But just because something is better doesn’t mean it’s always the right choice for you.
1.Pricing & specs2.Design & build3.Performance & thermals4.Software & RGB5.Display6.Battery life7.Microphone & speakers8.Competition9.ScorecardShould you buy it?
A year later, we now have the new ROG Ally X. I spent several hours playing with the ROG Ally X and noting its changes from the original ROG Ally.
The M1 and M2 buttons on the back are smaller than on the original handheld.
Here’s what I think of the refreshed model.
This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by ASUS.
The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.
Many people were upset with this news.
The other huge change is regarding battery life.
Outside of component specs, the new ROG Ally X also has some upgraded buttons and joysticks.
Plus, the location of some ports has been moved around.
It might seem small, but only having one USB-C port is rather limiting on the original ROG Ally.
This is relatively pricey compared to other handhelds on the market.
However, it is decently priced for what it is.
That should make it a little easier on your wallet to get the improved handheld.
The buttons and joysticks have also been upgraded to provide a better playing experience.
Should I wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday to buy an ROG Ally X?
One thing that I really appreciate is how comfortable the Ally X is to hold.
I own several gaming handhelds, and I love using them.
The M1 and M2 buttons on the back are smaller than on the original handheld.
Surprisingly, the Ally X is even more comfortable to hold than the original Ally.
However, I didn’t have any issues in this area.
Best of all, my hands weren’t cramping.
Having two connections really does open up several more possibilities.
However, the new USB-C location does present one potential problem for ROG Ally X docking station compatibility.
Docking stations that are powerful enough for the original ROG Ally should be powerful enough for the Ally X.
The ergonomic grips are thicker and rounder, making them more comfortable to hold.
However, I was only able to plug one of them in without straining the cable.
Another Ally X design change has to do with the microSD card reader.
We had to move things around the board to make them fit."
I’ll explain in more detail later in this review.
I also appreciate how responsive all of the controls and joysticks feel.
Because of this, I have better control over my games when using it.
The D-Pad has been replaced with a slightly larger and clickier alternative.
Sadly, the joysticks have not been upgraded to Hall Effect ones, as I would have preferred.
Basically, this means they should have a longer lifespan before having issues.
Something the ROG Ally gaming handheld notably lacks are touchpads; both Steam Deck andLegion Goutilize them.
The microSD card slot is now further from the exhaust vent and next to the headphone jack.
With any luck, we’ll see some on the inevitableROG Ally 2.
However, the Ally X has 24GB of RAM compared to the Ally’s smaller 16GB RAM.
So, how exactly does the ROG Ally X perform, given these specs?
In PCMark 10, ROG Ally X proved to have the best CPU performance of any mainline PC handheld that’s come out so far.(Image credit: Windows Central)
After that, I played several different games, including various titles onXbox Game Pass.
However, as with the ROG Ally, gameplay on the Ally X does sometimes get a little choppy.
Adjusting game graphics tweaks appropriately usually fixes any issues I encounter, but some occasional lag can still occur.
Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark results showed a very similar score to ROG Ally (2024).(Image credit: Windows Central)
I’ve found that adjustingWindows 11settings can sometimes also solve my issues.
Overall, playing games on Ally X is very enjoyable and smoother than on other Windows 11 handheld devices.
It outperforms the Lenovo Legion Go and variousAYANEOhandhelds.
System performance for ROG Ally X proved to be about the same as ROG Ally (2024).(Image credit: Windows Central)
Specifically, it got a 1,766 single-core score and a 13,942 multi-core score.
That’s never a bad thing.
That said, the Legion Go still proved to have faster SSD transfer speeds than Ally X.
CrystalDiskMark shows that the ROG Ally X’s SSD offers very good read and write speeds, which are near those of the Legion Go.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Now, let’s return to the performance of the ROG Ally X.
To check out the graphical performance, I ran the ROG Ally X through 3DMark Time Spy.
It even dethroned the Legion Go, which had previously held the highest ranking.
