ASUS ROG Ally X Review
The ASUS ROG Ally is one of the best handheld gaming devices launched last year. It pivoted a lot of mainstream brands to launch their own devices like Lenovo Legion and MSI. While it isn’t perfect, it is undoubtedly a catalyst in the category.
ASUS’ latest gaming device, the ASUS ROG Ally X, emerges as a significant evolution in the handheld gaming PC market, building upon the foundation laid by its predecessor. As the demand for powerful yet portable gaming devices continues to grow, ASUS has responded with a device that addresses the shortcomings of the original while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this form factor. In this review, we’ll dive deep into the ROG Ally X, examining its design, performance, and overall value proposition in the competitive landscape of handheld gaming PCs.
Build and Design
The shell of the ROG Ally X maintains the familiar design language of its predecessor but with subtle refinements. The most noticeable change is the shift to a matte black finish, which not only looks sophisticated but also provides a comfortable grip during extended gaming sessions. The device feels solid and well-built, inspiring confidence in its durability.
One of the most significant improvements is in the D-pad design. ASUS has addressed criticisms of the original Ally’s D-pad by implementing a more responsive and tactile solution. The new “Precision D-Pad” is reportedly suitable for 5 million cycles, ensuring longevity and improved accuracy for retro gaming and fighting games.
The face buttons have also seen an upgrade, with a slightly more pronounced dome shape that offers better feedback during gameplay. The shoulder buttons and triggers have been fine-tuned for improved ergonomics. The shoulder buttons are more responsive and has a more pronounced “click” when pressed. The triggers, in particular, now have a more satisfying travel and resistance, enhancing the experience in shooters and racing games.
In terms of I/O ports, the ROG Ally X boasts dual USB-C ports, a welcome addition that increases versatility for connecting peripherals or external displays. One of these is a USB-C 4.0 port, which supports both external GPUs and charging, while the other is a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port. The 3.5mm headphone jack remains, catering to users who prefer wired audio solutions. The dreaded micro SD card on the previous version had been moved to the right side. We have never experienced any issue since the time I received this review unit.
Display
The ROG Ally X retains the impressive 7-inch IPS-level display of its predecessor, boasting a Full HD 1920×1080 resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This combination delivers crisp visuals and fluid motion, essential for an immersive gaming experience. The panel’s brightness reaches up to 500 nits, which significantly enhances outdoor visibility and HDR content enjoyment. I honestly wanted this new version to have OLED, but doing so would further increase its already premium price. Probably give modders a month or two until we see a more solid workaround to our OLED cravings.
The display is capable of reproducing 100% of the sRGB color gamut and supports AMD FreeSync Premium, ensuring smooth gameplay with minimal screen tearing. While some fans might have hoped for an OLED upgrade, the current display remains competitive in the handheld gaming market.
As with most handheld gaming PCs, the ROG Ally X doesn’t feature a built-in camera, focusing instead on gaming performance.
Software and Bloatware
ASUS has made significant strides in the software department with the ROG Ally X. The device runs on Windows 11, providing access to a vast library of PC games and applications. The star of the show is the updated Armoury Crate SE 1.5 software.
Armoury Crate SE has been refined to offer a more intuitive and gamer-friendly interface. It serves as a central hub for managing system settings, performance profiles, and game libraries. The software now includes enhanced features for optimizing game performance and battery life, allowing users to fine-tune their experience based on their preferences.
Notably, ASUS has reduced the amount of pre-installed bloatware, responding to user feedback from the original Ally. This results in a cleaner out-of-the-box experience and more available storage for games and applications.
Benchmarks
Our goal is to provide benchmark results that are easily replicable and credible. We follow a scientific method approach, eliminating as many variables as possible. Both the ROG Ally X and the original ROG Ally were tested under identical conditions:
- Benchmarked in our studio with 24°C ambient temperature
- HWInfo running during the game benchmark process for temperature readings
- Benchmarked at the same Power Option: Performance, and at 30W TDP
- Devices connected to power outlet
- 8GB of memory allocated to the GPU
Synthetic Benchmarks
Our synthetic benchmarks show consistent improvements across the board for the ROG Ally X. In Cinebench 2023, the Ally X scored 1,747 compared to the Ally’s 1,760, indicating a modest increase in CPU performance. Geekbench 6 results further support this, with the Ally X achieving 2,512 in single-core and 11,897 in multi-core tests, compared to the Ally’s 2,494 and 11,213 respectively. This suggests better performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.
