Asus has officially unveiled the ROG Ally X, a handheld gaming PC that promises improvements over its previous model. Priced at $799, the ROG Ally X is now available for pre-order and will begin shipping on July 22nd.
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The ROG Ally X has 80 watt-hour battery, doubling the capacity of the original model. While Asus hasn’t provided specific battery life claims, the larger capacity suggests longer gaming sessions compared to the original ROG Ally.
Upgraded from 512GB to a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, the ROG Ally X uses the more common M.2 2280 size drives facilitating easier and cheaper upgrades.
Enhanced from 16GB 6400MHz LPDDR5 to 24GB 7500MHz LPDDR5, allowing for better performance and resource allocation between the GPU and system.
At 1.49 pounds (678g), the ROG Ally X is only 0.15 pounds (70g) heavier than the original. It is also 0.18 inches (4.5mm) thicker at its thickest point.
The new talcum-filled ABS/polycarbonate composite chassis is stronger, thinner, and lighter, reducing the weight from 176 grams to 134 grams.
The device features new fans that are 23% smaller but offer a 10% increase in airflow. The redesigned cooling module includes custom ultra-thin blades resulting in quieter and more efficient cooling.
The joysticks now use high-grade potentiometer-based ALPS sticks similar to those found in PS5 and Xbox controllers. They feature a wider base for better dust resistance and low friction POM plastic stems for smoother operation.
The joysticks are rated for 5 million rotation cycles (up from 2 million) and can be upgraded with drift-resistant Hall Effect magnetic joystick kits.
The D-pad is now eight-way and larger with face buttons that are 3mm taller and more stable. The triggers are wider and made of semi-transparent plastic.
The ROG Ally X replaces the proprietary XG Mobile eGPU port with a second USB-C port. One USB-C port offers Thunderbolt 4 capabilities, while the other provides 100W charging and 10Gbps data transfer.
Now featuring a full-length M.2 2280 PCIe 4 SSD slot, supporting double-sided drives for higher capacity and cost-effective storage options.
The handheld’s internals have been overhauled including lighter circuit boards and a more efficient cooling module. The new design results in a couple of degrees cooler operation and reduced audible noise. New vents help cool the touchscreen up to 6°C more effectively.
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Performance Modes:
- Turbo Mode: The Turbo mode still operates at 25W.
- Silent Mode: Bumped from 10W to 13W.
- Performance Mode: Increased from 15W to 17W.
A ring around the fingerprint power button improves tactile feedback. The rear intake vents are larger, and the back buttons are now screwed in, allowing for repositioning with custom 3D-printed rear shells.
The shoulder buttons are mounted differently to reduce the risk of breakage and the battery is rated to retain 80% capacity after three years of use.
The handgrips are deeper for better comfort and the position of joysticks and controls has been adjusted for easier transition. The device now features a new series of vents for better airflow.
The grips are studded with “ROG ROG ROG” text, similar to the PlayStation symbols on the PS5 controller. All ROG Ally devices in North America now come with a two-year warranty.
The ROG Ally X may not dethrone the Steam Deck OLED, as it lacks a more efficient chip and screen. The doubled battery capacity positions it strongly in the handheld gaming PC market.
Asus’ reputation for support has been questioned recently, but the introduction of a two-year warranty in North America shows a commitment to addressing customer concerns.
The ROG Ally X is available for pre-order at Best Buy for $799.99 and will begin shipping on July 22nd. The device comes with a 65W adapter and a 3-month Game Pass subscription.
The Asus ROG Ally X is thicker than the original Ally, the weight increase is minimal, just 0.15 lbs. This difference is barely noticeable when holding the two devices side by side.
The reason behind the thicker design is primarily thermal management. The original Ally had an issue where the display became uncomfortably hot during extended sessions which was problematic since the touchscreen is the main navigation tool for Windows.
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This new chassis design brings several improvements. The ROG Ally X now features two USB-C ports, one of which is Thunderbolt 4 compatible.
This change allowed Asus to eliminate the proprietary Asus XG Mobile interface, although it means the external GPUs marketed with the original device are no longer compatible. The inclusion of a Thunderbolt 4-compliant USB-C port means users can utilize a wide range of external GPUs.
Another change is in the SSD. The original ROG Ally used an M.2 2230 drive, which was cumbersome to replace. The ROG Ally X on the other hand uses an M.2 2280 SSD that is easily accessible once the back cover is removed.
Battery life has also seen an upgrade. The Ally X has 80Wh battery, double the original’s 40Wh. The device’s weight increase is minimal at just 0.15 lbs.
The ROG Ally X appears similar to its predecessor retaining the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and a 1080p display.
The device now features 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM clocked at 7500MHz, an increase from the original’s 16GB of RAM at 6400MHz. This enhancement is with Windows 11’s RAM-hungry nature.
Storage has been upgraded to a 1TB SSD, an increase from the original’s 512GB. Given the storage demands of modern AAA games.
The improved cooling system is expected to deliver better GPU and CPU performance, even though the chip itself hasn’t changed. The impact of these changes will become clear with further testing.
The display remains a 1080p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits peak brightness. While an OLED upgrade would have been appreciated.
The device now features deeper, more rounded handgrips, smaller rear macro buttons to reduce accidental presses, a more precise D-pad and more durable joysticks with stiffer springs.
The removal of the proprietary XG Mobile port in favor of two USB-C ports is another improvement. One of these ports supports Thunderbolt 4, allowing for greater versatility and compatibility with external GPUs.
Specifications:
- Display: 7-inch 1,920×1,080 touchscreen, 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits max brightness
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
- GPU: AMD Radeon
- Memory: 24GB LPDDR5X onboard (7,500MHz dual-channel)
- Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- I/O Ports: Audio combo jack, microSD card reader (UHS-II, 312MB/s), USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), USB-C (USB4, Thunderbolt 4 compliant)
- Audio: 2-speaker system with smart amplifier technology, Dolby Atmos, AI noise-canceling technology, Hi-Res Audio certification, built-in array microphone
- Battery: 80-watt-hour
- Power Supply: USB-C 65-watt power adapter
- Dimensions: 11×4.4×1.5 inches
- Weight: 1.5 pounds (678 grams).
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