ROG Ally, PlayStation Dual Sense ROG Ally, PlayStation Dual Sense

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How well do PlayStation games run on the ROG Ally?

Spoiler: Pretty good

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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 

      • 4nm 
      • Zen 4/ 8 core & 16 threads  
      • 24M cache 
      • CPU Clock: up to 5.10 Ghz 
      • TDP: 9 – 30 watts
GPU With AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Config: 

  • AMD Radeon™ Graphics 
  • RDNA3 & 4G RAM capacity / 8.6 TFlops 
  • 12 CU 
  • GPU Clock: 2.7GHz
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. 

ROG Ally, Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered

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

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

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?

ROG Ally, Dual Sense, Horizon Forbidden West

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.

Accessories

CASETiFY Match: Finding the right case for your Galaxy Z8 Series phone

Cases that match your personality

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CASETiFY cases for Galaxy Z8 series phones

A phone case can be more than protection. It can also be a way to show off your interests, personality, and the little things that make you, well, you.

For our CASETiFY Match for the Galaxy Z8 Series, we asked the team one question: Why was this CASETiFY design your Match?

From Spider-Man fandom and capybara obsession to feline-inspired art and snake motifs, here are the designs that found their way into our team’s everyday carry, plus a couple of bonus picks worth checking out.

Rodneil: A little New York energy for a certified web-head

If it wasn’t obvious enough, I’m a certified web-head. I love anything and everything Spider-Man, especially the iconic red-and-blue motif. Though, if we’re being honest, I’m more partial to the red.

I had my eyes on the Spider-Man suit design for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and the Spider-Man Mask Snappy Grip Stand. Unfortunately, those designs aren’t available for the Galaxy Z Fold8.

So, I went with a design that gives off a bit of New York energy instead. It still pairs nicely with the Spidey Snappy Grip Stand, letting me bring a little of that Spider-Man vibe to my everyday setup.

V: Keeping it cool with capybaras

I’ve been a capybara stan since 2020, long before the world finally caught up with just how cute and chill these animals are. Seeing them get the recognition they deserve has been a source of much excitement.

Finding cool and cute capybara cases and accessories for the phones I use every day, however, hasn’t always been easy.

That’s where Deville Dewil’s capybara collection comes in. It fills that gap while making my Galaxy Z Fold8 feel like an even more personal accessory.

At this point, I’d like to identify as a capy/bara.

Luigi: A cat design that’s playful without being too loud

There’s no shortage of cat-themed cases out there. If you’re a cat lover like me, chances are you’ve considered one at some point.

The tricky part is finding a design that isn’t too whimsical or loud. I love the little furballs, but I still want something sleek and clean.

CASETiFY’s cat collection speaks to that balance. In particular, this design by Catwheezie blends artistry with a touch of whimsy. It lets me show off my personality without being too flashy.

MJ: A little reputation energy

I’ve always had a soft spot for snake motifs, and CASETiFY’s Transparent Kingsnake case gives me Taylor Swift’s reputation era energy.

I love how snakes symbolize transformation. As someone who’s always evolving and never afraid to reinvent himself, that meaning feels personal.

The black-and-white design also brings a sleek, rebellious edge. Paired with my Galaxy Z Flip8, it’s giving statement accessory with a little bite.

Bonus Match: Sunglasses at Night

Sometimes, keeping it simple is the way to go. The Sunglasses at Night design is tasteful and understated, letting me show off the actual color of my phone without competing with it.

Bonus Match: Pink Weekly Planner

For the girls (and gaes) who plan their days–and life–ahead. And of course, for when they need to keep their Wednesdays pink.

Find your Match

There’s no single way to find a phone case that feels right. It might be a favorite character, an animal you’ve loved for years, a piece of art, or a symbol that means something to you.

For our team, the right CASETiFY design is the one that brings a little more personality to a device we carry every day.

So, which design would be your Match?

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Hands-On

Apple iPhone Duo Unboxing and Hands-on

Supported apps, crease, cameras, and MagSafe all tested

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Apple’s iPhone Duo is finally here!

Aside from unboxing the all-new iPhone-dable in Night Sky, we take a closer look at the display crease, check out the under-display camera quality, see which MagSafe accessories work with it.

Most of all, which apps support it (or not).

But how well does the dual-screen experience on an iPhone actually work? Watch our Apple iPhone Duo unboxing and hands-on to know more!

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Buyer's Guide

iPhone Duo Philippines: Prices, installments, and where to buy

Compare prices and payment options

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The iPhone Duo is now available for pre-order in the Philippines. Apple’s first foldable iPhone comes in four storage configurations, with promotional prices ranging from PhP 159,990 to PhP 254,990.

But which model should you buy, and where should you get it?

Several authorized retailers offer discounted launch prices, 0% credit card installments, and pre-order bundles. Eligible bank promotions can also reduce the price by thousands of pesos.

