When looking at the ROG Ally X, you might think that Asus just took the original Ally and added a new black color. However, when you experience it, you’ll realize that Asus has significantly refined both the internal and external aspects. These improvements include doubling the battery life, enhancing the design, and upgrading the RAM configuration,… let’s see the ROG Ally X review in the article below!
The Asus ROG Ally X is an upgrade that positions ASUS as a leader in handheld gaming devices, offering an extended battery life, a large screen, stable performance, and an ergonomic grip, allowing for gaming anytime, anywhere.
Asus ROG Ally X Review
Design: Slightly Thicker, Yet More Comfortable to Hold
That’s right! To begin with, I have to admit that the ROG Ally X feels great in the hand. However, this might seem surprising since it’s 70 grams heavier than the previous model, the ROG Ally (608 grams compared to 678 grams).
The device’s weight indeed affects my gaming experience during extended use. However, its thickness provides a more comfortable grip, especially for male gamers like me. The wide grip and the textured lines on the handle add to the secure and comfortable feel when holding it.
As for the buttons, I had a good experience with the ROG Ally X. The D-pad, joystick, XYAB buttons, and two analog sticks are arranged similarly to those on an Xbox controller. Anyone familiar with Xbox controllers will find this setup very familiar.
The ROG Ally X has wider spacing between the D-pad, joystick, and XYAB buttons. This design makes it easier to execute precise moves during intense combat. The feeling of pressing the buttons is firm, not creaky, showing the meticulousness in the design. Asus has also increased the size of the Trigger and Bumper buttons, making use more natural and comfortable. The overall design brings a hugging and very “cool” experience.
The macro button on the Ally X is smaller than on the previous version, which helps prevent accidental presses. However, this reduced size may make it difficult for those who prefer to adjust combos using the button.
Asus also listened to users and changed the rear connection port of the Ally X. The device still retains the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot. However, the XG-Mobile port has been replaced with a more practical USB Type-C port.
Finally, let’s briefly discuss the appearance. The ROG Ally X retains its striking Handheld Console PC design. Its rugged build, LED lights on the analog stick, and prominent ROG logo highlight its gaming aesthetic.
The device is somewhat bulkier, but it still has a sleek, sophisticated design. It’s well-suited for long gaming sessions. It’s also highly portable and fits easily into a backpack or handbag. This makes it perfect for taking to a coffee shop or meeting friends.
Clear Display and High Refresh Rate
The ROG Ally X continues to feature its standout attribute: a large 7-inch IPS display. This expansive screen allows gamers to fully immerse themselves in blockbuster AAA games, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
The ROG Ally X features a Full HD 1080p resolution, delivering vivid and sharp visuals for movies and games. Its 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth, fluid motion, enhancing the gaming experience with titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
The display also covers 100% sRGB, which is good for basic image customization. However, the maximum brightness of 500 nits can be difficult to use outdoors, but I believe this will not affect your overall experience much.
Asus ROG Ally X review test
Configuration Still Adequate, but Not Exceptional
While the Ally X features some modifications, it still uses the same CPU as the previous model: the AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme with integrated Radeon graphics. However, other specifications, such as RAM and storage, have been notably revised.
First, Asus has equipped the handheld with 7500MHz memory to help it reach 24GB, the special thing is that out of this 24GB RAM, there is up to 8GB of VRAM shared – meaning that up to 8GB of RAM is shared directly to the GPU, this helps the processing speed on ROG Ally X is promised to significantly improve the graphics processing power, allowing you to adjust the settings of AAA games at a better level than the handheld gaming titles currently on the market.
With the significant RAM upgrade, you can comfortably play your favorite AAA games for the next three years. Additionally, the Ally X is robust enough to handle basic work tasks. The device also features an upgraded ROM with a generous 1TB capacity, providing ample space to store your games.
To give you a more specific idea of the performance of Asus ROG Ally X, I first used Cinebench 23 software to score the performance test and the ability to utilize the multi-threaded and single-threaded CPU of this model.
The results are as I expected, with an additional 8GB of VRAM, a multi-core score of 13,679 points, and a single-core score of 1,708 points, the performance of the device has improved when compared to both the MSI Claw (REVIEW) and the old ROG Ally (REVIEW) version. It proves that the image rendering performance of ROG Ally X is better, so blockbuster AAA games can be reproduced better with reasonable graphics settings.
The ROG Ally X scored 3,460 in the Time Spy benchmark and received an “Excellent” rating. Its graphics score was 3,160 points, and its multi-core score was 7,516. As a handheld gaming PC, the Ally X delivers top-tier performance, ranking among the best available today.
