The Asus ROG Ally made waves upon its launch last year, offering solid gaming performance but falling short in battery life. While its design and build quality were certainly competitive, thermal management issues limited its potential against top contenders in the handheld gaming market. The ROG Ally served more as an alternative to the Steam Deck rather than a true replacement.
A year later, Asus is re-entering the arena with the ROG Ally X, unveiled on June 2 ahead of Computex Taipei. This new portable gaming PC aims to tackle the pitfalls of its predecessor, featuring numerous enhancements. Notable improvements include a significant upgrade in battery capacity, now at 80Whr compared to the original’s 40Whr, along with increased memory and storage. Additionally, the ROG Ally X boasts a redesigned cooling system intended to address previous thermal issues.
Just two days post-launch, Asus showcased the ROG Ally X at Computex, granting Gadgets 360 an opportunity for a hands-on evaluation. While it’s difficult to fully gauge the impact of the enhanced specifications from a brief trial, first impressions suggest meaningful upgrades. The handheld’s new jet-black color scheme makes it less visually striking; in comparison, the original’s white finish provided a uniquely identifiable look, albeit with a tendency to show wear from usage.
The black colourway makes the ROG Ally X less striking
In terms of design, the ROG Ally X maintains a similar appearance to its predecessor, featuring a 7-inch full-HD IPS touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a brightness of up to 500 nits. Enhancements include a redesigned D-pad with a more tactile feel and a new matte finish, as well as updated joystick modules that promise improved control and durability. The face buttons remain unchanged but are claimed to offer a “springier” response.
Examining the handheld from different angles reveals more substantial changes. Due to the larger battery, the ROG Ally X is slightly thicker, measuring 1.45 inches compared to the original’s 1.28 inches. Its rounder, fuller grips enhance ergonomics, providing a more comfortable hold during gameplay. Despite a slight increase in weight, with the new model coming in at 678 grams and the original at 608 grams, Asus has managed to maintain a reasonably lightweight profile. The redesign of the shoulder buttons includes wider triggers for better ergonomics, while the smaller back buttons aim to minimize accidental presses.
The Asus ROG Ally X fits more ergonomically in your hands
Under the hood, the ROG Ally X addresses the battery limitations of its predecessor. With the original’s 40Whr battery lasting less than two hours during demanding gaming sessions, the new 80Whr battery is expected to enable significantly longer gameplay. While specific playtime metrics have not yet been released, further investigation will provide greater clarity once the handheld undergoes comprehensive testing.
The new model also incorporates 24GB of RAM operating at faster speeds of 7500MHz, with a split of 16GB for the system and 8GB for GPU tasks. This upgrade is expected to enhance overall gaming performance, though it retains the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Zen 4 platform with RDNA 3 graphics as its predecessor. Additionally, the ROG Ally X features out-of-the-box storage of 1TB SSD compatible with the more widely used M.2 2280-sized drives, in contrast to the 2230 standard of the original.
Changes extend to the repositioning of ports; notably, the proprietary XG Mobile port has been replaced with two USB Type-C ports, one compatible with Thunderbolt 4. Furthermore, Asus has revamped the cooling system, incorporating smaller fans that create additional space for the larger battery while improving airflow by approximately 24% compared to the previous model. This update is said to drop the touchscreen temperature by up to six degrees Celsius, addressing one of the key flaws of the 2023 version, although thorough testing is required to evaluate true thermal performance.
Ports have been repositioned and the ROG Ally X now features two USB Type-C connectors
Despite the upgrades, the ROG Ally X continues to grapple with issues stemming from its operating system. Running Windows 11, while versatile, presents challenges with its touchscreen interface, which is less user-friendly than the Steam Deck’s streamlined SteamOS. Asus has introduced a revised version of its Armoury Crate SE software, promising an improved, customizable interface that enhances navigation through game libraries.
During the Computex trials, Gadgets 360 was able to test titles such as Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Palworld, and Tekken 8. The games ran smoothly with no noticeable overheating, distinguishing the Ally X from other new competitors, like Zotac’s handheld, which exhibited performance issues under similar conditions. While a more detailed analysis will be necessary to evaluate the ROG Ally X’s gaming and thermal capabilities, the enhancements made on an already strong handheld position it favorably among its Windows-based counterparts.
The ROG Ally X is held back by Windows OS
The improvements, however, come at a premium. The Asus ROG Ally X is priced at $799 (approximately Rs. 66,700), an increase of $100 from the Z1 Extreme variant of the 2023 model. Pricing information for India is expected closer to the product’s local launch later this year. While the upgrades significantly enhance the handheld’s functionality, the absence of an OLED screen is notable. Nevertheless, taking into account the current pricing, Asus appears to have made strategic decisions for this mid-generation refresh. A conclusive verdict will follow a comprehensive review, but initial impressions indicate that the ROG Ally X has the potential to be a standout option in the market.
Disclosure: Asus sponsored the correspondent’s flights and hotel for the event in Taipei.