Here’s what you need to know before ordering.

iPhone Duo Philippines price list

Storage Regular SRP Promotional price
256GB PhP 170,990 PhP 159,990
512GB PhP 187,990 PhP 175,990
1TB PhP 221,990 PhP 207,990
2TB PhP 271,990 PhP 254,990

The promotional prices are based on Power Mac Center’s published exclusive launch offer. Other retailers may have different payment requirements or participating bank promotions.

Prices reflect Power Mac Center’s published exclusive launch offer and may differ across retailers. We’ll update this guide as we verify each store’s latest offers.

Pre-orders run from October 16 to 29, 2026, ahead of the October 30 launch.

Which storage should you buy? Get the 512GB

Our recommendation is simple: skip the 256GB and get the 512GB iPhone Duo.

At PhP 159,990, the 256GB version is already an expensive purchase. While it offers enough storage for everyday tasks, it could become restrictive as your photo library, videos, games, and downloaded files grow.

The 512GB model costs PhP 16,000 more under the promotional pricing. That buys twice the storage capacity without the significantly larger price jump to 1TB.

Spread across 24 months, the difference is approximately PhP 667 per month.

For a phone this expensive, we’d rather pay that difference than constantly manage storage or rely on cloud subscriptions.

The 1TB and 2TB configurations remain options for people who regularly shoot large amounts of video or need substantial offline storage. However, most buyers won’t need to spend that much.

The 512GB iPhone Duo offers the best balance of storage and price.

Where to buy the iPhone Duo in the Philippines

Power Mac Center

Power Mac Center offers the iPhone Duo 512GB at an exclusive launch price of PhP 175,990.

Its published installment options include:

Term Monthly payment
24 months at 0% PhP 7,332.92
36 months at 0% PhP 4,888.61

The 24-month option is available with credit cards and Home Credit under the published offer. The 36-month option is subject to eligible bank cards and promotional periods.

Installment amounts are based on Power Mac Center’s published promotional pricing and applicable 0% installment terms. Actual payments depend on the eligible card and transaction. We’ll update this section as we verify the latest terms.

Power Mac Center also operates UpTrade, which lets customers trade in eligible devices toward a new purchase.

Beyond the Box

Beyond the Box offers iPhone Duo pre-orders with installment options of 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months at participating physical stores. Online payment options differ.

Using the PhP 175,990 promotional price as a comparison, a 0% installment would cost:

Term Monthly payment
12 months PhP 14,665.83
24 months PhP 7,332.92
36 months PhP 4,888.61
Monthly payments are illustrative calculations based on the PhP 175,990 promotional price, assuming 0% interest and no additional fees. Confirm the final price and available installment terms with Beyond the Box before purchasing. We’ll update this section once the retailer confirms its current offers.

Beyond the Box also advertises a pre-order accessory bundle worth over PhP 22,000 at listed retail prices. It includes a Speck case, Urbanista speaker, Function101 charger, Momax speaker flask, Bellroy tech kit, and other accessories.

The retailer says qualifying pre-orders receive the gift bundle, subject to availability. Buyers can also explore its BoxTrade program.

Digital Walker

Digital Walker participates in iPhone Duo pre-orders and selected bank promotions.

Using the PhP 175,990 promotional price as a comparison, the illustrative monthly payments would be:

Term Monthly payment
12 months at 0% PhP 14,665.83
24 months at 0% PhP 7,332.92
These are calculated examples, not confirmed Digital Walker quotations. Actual pricing depends on the final transaction, participating bank, and installment terms. We’ll update this section when the retailer confirms its current offers.

Digital Walker also participates in the Live Beyond Grand Raffle, which gives qualifying iPhone Duo purchases a chance to win an exclusive dinner for two at Toyo Eatery. The raffle is a chance to win, not a guaranteed purchase benefit.

Digimap

Digimap offers the iPhone Duo through its retail channels, with participating bank promotions and its DigiTrade program.

Metrobank lists Digimap among its participating retailers offering special iPhone Duo cash pricing.

For the 512GB model, the reference promotional price is PhP 175,990. At 0% interest, that would equal PhP 14,665.83 monthly over 12 months or PhP 7,332.92 over 24 months.

These amounts are illustrative calculations, not verified Digimap installment quotations. Digimap’s exact installment amounts and applicable terms have not yet been independently verified. We’ll update this section once the retailer confirms its current offers.

Buyers should compare the final cash price against available credit card installment offers. Trade-in credits may also reduce the amount payable, depending on the assessed value of the device.

The Loop

The Loop participates in several iPhone Duo bank promotions, including an offer from Security Bank.

The retailer’s reference promotional price for the 512GB model is PhP 175,990. At 0% interest, the illustrative payments would be:

Term Monthly payment
12 months PhP 14,665.83
24 months PhP 7,332.92
These are calculated examples based on the reference promotional price, not confirmed quotations from The Loop. Actual payments depend on eligible bank cards and transaction terms. We’ll update this section as we verify the latest offers.

