What a game-changer. The Asus ROG Ally X is an absolute powerhouse in the palm of your hand. With its blazing-fast processor and generous 12GB RAM, this device can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. We’re talking seamless gaming, lightning-quick multitasking, and effortless video editing – all without breaking a sweat.

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Asus’ third iteration of its Ally handheld, the , is finally here, and our testing shows it’s a genuinely spectacular and highly effective portable gaming PC, despite not improving upon the AMD Z6900 High APU from the original. As alternatives, significant upgrades have been made to the random access memory (RAM), battery capacity, and the overall design and efficacy of the cooling system.

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The Asus ROG Ally X stands out as one of the most powerful handheld gaming PCs, surpassing the Ally Z1 Extreme as a top contender rivaling the Steam Deck OLED. Windows remains a significant hurdle for portable devices, frustratingly limiting their capabilities despite exceptional hardware.

Specs

Design

The ROG Ally X’s design features an inherited aesthetic from its precursor, with distinctive elements including asymmetrical thumbsticks, Xbox-inspired face buttons, and four performance buttons that house dedicated Asus Fast Menu and Armory Crate controls. One key improvement is the introduction of an eight-directional digital pad, offering greater navigation precision compared to the four-direction option found on the original Alienware Alpha.

On top of the handheld device, there are currently two USB-C ports, with the left one supporting Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to charge and connect multiple devices simultaneously. Alongside the device’s highest features lie the controls for volume management, a capacitive ability button or fingerprint sensor for seamless biometric authentication, a standard 3.5mm audio jack, and a dedicated microSD card slot for expanded storage capabilities. The new slot is designed to sit away from warmth vents, thereby eliminating the risk of your storage cards melting.

The ergonomics of the Ally X’s grip are significantly more accentuated compared to its singular counterpart, enabling a noticeably more comfortable and secure hold. These enhancements yield a 70g weight gain over the Ally, with the shell only marginally thicker while retaining its width and height. While this variation was barely perceptible to me, the resulting 10% increase in weight becomes noticeable during extended gaming sessions.

Working System

The ROG Ally X relies on Windows 11 as its operating system, which poses the primary hurdle in making this handheld a genuine rival to the Steam Deck. Valve’s handheld device shines when it comes to providing effortless access to, launching, and playing a vast majority of video games. A sleek design cannot be found on the Ally X.

Asus attempts to simplify gaming library management with the Ally X, integrating Steam, GOG, Xbox, and Ubisoft libraries via its intuitive Armory Crate interface, allowing for seamless access and effortless downloads of your favorite titles. Notwithstanding its numerous flaws, the approach is replete with imperfections; additionally, individuals who are excessively eager to launch Steam via Armory Crate may inadvertently trigger the standard Steam client instead of launching it in Big Picture mode. The GOG Launcher appears to lack controller support, rendering navigation and discovery of games a cumbersome experience? The Ally X’s seamless library access is a significant victory, eliminating the need to navigate complex setup procedures like desktop modes or dual-booting operating systems.

Utilizing the rapid menu entry options from Armory Crate during gameplay can potentially cause controller input errors. Occasionally, when delivering the menu, I would still maintain control over the game by repeatedly shutting and reopening the menu to ensure its proper functioning. On various occasions, when closing the menu after modifying settings, the game fails to recognize controller inputs, instead defaulting to mouse and keyboard input. This necessitates a full game restart, a less-than-ideal scenario.

While there isn’t an alternative to Proton, the compatibility software that enables video games to run seamlessly on the Steam Deck and Linux platforms. Without a dedicated tool, finding the ideal in-game settings is an arduous task, forcing me to waste considerable time testing video games at three distinct resolutions to determine the optimal configuration. While some games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, offer a Steam Deck-optimized mode, this feature provides limited benefits for the Aloy game, considering its significant differences in ability dynamics and native difficulty settings.

While Windows OS excels at basic browsing and video playback, its limitations render it a significant weakness for gaming on handheld devices like the GPD XD Play or NVIDIA Shield Portable – particularly when other options are available that offer seamless gaming experiences.

Show and Sound

Prior to the reveal of the X, one of the most pressing demands from Ally enthusiasts was for an OLED display. Alas, Asus fell short in this regard, instead importing the identical 7-inch, 120Hz LCD display used in the Alily model.

