Asus’ ROG Ally X is positioned as a refresher of the company’s PC handheld starting in 2023. Offering nominal design changes and some internal tweaks, Asus actively listens to the community, making refinements that should catch the interest of those holding out for a new handheld.
The list of changes and how much they impact gameplay and performance amount to what’s become my favourite handheld yet. By improving the battery by doubling the battery size, Asus addresses my biggest pain point regarding last year’s model. With the upgrade to 24GB of LPDDR5-7500 RAM and 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe SSD, the ROG Ally X does have some sticker-worthy updates. With a boost in performance, more intensive AAA games do end up playing a bit better.
While my time spent with the ROG Ally X has been positive, it all comes at a cost––quite literally. Launching at $1,099 in Canada, the new device is a noticeable amount more than the $899 price of the original. For a device that forgoes any improvements for its display or processor, it’s difficult to recommend to anyone who is waiting for a true successor. Additionally, a spec’d-out Steam Deck with an OLED is cheaper. Thus, the ROG Ally X is best served for those who want to invest in a refresh for improved battery life or ergonomics.
It’s hard to dispute that the biggest upgrade on the ROG Ally X is its battery. I really enjoy the original ROG Ally as a competitive device to Valve’s Steam Deck. However, it wasn’t without its rough edges and quirks. One of which was the lacklustre battery. The ROG Ally X addresses this by updating the 40Wh battery to an 80Wh battery, offering a 50 percent boost. Without even conducting any official tests, it was very apparent that the ROG Ally X had a better battery life.
The original ROG Ally struggled to get me through a play session on a Saturday afternoon. Flying with the device was a hassle as I would have to plug the device in after an hour or two while running on optimal or max settings. While being a mobile-focused device, I always had to travel with the USB-C charging cable to top the ROG Ally up. When playing a game like Cyberpunk 2077 on higher settings with max TDP and 6GB of VRAM and utilizing the 500 nits of brightness, I struggled to get more than an hour out of last year’s model.
The ROG Ally X’s improved battery does double the playtime you’ll get on a single charge. Playing indie games and less intensive titles like Hades II on medium to high settings, I’ve been able to squeeze upwards of nearly four hours of use from Asus’ new device. I would have liked to have seen that number improve slightly more. The playtime ultimately dictates the intensity of the game as well as the settings that are being used.
When opting to play Cyberpunk 2077 or Ghost of Tsushima on max settings, my playtime averaged at around two hours and 20 minutes––shy of a well-rounded two and a half hours. While not necessarily ridding the need to travel, charger in hand, it is considerably better. Asus does support some battery-saving tools alongside Windows 11’s Power mode. Optimizing the battery’s efficiency by lowering the brightness and TDP, I could tap the battery for an extra 25 minutes or so. While not ideal, there are options available to get a bit more longevity out of the ROG Ally X.
The ROG Ally X features two USB-C ports, one of which is a Thunderbolt-compatible port. Either one can be used to charge the device. Asus includes a pretty swell six-foot-long 65W charger with the ROG Ally X, so it’s great to use in an airport or on a flight. The original model features the same 65W charger and is capable of charging the device to 100% in 110 minutes. In my experience, battery charge time remains roughly the same. The ROG Ally X does support 100W chargers for a faster charge but I haven’t been able to test that myself.
Asus’ ROG Ally X continues to leverage the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. However, it’s now paired with 24GB of LPDDR5 RAM, clocked in at 7,500MHz. This is a noticeable upgrade from the 16GB at 6,400MHz of the original. So while base processing isn’t drastically changed, performance and memory speed are—unlocking the true potential of the ROG Ally X.
It’s a no-contest. If you want the best-performing games on an Asus handheld, the ROG Ally X is the option for you. I’m continuously astounded that I’m able to play Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with max settings enabled without dropping below 30fps. While prioritizing 60fps on games like Diablo 4 and Ghost of Tsushima, I’m able to reach better performances than the original model. This also extends to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a game I frustratingly struggled playing at a resolution over 720p.
Asus is also leveraging a handful of great Radeon settings to help maximize performance. For instance, jumping into the settings, I found that Radeon Super Resolution and FidelityFX Super Resolution were both widely supported across many of the games in my library. While sacrificing 1080p graphics in exchange for 800p, I could maximize gaming performance across the board. Considering Asus brought over the same 7-inch 120Hz FHD touchscreen, you likely won’t notice a difference in graphical fidelity. The thing I’ve always liked about the ROG Ally handheld was how well so many games run right out of the gate. As someone who hates tweaking every little setting, I’ve found it easy to hit the most obvious ones before booting up a game.
