![ROG Ally, PlayStation Dual Sense](https://149367133.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/rog-ally-playstation-5-dual-sense-gadgetmatch-20230529-8.jpg)
![ROG Ally, PlayStation Dual Sense](https://149367133.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/rog-ally-playstation-5-dual-sense-gadgetmatch-20230529-8-560x600.jpg)
The ROG Ally has caused quite a buzz in the gaming community at large. Personally, I’m thrilled at the prospect of owning a handheld gaming PC/console to play games I otherwise would not have access to. I mainly play on my PlayStation 5 (PS5). Naturally, I was curious how some of my favorite games will run on the ROG Ally.
Things are promising on paper. The ROG Ally is built to be able to run AAA titles. Here’s a quick look at the specs of the unit we had for recap:
Model |
RC71L |
CPU | AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme Processor
|
GPU | With AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Config:
|
Panel | Full HD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz / 7 ms eDP1.4b, 500 nits, IPS-panel, 100% sRGB, FreeSync™ Premium, Gorilla® Glass Victus™ and Gorilla® Glass DXC, 10-point Touchscreen
Gyro support |
Memory | 16GB (LPDDR5 6400Mhz) dual channel LPDDR5 8GBx2 on board memory |
Audio | 2 x 1W speakers with smart amp technology, Dolby Atmos®, Hi-Res Audio, AI Noise Cancellation |
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | WiFi 6E (802.11ax) / Bluetooth® v5.2 |
Storage | 512GB (for Z1 Extreme config)
+SD card slot UHS-2 |
I/O PORT | ROG XG Mobile interface (8PCI express lanes) and USB Type-C combo port (with USB 3.2 Gen2, DP 1.4 support) — (1x)
3.5mm Audio jack — (1x) Micro SD slot (UHS-II, Micro SD 4.0) — (1x) |
Battery | 40Wh |
Adapter | 65W PD adapter, supports pass through charging |
Dimensions | 280.44 * 111.18 * 21.22 mm
608g |
PlayStation Studios on PC
PlayStation, in the past couple of years, has decided to spread the love and let PC players experience some of the best they have to offer. Currently, there are 12 PlayStation exclusive titles playable on PC. And they’re available on either Steam or the Epic Games Store.
In case you’re curious the available games are as follows:
- Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- God of War (2018)
- Uncharted: The Legacy of Thieves Collection
- Destiny 2: Lightfall
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Returnal
- Days Gone
- HELLDIVERS
- Predator Hunting Grounds
- Sackboy: A big Adventure
- The Last of Us Part 1
PlayStation Asia was kind enough to give us codes for three of the 12 titles now available on PC. Here’s how they ran on the ROG Ally.
Quick note: I played on Performance mode with brightness hovering at around 50-55% indoors in an air conditioned room.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Marvel’s Spider-Man, along with NBA 2K, is my comfort game. Whenever I feel frustrated or just having a bad day, I fire up either game. On Spider-Man, I just swing aimlessly around the digital Manhattan that Insomniac built.
It was such a delight to learn that I can do this on the go now too with Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered playing pretty darn well on the ROG Ally.
I had the framerate limiter turned on, maxing out at 60. Despite that, I only reached a max of 31 fps with dips to as low as 15. It looks bad on paper, but is much more tolerable during actual gameplay. The dips usually happened during cutscenes. Majority of the gameplay hovered around 25-30 fps.
I knew it was never gonna reach the level of detail and smoothness that I get on the PS5 and LG C2 combo that I usually play on. There was plenty of noticeable stuttering especially during the busier sections of the game. But I didn’t think any of it was game breaking.
Audio wasn’t as loud as I hoped it would be despite me playing in a pretty quiet room. I opted to pair it with Bluetooth earbuds (OnePlus Buds Pro 2) to get the most of the audio. There were no audio delays whatsoever which was a very welcome development.
My average play time was about one hour and 20 minutes. That’s with the battery going from 100% to 20% each time.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Coming from the same Studio and pretty much being essentially the same game, Spider-Man: Miles Morales didn’t run too differently from Spider-Man Remastered.