The Loop also participates in bank-specific discounts. Buyers should check whether their card qualifies and whether the discount can be combined with other retailer offers.

Bank discounts can make a difference

Security Bank currently advertises a PhP 5,000 discount on qualifying iPhone Duo purchases at participating retailers, including Power Mac Center, Beyond the Box, Digital Walker, and The Loop.

For the 512GB model, that brings the promotional reference price from PhP 175,990 to PhP 170,990.

Installment term Monthly payment
12 months at 0% PhP 14,249.17
24 months at 0% PhP 7,124.58
36 months at 0% PhP 4,749.72
Monthly payments are calculated from the PhP 170,990 discounted price, assuming an eligible 0% installment transaction with no additional fees. The discount is subject to the bank’s promotional terms and participating merchant conditions. We’ll update this section if the offer changes.

EastWest also advertises savings of up to PhP 17,000 on qualifying iPhone Duo purchases at Power Mac Center and The Loop. Its promotion includes 0% installment options for 12 or 24 months, with the final discount depending on the applicable terms.

Metrobank separately lists iPhone Duo offers at Power Mac Center, The Loop, Beyond the Box, Digital Walker, and Digimap. Benefits differ by merchant and transaction.

Before choosing a payment method, check the final amount payable. Some bank offers cannot be combined with other promotions.

iPhone Duo

Postpaid options: Smart and Globe

Smart Communications

Smart offers the iPhone Duo through Postpaid Plans+ 1999, with advertised monthly payments starting at PhP 6,304.

The offer includes an open-line device, a choice of Unli App bundle, 12 months of UNLI 5G, and high-priority network access.

Customers who qualify for the pre-order promotion can also receive 18GB of additional Open Access Data valid for three months, a PhP 5,000 voucher for select Smart accessories, and 18% off select Digimap accessories.

Online pre-orders also qualify for a complimentary AirTag, subject to the offer’s conditions.

Smart supports zero-interest credit card installments over 24 months with select banks. Renewing subscribers may qualify for 36-month device payments charged to their postpaid bill.

Advertised monthly payments and promotional benefits are subject to Smart’s eligibility requirements and offer conditions. The total cost depends on the selected device configuration and plan. We’ll update this section as we verify the complete cost breakdown.

Globe Telecom

Globe also offers Apple devices through its postpaid channels.

However, we have not independently verified a complete iPhone Duo price and installment breakdown for its current GPlan offers.

Buyers considering Globe should compare the device cashout, monthly plan fee, contract duration, and total payable amount against the outright retail price.

Globe’s current iPhone Duo device pricing and installment terms have not yet been independently verified. We’ll update this section when the relevant details are available.

Should you trade in your old phone?

Trading in an existing device can reduce the cost of upgrading.

Power Mac Center, Beyond the Box, and Digimap operate trade-in programs. However, final valuations depend on the device’s condition, storage, and assessment results.

Before committing, compare the assessed trade-in value against potential private-sale prices. Also check whether a trade-in bonus can be combined with the promotional price and bank discounts.

What should you check before buying?

Before placing an order, keep these points in mind:

  • Final price: Confirm the amount you’ll actually pay after eligible discounts.
  • Installments: Compare total cost, monthly payments, and any additional fees.
  • Freebies: Check which gifts are guaranteed and whether they’re subject to availability.
  • Stock: Confirm the availability of your preferred storage configuration and color.
  • Trade-ins: Ask for the final assessed value and any promotional bonus.
  • Warranty: Understand the standard warranty and any optional protection plan.
  • Network compatibility: Confirm eSIM support if you’re keeping your existing number.
  • Delivery: Ask when your order is expected to arrive, particularly if the model is on back order.

Is the iPhone Duo worth buying?

The iPhone Duo starts at PhP 159,990, putting it firmly in premium flagship territory. Its foldable design offers a larger screen for viewing content, gaming, and multitasking while retaining a compact outer display when closed.

For most buyers, we’d recommend the 512GB model at PhP 175,990. It offers twice the base storage for PhP 16,000 more, without the much larger price jump to 1TB.

Power Mac Center currently provides one of the clearest published installment schedules, while Beyond the Box offers a substantial pre-order accessory bundle.

Security Bank cardholders should pay particular attention to the PhP 5,000 discount available at participating retailers. Smart is another option for buyers who already want a postpaid subscription, although its total contract cost deserves closer examination.

Ultimately, compare the final amount payable, not just the advertised monthly payment. The right offer should give you the storage you need without unnecessary charges or restrictions.

Last updated: October 17, 2026. We are verifying retailer-specific prices, installment terms, trade-in offers, and freebies. This guide will be updated as additional details are confirmed.
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