ASUS was the first major computer manufacturer to try its hand at producing a gaming handheld. Despite a few issues like the microSD card reader, succeeded in giving people a powerful way to take their games on the go. But after nearly a year on the market, ASUS’s portable is getting a major update and it’s becoming the device we’ve always wanted.
Now to be clear, Ally X is not a true sequel to the original, but rather a mid-cycle update. in 2019. I would argue that ASUS has done more to enhance the capabilities of the new model. That’s because while the Ally X has the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip and 7-inch 120Hz LCD screen used in its predecessor, almost everything else in the system has been tweaked or improved in some way.
Inside, ASUS has doubled the size of the Ally X’s battery, up from 40Wh on the older model to 80Wh. The same goes for storage, with the handset featuring a 1TB M.2 SSD (up from 512GB). Unlike its predecessors, this is a full-size 2280 module, so anyone planning to add a larger drive later will have plenty of options for third-party add-ons. Even its memory gets a big bump to 24GB (up from 16GB) with faster LPDDR5X 75000 RAM. And to make sure everything is properly cooled, ASUS installed a new fan system, which the company says is 23 percent smaller, while providing 24 percent better airflow.
Now, all of this would be a rather welcome change, especially when it comes to performance and battery life. But ASUS didn’t stop there. The Ally X also has a new black exterior, and it’s a touch thicker than before, allowing for clearer grips and a slightly more ergonomic button layout. There’s also a new precision D-Pad, which I’m happy about as the previous one felt a bit chewy and spongy. And while ASUS hasn’t opted for Hall Effect joysticks, the company says it’s switched to stiffer springs, which should increase durability and make them feel more responsive.
Finally, on the rear, the Ally X has smaller rear paddles that are harder to accidentally press. However, one of my favorite changes is that along with the new third vent at the top, ASUS has ditched the dedicated XG mobile connector in favor of a second USB-C port. And because it supports both and Thunderbolt 4, it’s fast enough to use with an external GPU (if you’re into that sort of thing) while leaving the other slot open for charging or other wired accessories.
In many ways, I feel like ASUS has finally made the Ally Xi the handheld I’ve always wanted. The larger battery solves one of the main problems of the previous model, which often occurred after just over an hour of playing modern games. Then the addition of a second USB-C port makes the system more versatile and better equipped to pull double duty as a pseudo-desktop in a pinch. And I can’t say enough about the larger handles. That’s because the X is just a few millimeters thicker than its predecessor, but it’s more comfortable, which is crucial for any handheld.
But the potentially biggest effect of all of this is that ASUS is turning its first-mover advantage into an even bigger lead. Because while competitors like Legion Go are still in their early stages (not to mention others like came too late to the party, left out of the blue for my review), ASUS is already iterating on the handheld. And this is coming from a device with a solid foundation. For anyone like me who has been in awe of the recent wave of gaming handsets, it’s really encouraging to see these devices catch up so quickly. Plus, starting at $800, just $100 more than the original Ally, the Ally X feels very affordable.
The ROG Ally X is available for pre-order today from Best Buy, with official sales starting in July.
