-
Asus ROG Ally X
Powerful performance
$700 $800 Save $100The new ROG Ally X is the refreshed model that replaces the original ROG Ally. It has a refined design, a significantly larger battery capacity that lets you game longer, and improved performance that better enhances your experience wih more frames and higher graphics settings.
Pros- Excellent performance
- Upgraded buttons and joysticks
- Double the battery capacity of the original Ally
Cons- It?s more expensive than standard ROG Ally
- Same display size, and resolution as the Ally
-
Asus ROG Ally
Affordable gaming
$350 $500 Save $150The original Asus ROG Ally has a powerful chipset, capable of running AAA games with ease. It has a large, 7-inch display, a relatively compact design, great button layout, and unique gamer aesthetics for a more immersive experience. While it might lack in the battery department, it holds up, bringing a capable hardware with lots of processing power.
Pros- Great performance for the price
- Can run any Windows-compatible game
- Variable refresh rate up to 120Hz
Cons- Windows isn?t well-optimized for handheld consoles
- Small battery
Handheld gaming devices have become popular in the past few years, providing gamers an option to play full-fledged AAA games on the go. These devices are seemingly everywhere around us, and Asus has been in the business for quite some time with its excellent gaming laptops and other hardware components to know how to make a device that could appeal to the masses.
And while we’ve taken a look at various Android handhelds, there’s no denying that Windows-powered consoles stand out, thanks to their advanced processing power, capable of running popular AAA titles with ease – albeit, at slightly lower settings. In this comparison, we’ve taken a closer look at Asus’ ROG Ally, and the company’s latest ROG Ally X that takes things a notch further.
Price, availability, and specifications
The ROG Ally X is the latest handheld console from Asus, and as such, it comes with the most powerful specs of the two consoles. The ROG Ally X with 1TB starts at $799.99, while the 2TB configuration will set you back $899.99. Note that the 2TB ROG Ally X launches on December 9, 2024, and users can pre-order it from Best Buy.
The standard ROG Ally is significantly cheaper than the new X variant, starting at $499.99 with the AMD Z1 processor and 512GB of storage. The model with the AMD Z1 Extreme chipset and the same amount of storage retails for $699.99. Both devices can be purchased from Asus directly, Best Buy, and other online stores.
-
Asus ROG Ally X Asus ROG Ally Dimensions 280mm x 111mm x 24.7mm 280mm x 111mm x 21mm Weight 678g 608g Chipset AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme AMD Ryzen Z1 RAM 24GB 16GB LPDDR5 Storage 1TB, 2TB 512GB Display 7-inch, 1920×1080, LCD, 120Hz 7-inch, 1920×1080, LCD, 120Hz Output resolution 1080p 1080p, 4K Graphics AMD RDNA 3 AMD RDNA 3 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, USB-Type C, USB-4, microSD card slot 3.5mm audio jack, USB-Type C, microSD Battery 80Whr 40Whr Wireless Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E
Read our review
The ROG Ally X is basically everything I wanted from a refresh of the gaming handheld
Enthusiasts assemble, this one’s for you
Design
Nearly identical design, and dimensions
The design of the ROG Ally follows a similar layout and aesthetics to those of other competing devices, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve to make the experience more unique. A few of those are the rounded LED bars around the joysticks that make it stand out.
The visual differences between the ROG Ally and Ally X are negligible at best, but Asus did make some welcome enhancements, especially when it comes to the buttons. The original Ally used the Hall Effect triggers, and there wasn’t any outrage about any drift or other related issues. The Ally also has a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button, and there are M1 and M2 buttons on the back for additional controls.
The ROG Ally X has the very same layout of buttons, joysticks, and a more precise D-Pad. The console also ditched the Hall Effect for a more advanced LED that has a longer and more robust lifespan. Additionally, the M1 and M2 buttons on the back are smaller, preventing accidental presses that happened on the original model.
All in all, Asus made some very small, but significant quality of life updates to the hardware, further optimizing the experience. These changes make the ROG Ally X a better choice for those who want to invest in a quality handheld gaming console, while the original ROG Ally remains a solid option for those on a together budget.
Display
Same display, same resolution
Display-wise, there’s not a lot we can talk about. Both the ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X utilize the same display, featuring identical specifications. The gaming consoles rely on a 7-inch FHD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate. In practice, these are perfectly capable of providing an enjoyable gaming experience, and while the brightness isn’t very high, the 500 nits peak brightness provides decent results inside and outside.
