Following its recent reveal, ASUS finally launched the ROG Ally X in the Philippines, and this new gaming handheld promises to improve upon last year’s model in several key areas.
While we got some hands-on time with the device earlier this month, we soon got our hands on a review unit. As such, we were able to test it out for gaming on the go.
This new generation of ASUS ROG’s gaming handheld is a device that we were excited to try, especially as ASUS’ goal was to address the key issues of the previous generation model. As such, the Ally X is shaping up to be a more capable contender to Valve’s Steam Deck.
So, does the Ally X deliver on its promise? Find out here in our full review.
Design and Usability
For the Ally X, ROG didn’t stray far from the previous model’s design as they share a similar design, though there is a big difference. While last year’s Ally was only available in a predominantly white color, the Ally X is now exclusively offered in a more low-profile black color scheme (its includes stand also has an all-black color).
It would’ve been nice to have two options for the Ally X instead of users limited to just white. Despite this, we prefer the black color of the new model as it should look way better after months to years of use (always a worry with a white-colored device).
Aside from the colorway, the Ally X also has another big difference — this model is literally bigger. While its length hasn’t changed much, it’s noticeably thicker due to the larger battery. To be exact, the battery on this device is double that of last year’s ROG Ally.
Even though it’s thicker, it still feels nice to hold. What’s more, I was surprised by the fact that it doesn’t feel particularly heavy. Do note that my hands aren’t that small, so users with smaller hands may find it a bit tiring to hold. We’ll get more into how it feels to game on later in this review.
Speaking of how it feels to hold, the ROG Ally X has a plastic build with a matte finish. Plastic doesn’t feel particularly premium, but it’s a good decision as any other material will make this heavier. Plus, the finish also makes it feel nice and grippy; at no point did I feel that the device would slip out of my hands.
For I/O, ASUS ROG retained the 3.5mm combo jack but removed the proprietary ROG XG Mobile connection port. Because of this, the Ally X won’t support the ROG XG Mobile. This shouldn’t be an issue for most users as the XG Mobile is a fairly niche device anyway.
It also helps that instead of the proprietary port, the Ally X now has two USB Type C ports, with one being a USB 3.2 Gen 2 and the other supporting USB 4. Thanks to this, the Ally X has much improved connectivity as you can use a dongle on one USB C port while keeping the other for charging. This is great if you want to use the Ally X as a desktop or console replacement for your TV.
Display and Sound
For its display, ROG packed the Ally X with a 7-inch FHD IPS-level touch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. Based on the specs sheet, the screen seems to be the same as the one in the original ROG Ally.
As such, the Ally X’s display is pretty comparable to last year’s model. This means it should be a decent for watching movies or shows. Of course, given that it’s not an OLED screen, the colors aren’t as vibrant as what you’d get in many smartphones now. Plus, the 7-inch screen is just a bit bigger than your typical phone display. Thus, this might not be the ideal device to binge-watch shows on, but it should still do it well enough if needed.
Audio-wise, the ROG Ally X retains the stereo speaker setup that’s on the previous model. When it comes to audio quality, it’s still pretty good, enough that you can get a nice experience while playing. Though as always, headphones or external speakers are recommended for a better experience, especially if you’re playing a story-driven game. As such, it’s nice that the Ally X retains the 3.5mm headphone jack from its predecessor.
Also worth noting is that for audio control, the Ally X has bigger volume up and down buttons at the top, likely owing to the extra space given the removal of the XG Mobile port. This is a small change that might not be exactly noticeable for many, but it’s a welcome one as it makes adjusting audio much easier.
Gaming Performance
Now we move on to the most important aspect of the ROG Ally X — its gaming performance. Unlike the Steam Deck OLED which came with an updated APU, ASUS ROG didn’t change the Ally X’s processor as it still packs a Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Of course, there are some changes as the Ally X now comes with up to 24GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage (the longer M.2 2280 for easier upgrade options). For this new generation though, there’s no longer a base Ryzen Z1 option — not too much of an issue given that the Z1 Extreme makes more sense to get thanks to its performance.
Performance-wise, we expected the Ally X to perform mostly similarly, or at least a bit better than the Ally thanks to the increased memory. As with the previous model, the Ally X also has three modes: Turbo (30W), Performance (15W), and Silent (10W). Note that these numbers are applicable when the Ally X is plugged in. When on battery power, the Silent and Performance modes have the same wattage, though Turbo is capped at 25W.
For our gaming test, we ran the same set of games that we used in our ROG Ally review last year on the same graphics presets. Our first test was using the Ally X in Turbo Mode while plugged to see its m,ax performance numbers.