The television industry has made tremendous progress, far exceeding my initial expectations. While the Ally X’s 1080p, 120Hz display packs in significantly more detail than the 800p, 90Hz Steam Deck OLED screen, this substantial increase in element density largely mitigates the disparity in colour fidelity. The Ally’s display showcases a variable refresh rate (VRR) capability, potentially delivering a more seamless gaming experience through smoother visuals. In a direct comparison, the Ally X’s overall value shines through, making it a significant achievement for Asus.

Building upon its GameVisual prowess, Asus leverages this technology to offer users a range of customizable display profiles tailored to specific gaming genres, thereby enhancing the visuals on the Ally X. On top of profiles tailored to specific sports genres, such as racing or first-person shooter (FPS), the Ally X also features an eye care mode and a dedicated profile for optimizing video playback, allowing users to seamlessly enjoy movie nights on their device.

The audio system of the Asus ROG Ally X exhibits extraordinary performance, producing an impressive 81.3 dB maximum volume and 71 dB average level when recorded at a distance of 20 cm while playing Cyberpunk 2077. The sound quality remains exceptional, even at maximum volume, featuring crystal-clear clarity that effectively separates low-end frequencies where bass-heavy notes predominate, while higher-pitched sounds, such as the sharp crackling of revving car engines, remain distinct and avoid muddying into a shrill whine. You won’t need to worry about requiring a headset to receive an authentic auditory experience directly from this handheld device.

Compared to its OLED counterpart, the Steam Deck reached highs of 67.7 dB and a median of 58.4 dB under identical circumstances, with basic quality ranges similarly comparable, rendering them on par – unless one is accustomed to blasting their gaming handheld at maximum volume.

Storage

The Asus ROG Zephyr X is available exclusively with a 1TB SSD configuration. This capability can be expanded via microSD cards, much like the innovative Ally model; however, the X version stands out by permitting users to leverage up to a 2280 M.2 SSD, providing a significant upgrade over the standard 2230 format. While any top-notch gaming SSD from our guide will suffice, only the more budget-friendly options are suitable for portable machines, as the faster ones tend to consume excessive power and run hot.

The microSD card slot design has been revised to prevent overheating and damage to memory cards, ensuring a safer gaming experience. With its multiple USB-C ports, you can expand your storage capabilities by using a dock without compromising the ability to efficiently charge the Ally X.

Efficiency

The Asus ROG Ally X outshines its competitors, including the Steam Deck, as evidenced by its impressive performance in my gaming benchmark tests thus far. The testing of Cyberpunk 2077, F1 24, and Callisto Protocol confirms that the Razer Kishi Ally X is a formidable handheld gaming device.

This significant boost in efficiency is largely attributed to the 24GB LPDDR5-7500 RAM, a notable 8GB and 900MHz enhancement over its predecessor, the Ally handheld. Up to 8 GB of system memory can be allocated as dedicated video random access memory (VRAM) for enhanced graphics performance, configurable through the Armory Crate settings menu, exclusively designed for Ryzen Z1 Extreme APUs. The specific settings you employed during testing were as follows:

Benchmark assessments were conducted at 720p, 900p, and 1080p resolutions across low, medium, and high graphical settings. The ROG Ally X’s four TDP settings were scrutinized in relation to every sport. While creating custom TDP profiles is possible, this testing was ultimately best suited to the four preconfigured gaming presets.

For me, the most striking observation from these benchmarks is that the 900p resolution strikes a sweet balance on the Ally X, harmoniously combining efficiency and visual consistency. While it’s beneficial to support 1080p resolution in indie titles with modest graphics demands, the concessions required to achieve high levels of detail in AAA games are not justified by the minor visual improvements on this 7-inch display.

While handheld gaming PCs have their advantages, it’s undeniable that they are ultimately limited by their processing power, which means most games will struggle to exceed a consistent 30frames-per-second performance, as exemplified by the recent title The Callisto Protocol. While the game struggled to maintain frame rates near 60fps across various presets, I found that capping it at 30fps allowed for a smooth gaming experience with superior visuals, sacrificing some speed to avoid performance drops. For those opting for a decrease in thermal design power (TDP) profiles, the benefits include extended battery life without compromising performance.

During testing, a notable issue arose regarding the ROG Ally X’s ability to accommodate TDP modifications. Each time I transitioned between environments using the Ally X, I experienced a notable lag as the system took to adapt to the newly selected setting. Initially puzzled whether the delay stemmed from the real-time monitor’s reporting of decreased TDP or if it was an anomaly, further benchmarking revealed that the monitor was indeed accurate – the Ally X would occasionally take up to ten minutes to adjust its TDP stage.

The Windows OS cleverly leverages the ROG Ally X’s capabilities, offering seamless sport compatibility. While the Proton software offers additional benefits beyond just optimizing video game performance on Linux, the Ally X device seems to render such a tool unnecessary in its current configuration. While most sports games operate seamlessly on Windows, the primary consideration for ensuring a smooth gaming experience is the availability of controller support and the game’s processing speed. When the controller’s assist feature is inactive, you can seamlessly integrate a mouse and keyboard with the Ally X by docking it or using the included stand to elevate your handheld gaming experience.

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Ally X boasts significantly enhanced battery life compared to its predecessor, boasting an impressive 80Wh battery that currently stands as one of the largest and most potent in the handheld gaming PC market? The performance of the Ally X is contingent upon both the TDP settings utilized and the user’s operational decisions.

At 25W TDP, playing moderately intense games like Hades 2 at 1080p resolution can deliver up to approximately two hours and 45 minutes of uninterrupted gaming time when the thumbstick LEDs are disabled. When playing at 720p with the 13W setting and thumbstick LEDs disabled, the device’s battery life can be expected to last around 5 hours. Highly demanding video games can swiftly deplete a device’s battery life, leading to an unpredictable array of consequences that are difficult to quantify with precision. The energy consumption of a sports facility can be revealed through real-time monitoring, allowing enthusiasts to identify the most resource-intensive video games.

During informal benchmarking of the ROG Ally X’s battery longevity when used solely for media consumption – namely, browsing and video playback – we observed a notable increase in runtime when utilizing the device’s 13W TDP setting, exceeding eight hours. Will this potentially be extended to up to 10 hours if you adjust the Windows TDP setting in the Armory Crate settings menu, although it can only be found hidden away within that section?

Unlike the Steam Deck, the device lacks a feature that estimates the remaining playtime based on battery life, a notable shortcoming; nevertheless, users can still track battery life as a percentage through the basic settings in the real-time monitor.

The battery life of the Ally X depends on whether it is idle, allowing it to trickle-charge, or being used actively, which consumes power. You can still use the lower power modes of 13W and 17W while charging, but this will prolong the time it takes to achieve a full charge. Asus thoughtfully included a ROG 140W charger with the Ally X, which can recharge it to full capacity within an hour, thanks to its 100W maximum charging speed. Additionally, the pre-installed 65W charger efficiently charges the device from flat to fully charged in approximately two hours.

All things considered, the 80Wh battery represents a substantial upgrade over its predecessor, outperforming the likes of the Steam Deck, which can sustain up to six and a half hours of playtime with demanding titles like Hades 2. Notably, the Steam Deck’s maximum TDP is 15W, and its native resolution is significantly lower, making the Ally X’s battery performance all the more impressive.

Worth

Priced at $799 (£799), the Asus ROG Ally X is available for purchase through retailers such as Best Buy, alongside its official website. Upon unboxing, the package includes the Ally X console, a charging adapter, a sturdy cardboard stand, and comprehensive instructional and guarantee manuals for seamless setup and operation. The package does not include a case or specialized equipment for the portable device.

Asus notified me about a clarification regarding the ROG Ally X’s compatibility with certified ROG Ally scenarios, stating that although no specific Ally X situations are currently available, it can still be paired with officially sanctioned ROG Ally accessories for now?

Asus has slashed the price of the ROG Allegiance Z1 model to $649.99, effectively creating a more competitive entry point for this previously high-end gaming console. For a modest $399.99, the standard Z1 mannequin is available; yet, I would caution against this option due to the notable power deficiency of its integrated processor unit (APU).

Alternate options

Steam Deck OLED

For those who genuinely don’t want to ponder whether a game will function flawlessly and already possess an extensive library of games on Steam, it’s challenging to refute the Steam Deck OLED as the go-to handheld gaming PC for many gamers, especially when its $549.99 MSRP is significantly more enticing.

Verdict

The Asus ROG Ally X is a formidable handheld gaming PC that leverages the robust AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and boosts its performance with faster, higher-capacity RAM. The design refinements on the Ally X elevate its overall usability, but the Windows operating system’s limitations hold the device back from reaching its full potential.

While Asus’ Armory Crate software alleviates some of the burden, it still doesn’t fully streamline the gaming experience, making the ROG Ally X challenging to recommend solely for portable gaming, when its broader versatility could be a major selling point.