Asus has been in the spotlight for its first handheld PC, the Asus ROG Ally. While it had its downside, with issues with the microSD, the device sold well. Now, the popular PC maker has revealed the updated version of the device, the Asus ROG Ally X. This new device will act as a mid-fresh, similar to what Valve did with the Steam Deck OLED.
For sure, don’t call this the ROG Ally 2, but this isn’t it. What the ROG Ally X does have is a number of updates over the original device, much more battery life (no specifics given), a larger M.2 2280 SSD Slot, more onboard RAM, and more ports. This new device will also feature a redesigned motherboard and will come in black or white with a revised shell.
However, with all the upgrades, Asus has confirmed that the ROG Ally X will continue to use the same AMD Z1 Extreme chipset and screen, meaning it will not feature any OLED. With all the changes, the ROG Ally X will be more expensive, but the price has not been mentioned yet.
Even though the new ROG Ally X has been announced, Asus has stated it will continue to support the original modes. In addition, a new version of Armory Crate, which looks to be a hefty overhaul of the application, is being launched in July 2024, and it looks to be vastly better than what is available now. There will also be a number of customizations, button mappings, and profiles. While there was information regarding this new update during the YouTube video I linked, there’s still more to come later today.
I’m not sure what to think about this new ROG Ally X. On the one hand, I like the idea of a mid-refresh with extra RAM and better battery life, but I wish there were a more powerful processor and a bigger screen. While it’s all tempting, it also makes me wonder if this is just a test run for the confirmed ROG Ally 2, which most definitely is coming. When is the question? Better battery life at the expense of extra weight, is a big deal, as I am not a fan of having to stop playing on the go, all because my battery died. More RAM means we can dedicate more to the VRAM while keeping Windows and whatever game we’re playing happy.
I wish this came with a better screen, or at least a bigger one. The Legion GO and the Stream Deck OLED have spoiled me, especially the OLED on the Steam Deck. It’s a tad disappointing to see that this ROG Ally X won’t feature a better screen. And then there’s the cost. With all the extra features, how much more are we talking about? The Z1 Extreme ROG Ally runs you at $699. So, are we looking at $800? Could we be looking at the same price points as Ayaneo’s handheld PCs? If so, I really hope there’s a trade-in program for those of us who are tempted but also own the current version of the ROG Ally.
We’ll learn more about the Asus ROG Ally X on June 2, 2024.