After running the same set of games, we found out that the Ally X performed noticeably better in most games, with only Spider-Man and Death Stranding having similar or lower average framerates.
The biggest improvement though is the 1% low numbers which are notably higher now. This is also apparent when playing the games as slowdowns aren’t as noticeable, making for a much smoother experience. Plus, it helped that the Ally X has FreeSync Premium as it meant games feel much smoother as there’s no screen tearing.
These improvements in performance can likely be attributed to two things. Firstly, the extra RAM seems to help a lot. Then there’s the improved cooling which lets the Ally X get better performance. This also means the Ally X doesn’t get noticeably warm while playing (except at the top near the vents of course).
Turbo Mode while plugged in offers the best performance, thought this mode is only advisable when you’re at home, be it while playing on your bed while near an outlet or if you’re using this as a desktop replacement. When on battery power, Turbo Mode isn’t recommended as it will still drain the battery too fast. Given this, our next test was on the 15W Performance mode on battery power.
W tested the same set of games in this mode for reference. We switched up the settings though compared to our previous Ally review. Instead of going with 720p on high graphics presets, we went with 1080p on Low as the device’s increased performance and bigger battery should be able to handle the increased resolution better.
At 1080p on Low, the Ally X performed fairly well even on the Performance mode on battery power, with many triple-A games running at above 30 FPS with acceptable 1% low numbers. Sure, there is some slight slowdown compared to Turbo mode while plugged in, but the games were still plenty playable.
If you want to run more casual games or maybe emulators of classic consoles, the Ally X should run them even on Silent Mode. This is recommended not only for these less hardware intensive games as this should extend the device’s battery life. Note that Silent Mode isn’t recommended for other games that require a bit more performance.
Aside from testing selected games, we also ran the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark on the Ally X to compare it with the previous Ally. Here are the numbers (Turbo Mode while plugged in):
As expected, the Ally X has a better overall score, though it’s a bit weird to see the CPU score be a bit lower. Still, the higher overall score is reflective of the Ally X’s increase in performance across most games.
Gaming Experience
Having great performance is one thing, but another key factor in any gaming handheld is how comfortable it is to use. For this, we played games on the Ally X in multiple sessions, ranging from some that are just around 30 minutes to a 3-hour gaming session (where we also tested how long the battery will last.
As we noted above, the Ally X is bigger and a bit heavier than the previous model. Even if it’s bigger, the Ally X is still comfortable to game on. Even during an hour-long session, using the Ally X did not feel uncomfortable, though this might not be the case for everyone, especially for those who have smaller hands or have difficulty handling bigger devices for long sessions.
What’s also nice aside from its in-hand comfort is the fact that it doesn’t get noticeably warm when playing. Even when playing a triple-A game on Performance Mode while on battery power, the sides and bottom of the Ally X is still fairly cool to the touch. For reference, we tested the Ally X in a room with no A/C (in a tropical country no less), so it should have no cooling issues for most users.
When it comes to how it feels to play on, the controls are also an important factor. In this regard, the Ally X does not disappoint. While the controls are pretty much the same as the Ally, the buttons and the analog sticks have been noticeably improved.
For starters, the D-pad now feels better, with the shoulder triggers also being improved a bit. What’s bigger though is the change in the programmable back buttons. While the old Ally had back triggers which are big and a bit too easy to activate, the Ally X now has smaller buttons that require a bit more force, meaning less accidental presses.
Also improved are the ABXY buttons. One of the biggest issues of the older Ally was the tendency for the face buttons to get stuck even when playing normally. Thankfully, ROG has fixed this issue as the buttons didn’t get stuck once even after multiple play sessions.
ASUS also touts the improved analog sticks that should feel more like Xbox controllers. While I would’ve liked more resistance on the analog sticks, they do feel quite nice, enough that I didn’t feel the need to reach out for another controller while playing games on it.
For those wondering, there are also no issues with the buttons when it comes to responsiveness, meaning the Ally X does not disappoint when it comes to the gaming experience.
Battery Life
Along with the controller and design improvements, the biggest update that the Ally X has is its battery. For this new generation handheld, ASUS ROG put in a large 80WHr — that’s double the size of the previous Ally’s 40WHr battery.
Because of this change, the Ally X now has much improved battery life. Sure, it’s still the not the longest-lasting gaming device if you push the performance, but it’s enough that it’s no longer a glaring weakness compared to the older model.
Previously, the Ally was only able to last for 2 hours at most (though 1.5 hours is more likely) on Performance mode on battery power. Thanks to the bigger battery, the Ally X is now able to last for around 3 hours.
