ASUS ROG Ally X Review: The Handheld PC We Wanted All Along

When the original ASUS ROG Ally launched, it felt like a glimpse into the future of portable PC gaming. It was powerful, had a gorgeous screen, and brought Windows gaming to a truly viable handheld form factor. But it had an Achilles’ heel: a battery life that could charitably be described as fleeting. Enter the ASUS ROG Ally X, a device that isn’t a successor, but a statement. It’s a thorough, thoughtful revision that addresses nearly every critique of the original, creating the handheld PC many of us wished for from the start.

A Masterclass in Refinement

At first glance, the Ally X is familiar, but pick it up and the changes are immediate. The new all-black chassis feels denser, more premium, and the scales confirm it—it’s 70 grams heavier. But this extra weight is brilliantly distributed. The redesigned grips are deeper and more sculpted, making the device melt into your hands in a way the original never quite did. The joysticks, now a more durable module, have a satisfying tension, and the D-pad has been improved for better precision in fighting games and retro titles.

The most significant physical change, however, is the I/O. ASUS has wisely jettisoned the proprietary and underutilized XG Mobile port in favor of two USB-C ports. One of these is a full-fledged USB4 port with Thunderbolt 4 capabilities, opening up a world of possibilities for eGPUs and high-speed peripherals. This is a massive win for versatility and a clear nod to the prosumer audience the Ally X targets.

Performance: Smarter, Not Just Stronger

The spec sheet might cause a double-take: the Ally X uses the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU as its predecessor. While some may lament the lack of a next-gen chip, this decision allows ASUS to focus on the supporting architecture—and it pays dividends. The RAM has been substantially upgraded from 16GB of LPDDR5-6400 to a whopping 24GB of blistering LPDDR5X-7500. This extra capacity and speed allow for more VRAM to be allocated to the GPU (up to 8GB) without starving the system, resulting in smoother, more consistent performance in VRAM-hungry titles like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.

Coupled with a redesigned cooling system featuring smaller, more efficient fans that move significantly more air, the Ally X maintains its peak performance for longer without sounding like a jet engine. This isn’t about hitting higher maximum frame rates; it’s about maintaining a higher average frame rate with fewer jarring dips. It’s a more mature approach to performance that prioritizes the actual playing experience over benchmark bragging rights.

The Game-Changing Battery

Let’s be direct: the single greatest upgrade in the ROG Ally X is the battery. ASUS has doubled the capacity from 40Wh to an enormous 80Wh. This single change transforms the Ally X from a device you play nervously near a power outlet to a genuinely portable powerhouse. Where the original would gasp its last breath after about an hour of a demanding AAA title, the Ally X can now comfortably push past two hours, and even longer with some sensible tweaks to power settings. For lighter indie games or streaming, you’re looking at a device that can last for a cross-country flight. This isn’t just an improvement; it’s a fundamental fix that redefines the product’s entire use case.

The Familiar Screen and Lingering Software Quirks

The display remains untouched, and for good reason. The 7-inch, 1080p, 120Hz IPS panel with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is still arguably the best screen on any gaming handheld. It’s bright, vibrant, and the fluidity that VRR provides is a competitive advantage. Likewise, the speakers are still loud, clear, and surprisingly full-bodied.

The persistent wrinkle in the experience remains the software. Windows 11 offers unparalleled flexibility and game compatibility, from Steam to the Epic Games Store to PC Game Pass. However, it still feels like an operating system designed for a mouse and keyboard, awkwardly retrofitted for a small touchscreen and controller. ASUS’s Armoury Crate SE software does a commendable job of wrangling this complexity into a unified launcher, and it has seen significant updates. Yet, it can’t fully mask the occasional Windows weirdness, and it lacks the seamless, console-like polish of Valve’s SteamOS.

The Final Verdict

The ASUS ROG Ally X is not the ROG Ally 2. It is the ROG Ally Pro. At $799, it carries a price premium that places it firmly in the enthusiast category. For owners of the original, it’s a difficult upgrade to justify unless battery life is your paramount concern.

However, for new buyers looking for the most powerful and feature-complete Windows handheld on the market, the Ally X is an unequivocal success. The combination of best-in-class performance, a phenomenal screen, vastly improved ergonomics, and—most importantly—a battery that finally lets you play, makes it the device to beat. It’s the realization of the original’s promise, a superb portable PC that makes very few compromises.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon