Asus releases the ROG Ally X, a revised and tweaked version of its first portable console. No new chip, but lots of hardware improvements.
The love affair between PC manufacturers and this new Steam Deck-style portable PC console format continues. While Valve revamped its Steam Deck by offering an OLED version, it’s Asus’ turn to release a revised and tweaked version of its console with the ROG Ally X.
Also read: Asus ROG Ally test, we spent two months with the PC console that wants to bury the Steam Deck
Let’s immediately extinguish aspirations for significant performance gains, this new version still incorporates AMD’s Z1 Extreme chip. It’s also still a console running Windows 11, even if the Asus skin benefits from a bit of paint. Now to Armory Crate 1.5. Asus explained to us that it improved the ergonomics and offered more features.
Battery capacity doubled
Most of the change therefore takes place under the hood. The main innovation is found in the autonomy, because the battery sees its capacity doubled please, going from 40 Wh to 80 Wh. Since portable computer consoles often suffer from a rather limited battery life, this addition is more than welcome.
RAM and storage also benefit from an improvement. The RAM goes from 16 to 24 GB (LPDDR5X-7500) and the storage from 512 GB to 1 TB In addition, the format of the M.2 SSD used goes from 2230 to 2280, a more traditional format in the PC world. This should facilitate upgrade possibilities up to 4 TB.
In terms of cooling, the fans are able to deploy 24% more air volume. This even though they are smaller. The blades have actually been refined to ensure better airflow. In total, Asus promises a measured drop of 6 °C on the surface of the touch screen.
Slightly revised design
With all these additional elements, Asus only managed to increase the weight by 70 g to reach 678 g. The console also benefits from a new black color.
The design has been slightly redesigned at the margins. One of the notable points is the addition of a second USB-C port as with the Lenovo Legion Go. This will allow you to connect a charger and an accessory, for example. The grips are deeper to make it easier to hold, the back buttons have been narrowed so you no longer press them accidentally, the joysticks are more “durable” with stiffer springs in particular. The D-Pad now includes a design that makes it easy to manage all eight directions.