True-to-Life Gaming Experience
In general, after experiencing a few AAA games such as Ghost of Tsushima, Forza Horizon 5, EA24,… I found that most of the games were smooth. However, the Asus gaming handheld faces some minor issues with performance optimization. The ‘numbers’ that the Ally X achieved might result from the demo version we are using, so the FPS could differ from those in the official version sold.
For example, in the game Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, with Low Preset setting, AMD FSR 2 Ultraperformance, and Turbo mode 40W, I measured that the game will have FPS ranging from 75-80, combat phases with many NPCs around 55-60 FPS.
In Forza Horizon 5, the Ally X consistently delivered an FPS of 90-100 under similar conditions. This game leverages the full potential of handheld gaming. With impressive sound, effective cooling, responsive joystick and triggers, and hardware that takes advantage of the 120Hz screen, I consider this game a “must-try” on this controller.
With this performance, you can handle even the most demanding AAA games on the ROG Ally X. If you’re looking for the latest and arguably the most powerful gaming handheld system, the ROG Ally X is an excellent choice.
However, with the upgrade in RAM, I expected more from a ROG Ally X with such limited ‘power’.
Although this model boasts higher RAM and improved performance scores, it doesn’t seem to fully harness its potential. During use, the device often experiences FPS drops in combat situations and fails to reach its expected FPS ceiling.
For instance, in Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, the frame rate typically fluctuates between 40 and 45 FPS. However, it often drops to about 25 FPS during combat, leading to frequent slowdowns. Consequently, I frequently find myself “one beat behind” in combat scenarios.
During my experience with the Ally X, I had several concerns about its performance. However, the trial version of the device might cause these issues, as the software and BIOS may not be fully optimized yet, which could result in minor errors.
Enhanced Battery Life with Superior Heat Control
Finally, one of the major advantages of the ROG Ally X is its increased thickness, which enhances user comfort. This design change also accommodates a significant upgrade in battery life—Asus has doubled it from 40Wh to 80Wh!
In this ROG Ally X review, we played four games—EA24, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Forza Horizon 5—in an air-conditioned room at 26 degrees Celsius, with 50% brightness, 50% volume, and Performance mode (TDP at 15W). We also updated the handheld with the latest drivers and Windows version.
The results are not surprising. It’s accurate to say that this flagship handheld currently offers the longest battery life, with up to 2 hours of mixed play. For example, after playing EA24 for about 32 minutes, the device used 20% of its battery. Switching to Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut for another 30 minutes, the battery level was at 55%. After 1 hour of play, the device still had half its battery remaining—an impressive performance!
After using the device for about an hour playing Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Forza Horizon 5, it still had around 5% battery remaining. I’m quite impressed with Asus’s performance with the ROG Ally X. Few handheld gaming devices on the market can achieve two hours of playtime like the ROG Ally X, especially considering its FHD, 120 Hz screen, and the demanding AAA games it handles.
The result exceeded two hours, and I am satisfied with my experience using this handheld gaming PC. Perhaps the battery problem is always the biggest weakness of many other Handhelds, but in this regard, Ally X is worthy of being a very high-quality choice if you also want long-term use like me.
Besides the battery life that I really like, this latest handheld console PC model also features an exceptionally robust cooling system, partly because the system is always operating at full capacity, so when playing, I don’t feel my hands getting too hot, not to mention that ASUS has placed the cooling system in a strategically effective position, so the heat doesn’t blow directly onto the area where I hold the device.
For us – as someone who has tried many other gaming handheld systems, besides the configuration and screen, battery life and heat dissipation are the two factors that I care about the most. With what we experienced above, we think the above two reasons are enough for us to put our trust in ROG Ally X. What about you?
Windows 11 and Handheld Gaming: A Poor Match
Using Windows 11 on the ROG Ally X can be challenging because the operating system doesn’t fully optimize for small screens and touch controls. On a 7-inch screen, Windows still treats the device as a tablet, causing some operations to be less smooth. While you can use the analog joystick and trigger buttons to control the mouse, it’s not always convenient.
Microsoft might consider creating a dedicated operating system for gaming handhelds, akin to SteamOS. This move could enhance the user experience and potentially usher in a new era for handheld systems.
Final line
Overall, the Asus ROG Ally X is an impressive gaming handheld device that provides an excellent grip and features robust specifications for a complete AAA gaming experience.
Although upgrading to 24GB of RAM in the Asus device may not be essential at this point—since many games are not yet optimized for that amount of memory—the increased RAM enhances multitasking capabilities. This means that in addition to gaming, the Ally X can comfortably handle multiple web tabs and other work tasks.
However, we believe the device remains a strong choice if you’re willing to invest. Currently, Newegg.com offers this model starting at $949. While not exactly inexpensive, the price is justified if you want to enjoy AAA games anytime, anywhere. Share your thoughts on this Asus ROG Ally X review in the comments section below.