Asus’ move to a 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe SSD puts it on par with the storage available on the highest-end Steam Deck. The use of the NVMe SSD means games load and run the fastest possible on any ROG Ally. I have a sizeable library across Steam, Xbox, Ubisoft+ and the Epic Game Store. With 1TB of storage at your fingertips, you’ll have access to more games without having to uninstall a game for a new one. As someone who traditionally plays on a console, tapping into Xbox’s ‘Play Anywhere’ vision is fully realized using the ROG Ally. While not all of my library is available, a substantial amount of Game Pass titles are available to install or play on the cloud.
Out of all of the PC handhelds I’ve tested, the ROG Ally X is the most comfortable and to use for longer periods of time. Asus took notice of community feedback, went back to the drawing board and made some impactful changes to the overall design of the new device. Most notable is the microSD card slow is now in the top right of the device. Throughout my testing, I’ve never once run into overheating issues nor seen any evidence that the device could damage my microSD card. Asus also got rid of the XG Mobile port or a USB4 port. This means users can now use an external GPU with speeds of up to 40 Gbps or an external docking station. These are phenomenal changes that show Asus is willing to listen to its community and make changes that should excite users.
Cosmetic changes are also impactful to play sessions. ROG Ally X features new handles to support improved ergonomics. They’re far more comfortable than the original, especially after an hour of use. The thumbsticks are built for durability and said to offer a longer life cycle without risk of drift. The ROG Ally X also features an eight-axis D-Pad, which for someone who loves platformers, is a winning feature. However, it’s the redesigned back paddles that are my favourite design change. They’re smaller and positioned well. Asus designed them in a way where you’re less likely to press them accidentally when placing the device down.
On top of refinements to controls, Asus has also changed the chassis. It should be obvious by now but the company opted for a black design, moving way from the white. It’s clean and bold. The black colourway isn’t prone to fingerprints which is nice. To assist with improved thermals, the ROG Ally X features additional cutouts to remove weight and offer better ventilation. Despite having a battery that’s twice the size, ROG Ally X only weights 70 grams more than the original. It also features new fans that are 23 percent smaller, pushing up to 24 percent more air through the device.
Asus has made considerable improvements to the hardware. However, with every step forward, it’s held back by the Armoury Crate software. Designed as a way to navigate your library and menus on top of Windows 11, the new Armoury Crate SE 1.5 is still frustrating to use. This upgraded software offers familiar uses from that of the original ROG Ally but it still isn’t fully fleshed out.
The Armoury Crate is supposed to be the central hub where you can find options and games quickly. However, it’s far too cumbersome to be used effortlessly. The ROG Ally X features an Armoury Crate button on the right side of the display, opposite the Command Center button. In the Armoury Crate, you can toggle certain menu options, find games across platforms, etc. However, due to some settings like those offered by AMD software, I still had to bounce in and out of these menus. It’s also sluggish to load back up. The Armoury Crate is also where you can toggle and customize the device’s RGB lighting.
The nice thing about the Armoury Crate is that it provides this central menu where my games from Steam, Xbox, Epic Game Store, Battle.net, etc. can all be found in one spot. The other thing is the Command Centre where options like the FPS limit, TDP menu, Airplane Mode, resolution toggle, etc. can be found. The trade-off is that the Armoury Crate isn’t as easy to navigate as the Steam Deck’s interface is. Hopefully, Asus can work with Microsoft in the future to better refine Windows 11 in the future for a potential ROG Ally 2.
While far from the ROG Ally 2, the latest handheld from Asus is undisputedly a refinement in meaningful ways. With an ability to listen and execute on community feedback, the ROG Ally X is for all intents and purposes what should have been released last year. Making strides to deliver a better battery life, the handheld can now run at moderate to higher settings without having to reach for the charger every hour or so. Improvements to RAM and storage mean your game will run smoother and faster. On top of that, games run effortlessly right out of the box if you’re not one to tweak settings.
It’s still hard to say run out and grab an ROG Ally X if you already have the original model. However, if you’re in the market for a Windows 11-based handheld and want access to games from many platforms and services all in one place, ROG Ally X is a deserving investment. Just note that you’ll be paying top dollar as the device costs $1,099 in Canada.
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