As expected, this Cinebench testing shows that ROG Ally X’s CPU rendering is around the same level as the original Ally.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Default Graphics Setting
Ally X Avg.
It might not seem like a huge difference in numbers, but it is notable in person.
If you want a powerful and steady handheld gaming experience, you’ll want to consider ROG Ally X.
Despite having the same integrated GPU, the Ally X managed to get a slightly higher score in 3DMark’s Time Spy GPU test.(Image credit: Windows Central)
The ROG Ally X consistently produced cooler readings than the Ally.
Hopefully, Armoury Crate will offer more options found in AMD Software down the line.
It’s helpful to be able to make these kinds of changes without having to minimize your game window.
Additional controls options can be added to this menu from within Armoury Crate proper.
Pressing the Armoury Crate button on the right side of the screen brings up the full Armoury Crate program.
Armoury Crate is also where I go to adjust the RGB lighting around the joysticks.
In Cyberpunk 2077’s benchmark, ROG Ally X averaged 29 FPS when on Steam Deck graphics.
I can change the effect, choose specific colors, or even turn the lights off entirely.
For instance, in addition toSteam, I can access Epic Games, Battle.net, GOG, and more.
Still, this display isn’t the easiest thing to see when out in bright sunlight.
The hottest part on the front of the ROG Ally X is at the bottom center of the screen.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
I also set the screen brightness at around 200 nits, which is a comfortable level for your eyes.
This means that the Ally X should last longer when sitting or simply being left on as well.
Either of the two USB-C ports can be used to charge the handheld.
The back center of the Ally X peaked at 89 degrees F.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
That said, both often go on significant discounts at Best Buy.
Plus, the Steam Deck costs less than ROG Ally, making it a better budget option.
Outside the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, arguably the biggest PC gaming handheld competitor is theLenovo Legion Go.
The Ally X’s microSD card slot peaked at 87 degrees F.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
The IPS touchscreen is 8.8 inches and can reach up to a 144Hz refresh rate.
Still, it’s our ownJez Corden’s favorite gaming handheld.
It has a starting MSRP of$699.99 at Best Buy.
The hottest part on the back of the ROG Ally X is at the top center.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
That said, there are plenty of less expensive devices on the market.
Performance
5/5 This equipment offers the best performance of any Windows 11 gaming handheld on the market today.
Games run relatively smoothly as long as you have them at the right tweaks.
The ROG Ally X ports peaked at 101 degrees F after stressing the CPU for 20 minutes.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
ROG Ally X: Should you buy it?
On one hand, the gaming handheld looks and feels really good.
It’s also nice that it has a larger battery capacity.
In general, the ROG Ally X stays cooler than the ROG Ally.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
I wish it was longer, but it is a vast improvement.
If any of that sounds especially appealing, then you might want to spring for the Ally X. I think I’ll go play it right now.
It has twice the battery capacity and doubles the storage space of the original ROG Ally.
The backside of the ROG Ally gets hotter than the ROG Ally X.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
Plus, the controls and joysticks have been upgraded for the better.
Armoury Crate SE 1.5 lets me organize my game library into a list view.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
I can also view my games in a grid view.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
A new game platforms tab makes it easier to find the services you want to use.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
The Settings menu is basically the same as it was before.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
Pressing the Command Center button brings up a list of quick-access settings.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
The RGB lighting stands out better against the ROG Ally X’s black casing.
In a colorimeter test, ROG Ally X produced 98% of sRGB, 73% or AdobeRGB, and 75% of P3.
The ROG Ally X has a 7-inch FHD, IPS touchscreen that’s capable of 120Hz, just like the ROG Ally display.
ROG Ally X batter life lasts longer than all other mainline Windows 11 PC gaming handhelds.
The bumpers and triggers are very clicky and feel good to use.
The speakers are located on the bottom of the ROG Ally X, but you plug in your headphone jack on the top.
The original ROG Ally is a more affordable gaming handheld.
ROG Ally X is expensive, but the various changes make it better than the original Ally and one of the best gaming handhelds on the market.
