ASUS ROG Ally X Review: The Revision That Fixed the Right Things
Same processor, double the battery, 50% more memory. A machine you had to plan around became one you can just use — and the frame rate cap matters more than any spec here.
The first ROG Ally was a strange product to recommend. It was faster than a Steam Deck, it had a much better screen, and it ran Windows, which meant it could play essentially everything. It also had battery life that could be measured in a lunch break, and a microSD slot that developed a reputation for cooking cards.
The Ally X is what happens when a company takes those complaints seriously instead of releasing a faster chip. The processor is unchanged. Almost everything around it is different, and the result is one of the more honest hardware revisions in recent memory — a machine that fixes what was wrong rather than improving what was already fine.
Why handheld PCs are a real category now
For years the idea kept failing for the same reason: the hardware could not run modern games at a frame rate anyone wanted without a power budget that no battery could supply. What changed was not a breakthrough in batteries but a change in how games are rendered — upscaling and frame generation mean a handheld can output a convincing 1080p image while actually rendering considerably less than that.
That is the whole trick, and it is worth knowing because it explains the settings you will end up using. You are not brute-forcing games at native resolution. You are running them at a lower internal resolution with a very good upscaler on top, at a frame rate cap that keeps power draw sane. Once you accept that, these machines are remarkable. If you insist on native resolution and uncapped frame rates, you will be disappointed and your battery will last forty minutes.
The setting that matters more than any other is the frame rate cap. Capping at 40 or 45fps rather than letting a game run free frequently doubles battery life for a difference most people cannot see on a seven-inch screen. Every experienced handheld owner does this. Nobody does it on day one.
What actually changed
The battery is doubled, from 40 Wh to 80 Wh. This is the entire reason the machine exists. Demanding games at maximum settings now run beyond two hours where the original managed just over one. Lighter indie titles stretch past ten hours, and in non-gaming use — video, browsing — reviewers have measured over eight hours.
Memory goes from 16 GB to 24 GB of LPDDR5X-7500. On a handheld this matters more than it would on a desktop, because system memory is shared with the graphics processor. More memory means more available to the GPU, which shows up as fewer stutters in texture-heavy games rather than as higher average frame rates.
Storage doubles to 1 TB, and the internal drive moves to a standard size that is far easier to replace. Modern game installs are enormous; this was a real constraint before.
Ergonomics and the card slot. Deeper grips, a better D-pad, and the microSD slot relocated away from the hottest part of the chassis — the fix for the original’s most notorious flaw.
The processor is the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme. ASUS did not pretend otherwise, and anyone expecting a large performance jump should look elsewhere. Frame rates are broadly similar; what changed is how long you get to enjoy them.
Windows is the best and worst thing about it
This is the decision that separates the Ally X from a Steam Deck, and it cuts both ways hard.
The good: it plays everything. Every storefront, every launcher, every anti-cheat system, every game that Linux compatibility layers still struggle with. There is no compatibility list to check before buying a game. It is also a real PC, so it does everything else a PC does.
The bad: Windows was not designed to be driven by a thumbstick. You will meet the desktop, and you will meet it at the worst moments — a launcher update, a dialogue box, a login prompt that wants a keyboard. ASUS’s front-end software smooths a lot of this and does not eliminate it. Sleep and resume are less reliable than on a console-style device.
The honest framing: a Steam Deck feels like a console that happens to run PC games. The Ally X feels like a small PC that is very good at games. If that distinction sounds like it matters to you, it will.
Where it still falls short
Same performance as before. If you own the original Ally and are happy with its battery life, there is very little here for you.
Weight. The bigger battery costs grams, and it is noticeably heavier in long sessions than the machine it replaces.
Fan noise under load. Improved, still present. Headphones are not optional for demanding games in a quiet room.
Price. It launched around $799, which is a lot of money for something that plays the same games as a considerably cheaper Steam Deck, and the gap only makes sense if you specifically need Windows compatibility or the better screen.
What it does well
- Double the battery, which was the one thing that mattered
- 24 GB of shared memory reduces stutter in demanding titles
- Runs everything, with no compatibility list to check
- Better grips, better D-pad, relocated card slot
- 1 TB storage on an easily replaceable drive
What to think about first
- Identical processor — no performance gain
- Windows on a handheld remains awkward at the edges
- Heavier than the model it replaces
- Audible fan noise under real load
- Significantly more expensive than a Steam Deck
How it compares
| Option | Strongest at | Weakest at | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROG Ally X | Compatibility, screen, battery, memory | Windows friction, price | You want to play everything, including anti-cheat titles |
| Steam Deck OLED | Software polish, sleep/resume, price, screen | Compatibility gaps, less raw power | You want it to feel like a console |
| Original ROG Ally | Price if discounted | Battery life, card slot heat | Only at a very large discount |
| A gaming laptop | Far more performance per pound | Not portable in the same way | You mostly play at a desk |
That last row deserves a moment. Handhelds are expensive for what they do computationally. You are paying for the form factor, and it is only worth it if you will genuinely use it on a sofa, a train or a bed rather than at the desk where a cheaper machine would be better.
Who it is for
People with a large existing PC library. The strongest case by far. Everything you already own, in your hands, with no compatibility research.
Anyone who plays multiplayer games with strict anti-cheat. This is the concrete, non-negotiable reason to choose Windows over a Steam Deck, and for some players it decides the whole question.
Travellers and commuters who want one device that plays games and also does actual work, since it is a full PC with a keyboard away from being a laptop.
It is a poor buy if you already have a happy original Ally, if you mostly play at a desk, or if you want something that just works without ever showing you a Windows dialogue.
Check the current price
Handheld pricing moves a lot and configurations differ by storage. Check the current listing before ordering.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it faster than the original Ally?
How long does the battery really last?
Should I get this or a Steam Deck OLED?
Did they fix the microSD card problem?
Can I use it for work?
Is 24 GB of memory actually useful?
The verdict
A revision that fixed the right things. The doubled battery turns a machine you had to plan around into one you can just use, and the memory and ergonomics changes are quietly significant. Buy it if you have a large PC library or play anti-cheat multiplayer, cap your frame rate on day one, and accept that Windows will occasionally remind you it is there. If you own the original and it still suits you, keep it.
Sources and method
Hardware specifications are ASUS’s published figures. Battery figures reflect measurements reported by independent reviewers across gaming and non-gaming workloads, which vary widely by title and settings — the ranges given here are deliberate. The launch price is quoted as a reference point and current pricing will differ. We have not tested this device ourselves and do not claim to have.