I played in the exact same conditions: Indoor room, AC on, started at 100%, performance mode, and medium brightness settings. Curiously, the frame dips happened more during open-world swinging and not as much during cutscenes. This could be because of the busier version of New York due to the events of the game being set during the Christmas season.
But the numbers weren’t too different. I still maxed at 31 fps, with most of the gameplay hovering around 25-30 fps, and the lowest dip coming in at 16fps.
Again, nothing game breaking and it is much more tolerable during gameplay. Naturally, you have to have your expectations set properly. The ROG Ally is, after all, a handheld gaming PC.
Average play time is around one hour and 25 minutes with about 75% to 80% of the battery life being consumed.
Returnal
Returnal is one of the titles I was most excited to try. I was curious about how the audio and controller rumble would translate to the ROG Ally. On the PS5, Audio and DualSense implementation are two of the game’s many strengths.
Due to audio cues on enemies’ locations, this game is best played with earbuds/headphones on. The experience on the ROG Ally isn’t quite 3D Audio on PS5 levels, but it’s as close as it gets.
The same can be said for the controller rumble. It’s not as precise nor finely implemented as the DualSense – that’s a unique feature after all. However, I was still thoroughly impressed with how the ROG Ally implemented rumble in certain sections of the game. The rumble effect is also a testament to how well-built the Ally is. Despite the internals shaking, the Ally never felt brittle nor that it would suddenly come apart.
Knowing this is a shooter game, I turned the framerate limiter off and reached highs of 115 fps. The framerate did dip to as low as 15 fps which is about the widest variance I got from any game I played using the Ally. This did affect gameplay especially during sections where I had to deal with multiple enemies.
I did experience plenty of crashes which isn’t ideal for a game like Returnal whose progress relies on you surviving as long as you can on a single run through. But this only happened during the first few minutes. After a while, it seemed like the ROG Ally had adjusted to the performance-demands of the game.
It took about an hour and 10 minutes before I had to plug-in the Ally to not lose a playthrough.
Remote Play?
Since the ROG Ally is essentially a handheld gaming PC, you can certainly install the Remote Play app on it. However, you can’t just immediately use the gamepad. To play Horizon: Forbidden West, and generally just run the app, I had to pair the Ally with my DualSense controller.
You can map the gamepad so that it works but mapping isn’t an activity I enjoy nor did I have the time (I had to return the review unit) to do it. Other reviewers pointed to using a third-party app called Chiaki. But again, I didn’t have time to test it. I did see gameplay of it though so it seems to be working just fine.
Knowing that you can do all these on the Ally actually makes you question the upcoming PlayStation Q handheld. Sure, the integration will likely be seamless. But its core function can already be replicated on other handhelds and handheld-like devices. I digress.
It’s worth noting that the relatively smooth experience I had with the ROG Ally was also aided by an internet connection that constantly hovers in the 250+ mbps range along with a Wi-Fi 6 router.
The ROG Ally is PlayStation friendly
If you want to know what it’s like playing PlayStation 5 games on a handheld device, the ROG Ally is easily one of the best devices to play with. The gameplay isn’t quite as smooth but you shouldn’t expect it to be. And yes, you’ll find yourself reaching for the power adapter after a little over an hour of playthrough. But being able to play AAA titles on a handheld device still feels crazy to me.
Having started gaming on a family computer and covering tech for a living, it’s still mind-blowing to me how far technology has come. The stuff I only dreamed of as a little fat gamer is coming true thanks to the ROG Ally and its contemporaries.
The ROG Ally Z1 Extreme retails for US$ 699. The ROG Ally Z1 variant retails for US$ 599. Pre-orders begin on May 11. It will be available for sale worldwide on June 13, 2023.
![](https://149367133.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/gadgetmatch-366x120a-3-1.png)
![](https://149367133.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/realme-buds-q2s-watching-fiba-euro-basketball-giannis-gadgetmatch-20220915.jpg)
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tips off on August 25. It offers hoops fans the ultimate experience to see the sport’s best global stars.
