ASUS has officially unveiled the ROG Ally X, a refined and more powerful iteration of their handheld gaming PC. While not a direct successor to last year’s ROG Ally, the Ally X addresses many of its predecessor’s shortcomings, offering a more premium option for gaming enthusiasts. One of the most significant upgrades in the ROG Ally X is its battery capacity, which has doubled from 40Wh to 80Wh. Although ASUS hasn’t provided specific battery life estimates, users can anticipate considerably longer gaming sessions compared to the original model.
Storage and memory enhancements are also noteworthy. The ROG Ally X now boasts 1TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage, up from 512GB. It uses standard M.2 2280 size drives, simplifying future upgrades and reducing costs. Memory has been increased to 24GB of 7500MHz LPDDR5 from 16GB 6400MHz LPDDR5, ensuring better performance with more resources allocated to the GPU without compromising system operations.
ASUS has re-engineered the internal cooling system, incorporating new, slimmer fans that deliver a 10% increase in airflow. This design effectively directs air toward the display, keeping it cool during intense gaming sessions. Additionally, the microSD card slot has been repositioned to avoid overheating issues caused by its proximity to the exhaust vent in the previous model.
The exterior design of the ROG Ally X features subtle yet significant changes. The body now showcases smoother curves, deeper handgrips for improved ergonomics, and repositioned controls for a more intuitive feel. The joysticks have been enhanced for better feedback and durability, while the redesigned D-pad offers smoother circular movements. The fingerprint sensor is now recessed for easier access, and the back buttons have been minimised to prevent accidental presses.
In terms of connectivity, the ROG Ally X replaces the previous combination of USB-C and ROG XG Mobile Interface with dual USB-C ports—one supporting Thunderbolt 4 and the other USB 3.2 Gen 2. These changes do add some weight, with the ROG Ally X weighing in at 678g, 68g heavier than its predecessor.
Some elements remain unchanged from the original ROG Ally. The ROG Ally X continues to run on the Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, paired with a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS LCD featuring AMD FreeSync Premium and is powered by a 4nm AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, featuring a Zen 4 architecture with 8 cores. The speakers and wireless connectivity options are also the same, and it includes a 65W charger. The software has been updated to the latest version of ASUS Armoury Crate SE, which will also be available for the original model, all running on Windows 11 Home.
The ROG Ally X represents a significant leap forward, addressing many issues highlighted in reviews of the original model. From enhanced battery life and an improved cooling system to a refined design and upgraded storage, ASUS has clearly listened to user feedback. Priced at $799 and available exclusively in black, the ROG Ally X is now open for pre-orders and includes a 3-month Game Pass subscription.