3DMark benchmarks reveal more significant gains in graphics performance. The Ally X scored 8,160 in Firestrike and 3,500 in Timespy, compared to the Ally’s 7,645 and 3,306. This represents a notable improvement, especially in Timespy, which is more indicative of modern gaming performance. The PCMark10 score of 7,281 for the Ally X versus 7,048 for the Ally also suggests better overall system performance in day-to-day tasks.
These benchmark results clearly demonstrate the performance improvements of the ROG Ally X over its predecessor. The increased RAM capacity and speed (24GB LPDDR5X at 7500MHz vs 16GB at 6400MHz) contribute significantly to the enhanced performance, particularly in memory-intensive tasks and games.
Gaming Benchmarks
In gaming benchmarks, the Ally X consistently outperformed its predecessor. DOTA 2 saw a meager jump from 56 FPS on the Ally to 58.5 FPS on the Ally X. Cyberpunk 2077, a notoriously demanding title, showed an improvement of 47.6 FPS compared to 43.6 on the ROG Ally, which could make a noticeable difference in gameplay smoothness. Note that I ran two instances of benchmarks for Cyberpunk 2077: Steam Deck Preset, which I just talked about; and another one using Ultra Preset. The result of the latter is rather interesting because the ROG Ally performed slightly better than the Ally X.
Returnal and Assassin’s Creed Mirage also saw nominal frame rate increases as well.
Temperatures and Battery Life
The ROG Ally X demonstrates improved thermal management, likely due to refinements in the cooling system design. ASUS has implemented a new Zero Gravity thermal system with a dual fan design, which keeps the device cool and quiet in any orientation. This allows for more consistent performance during extended gaming sessions.
Battery life is where the ROG Ally X truly shines!
The massive improvement in battery life is attributed to the larger 80WHr battery in the Ally X, compared to the 40WHr battery in the original Ally. This nearly doubles the device’s endurance, making it a much more viable option for gaming on the go without constant access to a power outlet. In real-world gaming scenarios, users can expect 2-3 hours of gameplay at high settings, a significant improvement over the original Ally’s 1-2 hour battery life.
The ASUS ROG Ally X represents a significant leap forward in the handheld gaming PC market. It successfully addresses many of the criticisms leveled at its predecessor while pushing the boundaries of performance and battery life in this form factor.
The ROG Ally X consistently outperforms the original Ally across all benchmarks, with improvements ranging from 5% to 20% depending on the task. The increased RAM capacity and speed play a crucial role in this enhanced performance, particularly in memory-intensive applications and games.
The gaming experience on the Ally X is noticeably smoother, with higher frame rates across all tested titles. This improvement is especially valuable in demanding games where every frame counts.
Thermal management has been refined, resulting in lower peak temperatures under load. This not only contributes to system longevity but also helps maintain consistent performance during extended gaming sessions.
The standout feature of the ROG Ally X is undoubtedly its battery life. With nearly double the capacity of its predecessor, the Ally X offers unprecedented endurance for a Windows-based handheld gaming PC. This significant improvement addresses one of the major criticisms of the original Ally and makes the device much more practical for on-the-go gaming.
Verdict
The ASUS ROG Ally X is indeed a huge step up from popular handheld gaming devices in the market. While it’s important to acknowledge ASUS’ missteps with the previous model, it’s equally crucial to recognize that the original Ally laid down a solid foundation for the global handheld gaming landscape.
For owners of the original ROG Ally, an upgrade to the Ally X may not be necessary unless the improved battery life and slight performance boost are critical to your usage. However, for those in the market for a new handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally X stands as our most recommended mid-form factor device. The combination of amazing battery life, improved performance, and the resolution of previous issues (such as the micro SD card problem) makes it a compelling choice.
The absence of XG Mobile support may be seen as a drawback by some, but for many users who don’t own or plan to purchase an XG Mobile, this omission is inconsequential and may even contribute to a more streamlined device.
It’s worth noting that the PhP56,995 SRP is higher than anticipated, as we expected it to be priced around PhP52,995. This slightly elevated price point may halt’s consumer’s decision to buy now, but when considering the overall package and improvements, the ROG Ally X still represents good value in the premium handheld gaming PC market.
The ASUS ROG Ally X sets a new standard for what users can expect from a Windows-based handheld gaming PC. Its combination of power, endurance, and refinement makes it a top contender in this rapidly evolving market segment. While not perfect, it’s a significant step forward and a testament to ASUS’ commitment to innovation in the gaming hardware space.
With that down – it’s time to install SteamOS (Bazzite OS) on the ROG Ally X, which I have been hearing good things about.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