To be exact, we played Hitman 3 at 1080p on the Low graphics preset, and it took almost exactly three hours before the battery gave out. Though we did like how the device automatically goes to sleep at 3% battery so that you don’t lose progress if you forget to check the battery (or if you ignore the battery warning at 10%).
You can try to use Turbo Mode on battery power, but even with the larger battery, you can expect only 1 to 1.5 hours of life, so that mode isn’t recommended. Meanwhile, the Silent Mode option is worth trying if you’re not going to play more hardware intensive titles. With these, you can get maybe up to 5 hours of battery life, though that depends on what game you’re playing.
Another thing you can try is experiment and set your own performance mode by using the manual setting. We haven’t tried this much as most of our testing was on the default modes, but this is nice to have for users who want to optimize the device’s battery life for their use case.
Everyday Reliability
The fact that the ROG Ally X runs on Windows 11 is one of its greatest strengths for some users, though others may see it as a dealbreaker of sorts, especially if they value ease-of-use as a gaming device.
First, its weaknesses. From our time with the device, there seems to have been minimal improvements for Windows 11 when it comes to its interface for a gaming handheld. Sure, you can get used to it, but there are still plenty of optimizations that need to be done. For instance, there are still many times that we had to manually activate the virtual keyboard for some apps (like the Epic Games Launcher) as the keyboard doesn’t automatically pop up everywhere. There’s also the fact that given the Windows 11 interface just isn’t the best on a touch device.
To remedy this, ASUS packed the Ally X with the Armoury Crate SE, an improved version of the launcher on the ROG Ally. Not only does app look better, but it’s also easier to navigate, with tab options for individual games as well as game platforms like Steam and Xbox. For users who want to use the Ally X as primarily a gaming machine, Armoury Crate SE is worth a try, though its interactions with other platforms could be much better. Take for example opening Steam. While it opens in Big Picture Mode which is helpful, pressing the Armoury Crate button doesn’t bring you back to the Armoury Crate homepage, meaning you have to manually exit Big Picture Mode.
Now for its strengths. Because it runs on Windows 11, the Ally X is basically a PC, meaning you can run all PC games without any issues as long as the Z1 Extreme can run them. Plus, having all the PC game platforms available on one handheld is great for users who have their game library spread out on different launchers. Compatibility and support for various launchers is definitely a big reason for some players to go with the Ally X compared to the Steam Deck.
Another great thing with having Windows 11 out of the box is that the Ally X can be used as a desktop replacement for lighter workloads. With a USB dongle, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse, you basically have a PC.
Sure, the performance won’t be to the level of a workstation, but you should still be able to run office or school tasks, along with some light photo and video editing on the Ally X.
For reference, here are the PCMark 10 benchmark numbers.
Based on the score, the Ally X outdoes some productivity-focused laptops, meaning you likely won’t run into performance-related issues for everyday tasks and lighter content creation workloads. What is worth noting is that using it as a desktop replacement at home for extended periods may have an effect on battery life, so if you do plan on using it as such, make sure you keep it as cool as possible. Also, you may need to expect faster battery degradation compared to using it more as a gaming on the go device.
ROG Ally X – Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict
After our time with the ROG Ally X, we can say that this solves a lot of the issues of the previous generation model. These include battery life as the Ally X can now last reliably for around 3 hours on Performance mode, and controls given that the buttons no longer get stuck. It’s also nice that ASUS instead went with two USB Type-C ports instead of just one as this is a big help for connectivity, especially if you plan to use this as a desktop replacement.
There’s also the fact that even if it has the same Z1 Extreme processor, its 24GB of RAM and improved cooling helps it run faster. All of this while being surprisingly comfortable to hold even for longer gaming sessions.
Thanks to its new features and its performance, the ROG Ally X might just be one of the best handheld gaming PCs that you can get. As such, it’s now worth considering over or at least alongside the Steam Deck. Of course, it comes at a premium price of PHP 56,995 – around what you’d pay for an entry-level gaming laptop.
Is it worth the premium price tag? Well, if you’re fine with its battery life (which while better is still fairly short) and value great performance on a Windows machine (despite some of the niggles) to access your library across multiple platforms, the Ally X might be worth a splurge. That is, if you’re set on getting a gaming handheld instead of a laptop or a console.
ROG Ally X Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
- Graphics: AMD Radeon (AMD RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops)
- Installed Memory: 24GB
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD (2280)
- Display: 7-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS-level touch screen with Gorilla Glass Victus protection, 120Hz Refresh Rate
- AMD FreeSync Premium
- Ports:
- 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery
- 1x Type C support USB 4 (Thunderbolt™ 4 compliance, DisplayPort™ 1.4 with Freesync support, Power Delivery 3.0)
- 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)
- Battery: 80WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion
- Price: PHP 56,995