surface Go 4 serve distinctly different purposes within the laptop category. ROG Ally excels as a portable gaming device with its AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor delivering 8 cores, 16GB RAM, and RDNA 3 graphics capable of running modern games at playable framerates. Its 7-inch 120Hz IPS display and 500-nit brightness create an immersive handheld experience, though battery life ranges from 1.5-7 hours depending on workload. Surface Go 4 prioritizes productivity and longevity with Intel N200 efficiency, magnesium build quality, and exceptional 12.5-hour battery life from its smaller 28Wh cell. The larger 10.5-inch 1920x1280 touchscreen suits document work and casual use better than gaming. Storage remains a limitation on Go 4 with only 128GB versus Ally's 512GB. Choose ROG Ally if gaming matters; select Surface Go 4 for ultra-portable productivity and battery endurance. At $699 versus $579, Ally justifies premium pricing through gaming capability, while Go 4 offers better value for light computing tasks.
Who Should Buy
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
Buy the Microsoft Surface Go 4 if…
- →Ultra-portable at 1.22 lbs — lightest Windows tablet/laptop
- →Windows 11 Pro included — enterprise-ready out of the box
- →Surface Pen and Type Cover support for versatile use
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Microsoft Surface Go 4
Pros
- Ultra-portable at 1.22 lbs — lightest Windows tablet/laptop
- Windows 11 Pro included — enterprise-ready out of the box
- Surface Pen and Type Cover support for versatile use
- PixelSense touchscreen with excellent touch and pen accuracy
- microSD slot for expandable storage
Cons
- Intel N200 is slow for anything beyond basic web browsing
- 128 GB storage fills up quickly with Windows updates
- Type Cover keyboard sold separately at $99-$129
- Only one USB-C port — no USB-A, no HDMI
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS ROG Ally | Microsoft Surface Go 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 608 g | 1.22 lbs (0.55 kg) |
| Material | Plastic chassis | Magnesium alloy |
| Dimensions | 280.0 x 111.4 x 32.4 mm | 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches |
| Ports | ||
| USB-C ports | 1 | 1 |
| Microsd | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| SD card | — | |
| Memory | ||
| Storage options | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD | — |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 1.5-7 hours (game dependent) | Up to 12.5 hours |
| Capacity | 40 Wh | 28 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 7 inches | 10.5 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | PixelSense IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1280 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 (6400 MT/s) | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, RDNA 3 (12 CUs) integrated GPU | 4 cores |
| Chipset | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8-core / 16-thread, up to 5.1 GHz) | Intel N200 |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | — |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | — | 128 GB UFS |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
Related Comparisons
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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