The ROG Ally has been a raw material among thebest hand-held gambling PCssince it launch . Even amid a flurry of contest , Asus ’ handheld has been theonly true competitorto the space that ’s been dominated by the Steam Deck . The ROG Ally X is Asus trying to take the crown .
It may see the same , but the ROG Ally X is quite the update . It has good specs , better ergonomics , better battery life , and better mastery . Asus knows it , too . It ’s asking $ 800 for the ROG Ally X as opposed to the $ 700 it asked for the original model , despite both gadget sport the same chip . gratefully , there ’s enough here to justify the agio . If you need to get up to speed on the Ally , make certain to read ourAsus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme review .
After spending some time with the ROG Ally X , I ’ve had worry going back to my Steam Deck . Asus ’ handheld is faster , it finally competes on stamp battery life , and Asus has done a spate of study to smooth out out the quirk of Windows 11 . I ’m sticking with mySteam Deck over the ROG Ally X , but if I had to do it all over again , I ’d probably nibble up Asus ’ novel handheld .
Familiar but different
The ROG Ally X looks the same as the original model , short of its new black colorway , and I ’d forgive you for mean it ’s selfsame . The out shell has n’t been have-to doe with much , but just about everything else has .
It ’s shocking how much more comfortable the machine is to hold , and I found myself getting carried away for hours - long gaming sessions . Everything is promote .
In your helping hand , Asus ditched the sharp , angulate niche on the original Ally for a rounded design that ’s a routine more comfy in the palms . By far the biggest boost for comfort are the new rearward button , however . Asus massively cut them down .
They ’re probably a fourth of the size of the original , and they ’re promote more toward the centerfield . you may still easily reach the rear release with your finger , but I was felicitous to ignore them while hold the handheld . They never so much as crop my knuckle .
Although the exterior of the Ally Xlooksthe same , it is n’t . There ’s a underage 4.5 mm bump , which create the grips on the side just a short bit larger . They ’re still not as large as theSteam Deck , but it ’s an improvement over the original conception . Rather than clamping the machine between my palms , as I had to do on the original friend , I can give onto it with my fingerbreadth .
There ’s a magnanimous upgrade to comfort , but an even more substantial rise when you look at the buttons . The face buttons have n’t been touched , but everything else has . The joysticks are grade for twice as much strength as the original , and they ’re a soupcon blotto .
The original joysticks matt-up too loose . The D - launching pad is significantly skilful , with a matte stopping point and dependable control over sloping comment . The respectable upgrade here are definitely the induction and shoulder buttons , though .
On the original invention , the trigger and shoulder buttons were in a square blood — you would often constrict one when you intend to urge on the other . Now , the triggers are a flake recondite than the shoulder clit , and they have a more significant curvature .
amazingly , I was able to comfortably playHalo : The Master Chief Collection , which I exclusively play on keyboard and mouse . The shoulder push are a big upgrade , too . They ’re clicky , alike to an Xbox controller , and far from the mushy shoulder buttons on the original Ally .
The tone in the hands here is exactly what you ’d ask out of an updated variant of the original friend . Asus trim the parts that were unsound , enhanced the voice that were good , and get on a design that feel more than the inwardness of its parts . Asus is definitely the closest to the Steam Deck in term of solace now , even with competitors like theMSI Claw .
What’s different?
That ’s the invention dealt with , but there are a long ton of changes under the cowling of the ROG Ally X. Specs - wise , Asus is packing 24 GB of LPDDR5 memory now and a 1 TB SSD . That ’s also an M.2 2280 SSD — the same sizing as most PC and laptop SSDs — soupgrades are much easierand tacky . you’re able to carry up to an 8 TB SSD in this affair , which is an fearsome fate of games you’re able to take on the go .
Elsewhere , Asus ditch itsproprietary XG Mobile connectorin favor of a USB4 port wine that hold external GPUs , which lives alongside the USB - C porthole you habituate for charging . Asus also bone in a monumental 80WHr battery — double the battery size of the original model . The ROG Ally X now has the biggest barrage fire out of the mainstream handhelds , outgo theLenovo Legion Go‘s 49.20 - W - hour battery and the Steam Deck OLED ’s 50Wh battery by a significant margin .
Those are the major changes internally , but Asus kept a draw of thing the same — for good and bad . For better , you still get the fantabulous stereo speaker that showed up on the original Ally , along with a superpower push button that double as a fingermark reader for Windows Hello .
The screen is the same as well , with a 7 - inch size , 1080p resolution , and 120Hz refresh charge per unit . It ’s lost some lustre in theface of the Steam Deck OLED , but the display still looks wonderful .
There ’s one major point of vexation , though — the microSD card slot . It ’s in the accurate same position . If you recall , the original Ally had an payoff where the microSD card could fry itself due to excess heat energy . Asus patently fixate the problem with a BIOS update , but it ’s scandalous that the Ally X did n’t move the lineup ’s positioning .
The internals have been completely redesigned , so sure as shooting Asus could have move the expansion slot to somewhere else . Hopefully , it does n’t preserve to be an event , but I have n’t been able to test it thoroughly yet .
The chip at the heart of the ROG Ally X is the same as well . Asus stuck with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme buffalo chip , andunlike the original Ally , it wo n’t provide the Ally X with the base Ryzen Z1 — that ’s in all probability for the adept , as you could read in ourAsus ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 review . The ROG Ally X is n’t significantly fast than the original , but it has an unexpected boost to performance .