No less than Gilas Pilipinas will do its best to represent the Philippines proudly at home. Hundreds of thousands are expected to watch the prestigious event in-person from August 25 to September 10.
For those who do not have the luxury of attending live, there are still various ways to watch the World Cup. You can use whatever device from wherever location you’re from.
Here’s a quick rundown:
TV
For Cignal TV prepaid and postpaid subscribers, a one-time Pay-Per-View fee of PhP 650 entitles viewers to all 92 games of the FIBA World Cup in both SD (Ch. 198 and 199) and HD (Ch. 298 and 299).
They will come commercial-free and with access to exclusive FIBA content such as documentaries and highlights of previous tournaments.
For people mainly interested in Gilas Pilipinas games, TV5 is the surefire way to catch the action. The channel is accessible for free via CignalPlay and via any way you access free TV, like digiboxes.
Smartphones, tablets
For smartphone and tablet users, there are a handful of streaming apps that will show the World Cup games live and on demand.
Cignal’s novel streaming platform, Pilipinas Live will show all 92 games for a PhP 99 a month subscription.
Unlike cable subscriptions, this rate does not have a lock-in period. A month would be enough since the World Cup runs from August 25 to September 10. You can cancel afterwards.
Games will also be shown on the Smart Livestream app for FREE. To watch all 92 games, Smart subscribers simply have to connect to a Smart mobile data, TNT or PLDT WiFi while using the Smart LiveStream App. The app is downloadable on the App Store and Google Play Store.
Speaking of Gilas, Smart has a prepaid Gilas Power subscription promo which is inclusive of 78GB of total data, including a fixed allocation for the Livestream app and open access data good for a month.
PC and laptops
For PC and laptop users, the best workaround is availing of CignalPlay Premium, which starts at just PhP 75 monthly, inclusive of most channels you’re used to seeing on cable TV from movies to sports to news channels and more.
![HONOR 90 Intramuros](https://149367133.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/gadgetmatch-20230814-honor-90-intramuros-1.jpg)
There’s something inexplicable when you set foot inside Intramuros, also known as Manila’s walled city.
Historical buildings and landmarks continue to stand the test of time, becoming a home to cultural pursuits and a display of Manila’s rich history.
Every nook and cranny picture a story that only shows when you take the moment to walk through its cobblestone alleys.
That je ne sais quoi of the walled city is indescribable with mere words.
Yet, here are some attempts to capture its grandeur using the HONOR 90 5G, one afternoon stroll inside Intramuros.
Heritage bar
First stop: Batala Bar! This heritage bar located in Plaza San Luis has always been a staple to our Intramuros strolls. Situated in front of San Agustin Church, the bar can be easily seen while traversing the cobblestones of General Luna Street.
It’s a two-story bar serving craft beer, craft coffee, specialty ice cream, and delightful meals worth taking any time of the day.
It also shares a space with the Philippine Artisan Trade Gallery on the second level, housing unique handmade products exclusive to the Philippines.
There’s a balcony where you can enjoy the warmth of the afternoon sun while admiring the quietness of the city.
On the other side, there’s an overlooking view of the fountain in Plaza San Luis. You can also get a glimpse of Casa Manila, a living museum of what life as an affluent Illustrado looked like in the past.
It’s a glance at an opulent life from centuries ago. The architecture and intricate details served as a photo opportunity for the ‘gram.
Good food, good company
What’s good food without company? GadgetMatch’s Philippine team was out for a late lunch with our jet-setter and freelance journalist friend, Ayano Tominaga.
While waiting for our meals, we ordered a seasonal fruit shake. Batala bar served us a dragon fruit shake — which was currently in season — blended with banana and milk. It’s best to cool down from the scorchingly hot weather with a tasty, ice-cold blended beverage!
I ordered a Tinapa Puttanesca. It’s a linguine pasta savored in homemade red sauce, capers, olives, and of course, Tinapa. ICYDK, Tinapa is a smoked fish usually made from blackfin scad or milkfish.
On the other hand, Martynne ordered a Shiitake Aglio Olio. It’s an oil-based pasta cooked with tomato, paprika, and chili flakes, and topped with vegan parmesan, basil, and lemon.
