The Asus ROG Ally X is official — and I took a peek inside
What are the key enhancements of the ROG Ally X compared to its predecessor?
The ROG Ally X, the successor to the original ROG Ally, comes with several key enhancements. These improvements include a larger 1TB SSD, expandable via an M.2 2280 slot, and 24GB of LPDDR5-7500 RAM for improved performance in demanding games3. The battery life has also been doubled to 80Wh, allowing for extended gaming sessions away from an outlet.
The Ally X features a redesigned chassis with improved ergonomics, cooling, and connectivity. It has deeper handles, rounded edges, and redesigned buttons and joysticks, all of which make the handheld more comfortable to hold and play on. It also includes two USB-C ports, one of them Thunderbolt-compatible, for connecting peripherals and external GPUs.
Thermal management has been improved with new, smaller fans and an additional exhaust vent. The new motherboard supports full 2280 SSDs, offering more options at a lower cost compared to smaller 2230 SSDs5. The refined controls include durable joysticks, a new macro button, and a Thunderbolt-compatible USB Type-C port for external GPU support.
The device now comes in all black, and the controls have been improved. The new joysticks are meant to be more durable, using premium materials, and they're rated for five million cycles. Asus says that the Steam Deck is still rated for two million. One other thing that's changed is that the XGM port is gone, and it's replaced by a second USB Type-C port. One of the USB ports is Thunderbolt compatible, so you'll actually be able to hook up an external GPU if you want to.
The Asus ROG Ally X is available to pre-order, retailing for $799.99. Those looking to order the device can head to Best Buy.
How has Asus addressed the weight increase due to the larger battery in the ROG Ally X?
Asus has addressed the weight increase due to the larger battery in the ROG Ally X by making other components lighter. While the bigger battery added over 120 grams of weight, Asus was able to offset half of it by making other components lighter. This includes a stronger, thinner, lighter chassis, lighter circuit boards, and a lighter cooling module with 23-percent smaller fans that are actually more powerful. These efforts resulted in the ROG Ally X being only 0.15 pounds (70g) heavier than the original, despite having double the battery capacity.
What are the new features and improvements in the I/O options of the ROG Ally X?
The new ROG Ally X handheld gaming PC has several improvements in its I/O (input/output) options compared to its predecessor. Here are some of the notable changes:
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Storage: The Ally X now features a full-length M.2 2280 PCIe 4 SSD slot, which supports double-sided drives. This opens up both high-capacity and cost-effective storage options for users.
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Ports: Asus has replaced the proprietary XG Mobile eGPU port with a second USB-C port. This port supports Thunderbolt 4, offering benefits such as 40Gbps speeds, 100W USB-C PD charging, DP 1.4 video output, and 4 lanes of PCIe for standard eGPUs. Both USB-C ports are top-mounted, allowing for 100W charging and 10Gbps data even on the weaker port.
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SD Card Reader: The device now comes with a new SD card reader, addressing complaints about the previous model.
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Other I/O Improvements: The D-pad has been made larger and more comfortable, and now offers eight-way input. The face buttons have also been made taller and more stable.
These improvements aim to enhance the overall user experience by providing better storage, connectivity, and input options.