In brief: Asus has launched an updated version of its popular gaming handheld. Called the ROG Ally X, it's essentially the same beast as the 2023 original, complete with an identical APU and display. But Asus has clearly put in the work to iron out the kinks that held the first model back.
It's important to note here that this model is more of a yearly update than a generational overhaul. This is clear from the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip under the hood and the 7-inch 1080p 120Hz display upfront, which remain unchanged from the original model. But there are a few key differences.
The most notable update within the Asus ROG Ally X is probably battery life. One of the biggest knocks against the first Ally was its lacklustre longevity, which often left gamers tethered to power outlets. Asus is now doubling down on battery life (quite literally) – the Ally X packs a massive 80Wh battery, twice the capacity of the original's 40Wh pack. That's gaming laptop territory. While official numbers are still under wraps, you can likely expect substantially longer gaming sessions.
The Ally X also brings other hardware improvements to the table. A beefy 1TB SSD is now available for storing your ever-growing game library, which, once again, is twice what the previous model offered. This has been paired with a fast 24GB 7500MHz LPDDR5 RAM configuration to keep things running smoothly.
Overheating was another pain point in the first Ally for some users, but Asus has cooked up a new cooling solution this time around. The new slimmer, more efficient fans not only deliver 10% more airflow, but they're designed to strategically blast that cool air right toward the display to prevent unsightly heat buildup during heated gaming sessions.
For ergonomics, the redesigned chassis features deeper hand grips for a more secure feel during marathon sessions. The joysticks have been retooled for better responsiveness and longevity. Even the D-pad got some love, with tweaks for improved accuracy, which should come in handy for fighting game fanatics.
On the connectivity front, the Ally X ditches the XG Mobile port in favor of dual USB-C ports, with one of them rocking Thunderbolt 4 compatibility for hooking up external displays or GPUs.
The ROG Ally X starts at $799 and comes bundled with a three-month Game Pass subscription. Pre-orders are live now, with the first units expected to ship in July.