Meanwhile, Vincenz ordered a Pollo Quesadilla. It’s basically chopped chicken adobo stuffed with mozzarella cheese, red onion, pickled chili, and tomato salsa.
Rodneil and Ayano ordered Bomba Longga Silog, which is loosely translated as a bomb Spanish sausage with fried rice and egg. It really is a bomb, though!
The homemade skinless Spanish sausage tasted delicious, served alongside a sunny-side-up egg, pickled vegetables, and garlic rice. It simply is a good pick-me-up order, any time of the day.
Ice cream, anyone?
Given that the Philippines is basically a tropical country that has summer weather all year round, Batala Bar is a good spot to cool down after a long walk inside Intramuros.
They serve homemade ice cream that even I, a lactose-intolerant kiddo, can’t resist.
Rodneil and Ayano shared one serving of Banana Split Sundae, which melted in just a few minutes. That’s how hot that day was.
Making my way downtown
After our merienda, we walked alongside General Luna Street to head over to Fort Santiago, a citadel where the Philippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal, was imprisoned before.
Of course, it’s not a quick walk across a few blocks. Martynne took the chance to have her photos taken by yours truly.
We also stopped by the Manila Cathedral and got some bottled water in the shade of trees situated in Plaza Roma, a public square in Intramuros.
While everyone was hydrating, Martynne posed in front of the cathedral. I played around with the wide-angle lens to make the shot somewhat touristy. Let’s pretend we’re not always in Manila.
Hidden cafe!
After queueing to get to Fort Santiago, we made our way to the hidden cafe tucked in the corners of the defense fortress. Papakape, which had its first branch as a glass house cafe in Makati, opened its doors inside Fort Santiago.
It’s situated inside a 400-year-old water cistern, extended with an al fresco garden seating.
The interiors, albeit quite small, are as cozy as any home.
Bayongs, traditional handwoven bags made of dried leaves, are displayed in the corner along with a wooden guitar.
Another corner seemed pretty for a spot to read and write, what with the cozy lamp and table facing a brick wall.
Papakape offers a few, good coffee that we thoroughly enjoyed. We tried the Black Gulaman Americano, an espresso-based drink with pandan syrup, grass jelly, and basil seeds.
The same drink that Canadian Singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen drank when she visited Papakape early this year.
Another signature drink is called Tahoat, a combination of Taho (Silken Tofu mixed with Brown Sugar Syrup and Sago Pearls) and Oatmilk.
Of course, it’s also espresso-based and instead of purely silken tofu, it used soy curds and tapioca pearls.
Capping it off
Intramuros puts on a different face when the sun sets and the night fills the street. We decided to call it a day and part ways after having good laughs and conversations inside the walled city.
But before that, we took one last glance at the outdoor seating in Papakape. It hits differently when you enjoy the drink in total silence, completely disconnected from the hustle-bustle of Manila and the hubbub of the tourists flocking the defense fortress.
We also didn’t pass up an opportunity to do a photo-op inside the ruins. For the ‘gram, remember?
And what’s a day without a sunset photo? Overlooking the Pasig River and Manuel A. Roxas Memorial Bridge, the sunset allowed us a moment to recollect our thoughts and memories.
It was a good day filled with good food, conversations, sight, story, and company.
Before we get off Fort Santiago, here’s a night shot of a tree adorned with pretty lamps at night. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll take you on another tour. Perhaps, Intramuros After Dark?
An exquisite camera
The HONOR 90 5G is an excellent midrange smartphone equipped with a superb camera system that will let any user capture sights and stories. It’s certainly a device worth using, not just for the ‘gram, but for capturing your daily life.
Pre-order HONOR 90 5G from August 16-25, 2023 for only Php 24,990 and Get a FREE JBL Flip 6 worth Php 7,499 until supplies last! Get it via Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop.
This feature article is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and HONOR Philippines.