By the numbers
The ROG Ally X is very interesting due to its 24 GB of memory . The original example let in 16 gilbert . Although you do n’t typically ask a performance addition from more memory , it ’s important to remember that the ROG Ally X apply a scheme - on - a - flake ( SoC ) . The computer memory is share between the graphics and CPU . With 24 GB , you may allocate 8 GB to the GPU while maintaining a full 16 GB for the system , and that impacts operation .
At 1080p with the default Performance manner , you may see what that impact expect like . There are some games , such asCyberpunk 2077andDying Light 2,where there ’s basically no increase in performance .
In games that can use the additional memory , such asHorizon Zero DawnandReturnal , there ’s a massive uplift . I would n’t buy the ROG Ally X for increase performance — it just does n’t apply in every secret plan . In the games it does , however , it makes a populace of dispute .
One of the critique of the original Ally was how it compared to the Steam Deck down at 720p , and the ROG Ally X does n’t change that story much . A game likeHorizon Zero Dawnonce against prize the redundant memory on the Ally X , but the Steam Deck is still offering similar performance at its aboriginal resolution , despite sporting a much weaker chip .
Outside of the redundant memory , there ’s one unvalued change with the ROG Ally X when it come to carrying out . Asus pluck the power modes . You still get 25 watts in Turbo mode , which goes up to 30W if you ’re plugged into a wall . The Performance profile now draws 17W alternatively of 15W , and the Silent modality is at 13W instead of 9W.
The tweaks to power are saucy here . Now , functioning mode feels much closer to Turbo instead of a totally lower class , and Silent fashion is in reality usable . As with the original , you ’re free to go down a manual power visibility and tweak the world power between 9W and 30W , but the default profiles feel much well tuned out of the box .
A boon to battery life
Asus spill up the battery animation of the ROG Ally X , and for good reason . This is the biggest barrage fire we ’ve seen on a gaming handheld . It ’s twice the size of the battery in the original ROG Ally , and based on my testing , the ROG Ally X often survive doubly as long — and sometimes even longer .
To put it to test , I booted upForza Horizon 5with an uncapped frame rate and set the ROG Ally X to Turbo manner . With the original Ally , I was never able-bodied to execute the handheld this intemperately , and I had to view the battery capacity tick down like a clock . With the ROG Ally X , I forgot I was examine and just enjoy the game . After an minute , I look up and realized I still had 72 % battery remain . After letting the battery run its course , it died at just under three 60 minutes . The original Ally could croak in about 90 minutes under similar luck .
For a lighter test , I ran throughGravity Circuiton the standard Performance mode , barely touching the barrage capacitance after 90 Taiwanese utes of playing . I mistrust you ’ll be capable to get faithful to six hours out of a light plot on the ROG Ally X. That ’s not quite on the level of the Steam Deck , but it ’s closest we ’ve see any handheld get to this head .
In games , there ’s a singular improvement in battery life . The real downside here is Windows . Any kind of administrative task , from download games to configuring your options , enfeeble the electric battery like you were playing a game . I often incur myself jumping into a secret plan after already spend 10 % to 15 % of the electric battery just getting through everything off . That drainage is n’t as pregnant if you get direct into a game , but it ’s important to note nonetheless .
A new software system
The ROG Ally X usher in a fresh cheek to Armoury Crate SE — the software system Asus runs on top of Windows 11 . It ’s a clear improvement over the late interpretation of Armoury Crate , and an update that will roll out to the original ROG friend as well . This feel more like a proper handheld than ever , but Asus still has some bugs to crop through .
Starting with the goodness , Armoury Crate SE 1.5 launches instantly . There ’s a startup TV now , like to the Steam Deck , and you barely get a peep of the Windows background after log into the equipment . With the responsive startup and fingermark reader , italmostfeels like you ’re using the tailored experience the Steam Deck has . Even getting close is a feat look at how troublesome the software system is on a machine like the Lenovo Legion Go .
Inside , there are a deal of betterment to functionality . you’re able to ferment on features likeAMD ’s Fluid Motion Frames ( AFMF)from the overlay , custom-make how your library appears , and even change your inauguration movie . Like before , you get per - game button assignments , but instead of automatically creating a new profile for every plot , Asus countenance you choose between the default game mode or background modal value visibility . you may also partake bindings online — though , when I ’m writing this revaluation , there are n’t any bindings uncommitted .
It ’s a huge improvement . ab initio , I encountered a handful of bugs with the new interlingual rendition of Armoury Crate . The inputs would n’t register in the sheathing and AFMF straight - up did n’t turn . Thankfully , Asus addressed those issues within a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of the ROG Ally X entry . The latest version feel snappy , and all of the promised feature , including AFMF from the overlay , sour as expected .
Asus ROG Ally X: the verdict
After spend more calibre time with the ROG Ally X , I ’ve only acquire to enjoy it more . It ’s not without fault , as it has the same issue as the original role model due to its Windows 11 gumption . But the battery lasts longer , the performance is better , and the feel in the hands is a monumental leap forwards . This is n’t just a refresh . TheROG Ally X is better than the ROG Ally .
That does n’t think you should run out and grease one’s palms it . I urge the ROG Ally X wholeheartedly if you have $ 800 to spend on a handheld , particularly if Windows is of import to you . The fact stay that the original ROG Ally is important flash , however , as is the Steam Deck OLED . And considering that you caninstall Windows on the Steam Deck , paying up for the ROG Ally X does n’t make much gumption based on the operating organisation alone .
This is n’t the gimmick for those who already own an ROG Ally or a Steam Deck OLED . This is for the holdouts . It ’s for the ace whoare hang onto one of the first Steam Decks liberate , or those who have been digging through the deluge of newfangled handhelds and wait for the quirk to get worked out . For that buyer , the ROG Ally X is great — let ’s just hope it goes on cut-rate sale rather rather than later .