Games are visible and easy to see, but you’ll likely want to get in some shades out on a bright day to take full advantage of the large screen. Both displays use an IPS panel, meaning the blacks will not be true black as on OLED, but they still provide a decent color gamut and contrast to display visual effects. The 16:9 aspect ratio is also great, so you’ll be able to see the entire content without any downsides.
Of course, both panels have a touchscreen, making it somewhat easier to navigate Windows and other app launchers, software, and games on-the-go. Last, but not least, let’s not forget that the screen also supports AMD FreeSync, yielding a butter smooth 120Hz refresh rate for a smooth gaming performance.
Software and performance
Both devices support the same games, but the Ally X has smoother performance
So far, we’ve established that both the ROG Ally and Ally X look very familiar and have the same display technology and even the same AMD Ryzen Z1 chip. What sets these devices apart, however, is the small details that give the Ally X a massive boost in demanding titles.
The ROG Ally sports 16GB of RAM, while the ROG Ally X has 24GB of LPDDR5 dual-channel memory. This, as well as the Z1 Extreme paired with the AMD RDNA 3 gives the console a massive boost when it comes to performance. The new 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD makes games load superfast, too, making the overall gameplay experience smoother and more immersive.
The cooling is also a bit more efficient on the Ally X, enabling it to run more efficiently with less throttling when gaming for long periods.
Related
I put the $800 ROG Ally X against a $250 Android handheld, here’s what I learned
You don’t need to spend much to have fun
In terms of software, the two devices run Windows 11, as well as Asus’ Armoury Crate SE 1.5 interface that provides access to your gaming library, as well as system settings. The ROG Ally X launched with this platform, while the ROG Ally received an update to the latest version. This software provides additional customization options for the software, including to the layout, games, alignment, and various other elements.
When it comes to compatibility and support, both consoles work with the same software suite and gaming library, so at least you won’t have to sacrifice on your favorite titles anytime soon.
Battery life
ROG Ally X has double the battery capacity of the ROG Ally
The original ROG Ally sports a 40Whr battery that can last for about an hour and a half with the settings turned down, in standard games, and less than an hour with all the settings turned to the max in demanding titles. That’s not the worst battery life we’ve seen, but it means you’ll likely have to be plugged in to an outlet if you want a decent framerate and settings in games.
The ROG Ally X has a significantly larger, 80Whr battery inside it, doubling the capacity. The added battery ensures that users with maxed out settings can game for over 2 hours playing the most demanding titles. That’s quite an achievement, but let’s not forget that it still falls short compared to gaming laptops. That said, it’s a significant improvement, but you’ll likely still want to play while plugged in, to get the best framerate and overall performance.
Neither of these devices are excellent, but the ROG Ally X proves that a larger battery can indeed take your gaming much further, lasting significantly longer on a single charge. Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on your game and settings, but the Ally X will almost certainly last much longer than the original handheld.
Which is right for you?
Affordability vs more power and storage
So, which of these gaming handhelds is best for your gaming needs? The simple answer is that you should strongly consider the existing Asus ROG Ally, especially if you’re on a tight budget, and you don’t want to spend more than $700 on a handheld gaming console. It has a perfectly capable display with a high refresh rate, a great performance when it comes to demanding games, an excellent layout of buttons, and great software.
Sure enough, the Ally won’t last very long on a single charge, but at least you can still comfortably play for about an hour on moderate settings while on a quick commute to your destination. You can always top up in the car or, preferably, stay plugged in for longer travels.
Asus ROG Ally
The ROG Ally is still an excellent buy today, thanks to its great gaming performance, large 7-inch display, and great ergonomics. It lets you play the most demanding games with ease, providing an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience on the go. It won’t last long on a single charge, but you can still manage to play about an hour or so on a single charge, making it great for short travels.
However, if plugging in every 40 minutes or so sounds like a chore, you might want to consider the ROG Ally X. Asus made small, but significant improvements to the hardware, buttons, and especially the performance, resulting in an overall smoother experience. It can also last twice as long on a single charge, making it more acceptable for slightly longer commutes. There are also more charging ports, making it even easier to play on the go while plugged in.
If you have the budget, and you’re looking for the better solution, the ROG Ally X is the way to go.
Asus ROG Ally X
The ROG Ally X is the best Asus has to offer. It lasts twice as long as the original Ally, and it runs much smoother thanks to the additional memory and faster storage configuration. There are some nice quality of life hardware and software imprvoements too, making the console run efficiently, no matter which game you’re playing.