![Taiwan Canon EOS R8](https://149367133.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/taiwan-canon-eos-r8-feature-thumbnail-20230814.jpg)
Nowadays, my stress comes from the fact that living in the Philippines can be overwhelming. Honestly, so much of my energy in the day goes to the hybrid work setup plus attending to responsibilities within the household. Not to mention, there’s not much that the metro could offer as a respite for the working professional. You’d think that short breaks will be of use when every day is just a greater grind than the day before.
So, along with the group of people I consider as my family outside home, I decided to give myself that long-needed trip overseas. Obviously, we booked the tickets way before and I needed to make sure that I would use this time to be away from home for a while; to disconnect, if you will. Of course, just to make sure I keep the memories safe, I’m bringing the Canon EOS R8 with me.
We departed from Manila, and was finally en route to a small, bustling island known simply as Taiwan.
The sights within the streets
My significant other and I had a game plan on how to completely maximize one week in Taiwan. This while also considering I still had work to do.
Part of the itinerary was to explore as much of the Taipei area. This includes every nook and cranny that presented itself. With the Canon EOS R8, this was pretty easy.
Needless to say, I looked like I was gathering memories of the simple streets that the country had to offer.
The food we got to eat
Part of any person’s journey to another country is trying out all the food that’s out for the tasting. Fortunately in Taiwan, there was an abundance of establishments and food spots that you simply cannot miss.
Of course, as working professionals, you can’t help but try your luck at some cafes in the area, and there were a lot of them.
The EOS R8 enabled me to capture some of the food I got to try with near-perfect detail. Even the most minute detail on specialized caffeinated drinks became the highlight of the photos I took. Although, it wouldn’t be as quick and easy to get the perfect shot compared to using a powerful smartphone.
The attractions we got to experience
It wouldn’t be a trip to another country without going everywhere and anywhere that stands out to us. In my case, apart from the streets, it’s the grand attractions that even the most typical of tourists visit. Considering that most of these are attractions even during night time, this would be the perfect opportunity to see if the EOS R8 stacks up.
During the entire time I was in Taiwan, most of the mornings were pretty cloudy so daytime shots had a dimness to them.
At some point in the day, it rained and you can imagine how difficult it is to bring a camera with a long camera lens to boot.
Still, the shots I took looked pretty decent and no details were sacrificed.
Night time shots and even photos in less than favorable lighting conditions were good enough.
Shifting to Manual Focus gave me the opportunity to create the near-perfect conditions to take quality night shots within Taiwan’s well-known night markets.
Also, since the Museum of Contemporary Art had an exhibition under rather low-light conditions, I also gave it a shot.
The company you’re with
One great thing I appreciated about this trip was the fact that I was with great company all throughout.
Sure, there was only like one full day wherein we all had one place in mind, but it was worth it!
Because I had the EOS R8 for the trip, I became the group’s photographer whenever possible.
In a way, we all needed the disconnect from going through our usual routines back in Manila. Even though most of us still had work to do during the last few days before heading home, it felt refreshing. Plus, I think it allowed us to get work done faster to enjoy the trip as much as we can!
Heading home
After one whole week of walking around, taking beautiful pictures and having delicious meals, it was time. An early morning flight back to Manila was waiting for us at the airport, which was honestly just a handful of train stops away from the main Taipei area. Unfortunately, the Canon EOS R8 was already tucked inside my luggage and I didn’t have enough time to pull it out once we got to the airport.
Although, what I do appreciate about it is how compact it can be when storing it inside. Despite having a rather wide body and with a long camera lens, it doesn’t take up too much space. In my case, it was better to tuck it inside a carry-on with bubble wrap and reinforced with soft clothing. After a few hours and a delay in our flight time, we arrived in Manila and returned to the heat of the world.
For trips like these, having both the Canon EOS R8 and a smartphone of choice allowed me to capture beautiful yet short-lived moments in time. Whether we were inside closed spaces or exploring the natural attractions, it grabs everything in full detail with the proper adjustments. I would consider this as a must-have for anybody looking to travel anywhere they want; just make sure you make space and take care of it while you’re out.
SEE: Elevate your vlogging: Canon announced EOS R8, R50 cameras
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