The ROG Ally X is Asus’ new gaming handheld. Asus promises mainly improvements compared to its predecessor, but the price also rises sharply. So what do the first tests say?
With the ASUS ROG Ally X, the successor to the ROG Ally was released on July 22, 2024. On paper, there are some strong improvements, you can read all the details about the ASUS ROG Ally X directly on MeinMMO as an overview article.
The first tests show mixed results, but overall they speak for the improved handheld from ASUS.
Good battery life, weak operating system
What is the most important upgrade? The strongest upgrade, and all testers agree on this, is the larger battery: Because the ROG Ally X now contains a battery with 80 Whr, while the predecessor had only a battery with 40 Whr. And the difference is clearly noticeable. The tester from IGN.com explains that she was able to play Yakuza 0 on Full HD with a brightness of 80% for between 3 and 4 hours.
Jason England from Tomshardware shows this with a significant example:
- With the Steam Deck, you can play Cyberpunk 2077 for 1:25 hours before the battery runs out.
- With the ROG Ally X, he was able to play for 2:14 hours. And that is a significant improvement when comparing the numbers.
What do the testers say otherwise? The tester from TomsHardware.com reports that the device is really good and represents a significant improvement compared to its predecessor. Its biggest problem, as Jason England from Tomshardware points out, remains Windows on the device:
As long as there is no major operating system update from Microsoft that makes usage on a gaming handheld much easier, I will always recommend people to check out the Steam Deck.
Other testers add that the ergonomics of the ROG Ally X are really well done.
The cooling system is also said to be a plus point. The tester explains that even after “hours of gaming on the ROG Ally X,” the touchscreen remains pleasantly cool. “With the old model,” the tester states, “it was uncomfortable to switch games after a long gaming session because the touchscreen became so hot, and that simply does not happen with the ROG Ally X.”
The testers from Kotaku criticize, however, that at a price of more than 800 euros, at least a carrying case or a protective case should be mandatory. The display is also very prone to fingerprints.
ROG Ally X vs ROG Ally comparison:
| ASUS ROG Ally X | ASUS ROG Ally | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Ryzen Z1 Extreme | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| Graphics card | AMD Radeon:12CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops | AMD Radeon:12CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops |
| RAM | 24GB LPDDRX5 | 16GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD | 500 GB PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD |
| Battery and power supply | 80 WHrs with 65-watt power supply | 40 WHrs with 65-watt power supply |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax, Triple band 2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax, Triple band 2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2 |
Is the upgrade worth it? It depends on how important battery life is to you. Because aside from the battery life, almost nothing has changed inside the ROG Ally X compared to its predecessor, aside from larger RAM and storage. Because the same AMD APU (Ryzen Z1 Extreme) is still in the handheld. Therefore, you really do not get more performance or power than before. Additionally, ASUS continues to use an LCD display rather than an OLED display like the Steam Deck.
Overall, there are many small detail improvements that show that ASUS has taken the criticism of the predecessor to heart: a larger battery, better cooling, and adjusted ergonomics.
However, you also have to pay a hefty price for the detail improvements, as ASUS charges almost 900 euros for the release of the ROG Ally X. If you already own the good predecessor, then it is hardly worth buying anew, unless you are keen on the mentioned small upgrades.
Linus Tech Tips advises against buying
Why does the YouTuber advise against it? On MeinMMO, we reported that Linus Tech Tips advises against purchasing the Ally X. According to Linus, ASUS has never really addressed criticism or problems proactively in the past. This was especially about the discussion with faulty SD card slots on the ROG Ally. Linus explained back then in his video:
And until this issue is resolved and ASUS has shown that it is trustworthy again, it doesn’t matter how much I like the ROG Ally X. (…) Even though I would personally buy one, I am not able to recommend it further, even though I would really like to.
And it is not the first time that ASUS has faced criticism. Recently, the tech YouTuber Gamers Nexus tested ASUS’s customer support and was suddenly told he had to pay hundreds of euros for a repair. His opinion on customer support was scathing. In the meantime, ASUS has sat down with the YouTuber to try to resolve the issues: Tech YouTuber wants to have broken joystick repaired and is suddenly asked to pay hundreds of dollars, suspects fraud
