ASUS launches ROG Ally X at $799
Currently, costs $200 more than the original handheld.
The launch of new Ally X means two things: competition is increasing and old-gen hardware is bount to get a price cut, both of these claims are now true. The 2024 model is not called Ally 2, because it is not a full product replacement. The X has a new motherboard, new chassis, larger battery and better memory, but it is still using the same screen and the same APU.
Both the original and new models are powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU (8 core Zen4 and 12 CU RDNA3 graphics) and both are using the same 7-inch, 1080p 120Hz display . However, the Ally X introduces an 80Wh battery , doubling the original’s capacity, which extends gaming sessions significantly. Additionally, it includes 24GB of LPDDR5X-7500 RAM , an upgrade from 16GB, and 1TB of internal storage from 512GB.
Design-wise, the Ally X is slightly heavier and thicker, which takes into account the larger battery and additional hardware. This design change also improves ergonomics, particularly by repositioning buttons to prevent accidental presses and enhance grip comfort. The new Ally now also supports M.2 2280 SSD form factor, and has repositioned SD Card slot, which is no longer prone to overheating (one of the main issues with the 2023 model).
ROG Ally X Specs, Source: ASUS
In terms of performance, while the ROG Ally X does not show a substantial performance leap, but it offers extended playability. The new battery life is a significant improvement, offering more than two hours of gameplay at maximum settings, compared to just over an hour with the original Ally.
What’s worth noting is that ASUS removed its XG Mobile port from Ally, which most likely means it’s the end of the road for this external GPU option. Instead, gamers now have access to USB4 which means much broader support for such solutions.
ROG Ally X, Source: ASUS
As mentioned, the release of Ally X means that existing hardware is now cheaper. Here’s the latest data on pricing:
- ASUS ROG Ally X (2024) : $799 (BestBuy) , $799 (ASUS Store)
- ASUS ROG Ally (2023) : $594 (Amazon affiliate) , $649 (ASUS Store) , $649 (BestBuy) $50-$100 cheaper
- LENOVO Legion GO : $629 (Amazon affiliate) $70 cheaper
- MSI Claw (16G+512GB) : $649 (BestBuy) $100 cheaper
ASUS has sent out many review samples, but most reviews are focusing on the basic stuff, which isn’t that important. For a more technical review, we recommend checking The Phawx .
| Handheld Gaming Consoles Specs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VideoCardz | ASUS ROG Ally X | ASUS ROG Ally 2023 | MSI Claw | Lenovo Legion Go | Valve Steam Deck OLED |
| Picture |  |  |  |  |  |
| Architecture | AMD Zen4 & RDNA3 | AMD Zen4 & RDNA3 | Intel Redwood Cove, Crestmont & Xe-LPG | AMD Zen4 & RDNA3 | AMD Zen2 & RDNA2 |
| APU | Ryzen Z1 Extreme 8C/16T up to 5.1 GHz | Ryzen Z1 Extreme 8C/16T up to 5.1 GHz or Ryzen Z1 6C/12T up to 4.9 GHz | Core 7 Ultra 155H 16C/22T up to 4.8 GHz or Core 5 Ultra 135H 14C/18T up to 4.6 GHz | Ryzen Z1 Extreme 8C/16T up to 5.1 GHz or Ryzen Z1 6C/12T up to 4.9 GHz | AMD Sephiroth (6nm) 4C/8T up to 3.5 GHz |
| SoC GPU | AMD iGPU 12CU @ 2.7 GHz | AMD iGPU 12CU @ 2.7 GHz [Z1E] 4CU @ 2.5 GHz [Z1] | Arc Graphics 8 Xe-C @ 2.25 GHz [155H] 7 Xe-C @ 2.20 GHz [135H] | AMD iGPU 12CU @ 2.7 GHz [Z1E] 4CU @ 2.5 GHz [Z1] | AMD iGPU 8CU @ 1.6 GHz |
| External GPU | USB4 | ROG XG Mobile (up to RTX 4090) | Thunderbolt 4 | USB4 | Not officially |
| Memory Capacity | 24GB LPDDR5X-7500 | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 | 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 |
| Storage Capacity | 1TB | 512GB | 1TB/512GB | 1TB/512GB | 512GB/1TB SSD |
| Storage Type | M.2 NVMe 2280 SSD PCIe 4×4 | M.2 NVMe 2230 SSD PCIe 4×4 | M.2 NVMe 2230 SSD PCIe 4×4 | M.2 NVMe 2242 SSD PCIe 4×4 | M.2 NVMe 2230 SSD PCIe 3×4 |
| Display | 7″ 1920×1080, 120Hz, 500 nits, 7ms, VRR | 7″ 1920×1080, 120Hz, 500 nits, 7ms, VRR | 7″ 1920×1080, 120Hz, 500 nits, VRR | 8.8″ 2560×1600 IPS, 144Hz, 500 nits | 7.4″ 1200×800, 90 Hz |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2 | Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3 |
| Battery | 80 Wh | 40 Wh | 53 Wh | 49.2 Wh, 900 mAh | 50 Wh |
| Weight | 678g | 608g | 675 g | 854g | 640 g |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 28.0 × 11.4 × 3.7 cm | 28.0 × 11.7 × 3.2 cm | 29.4 × 11.7 × 2.1 cm | 29.9 × 13.1 × 4.1 cm | 29.8 × 11.7 × 4.9 cm |
| Default OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Steam OS/Win 11 |
| Retail Price | $799 | $699/€799 [Z1E] $599/€699 [Z1] | $799/€949 [155HU+1TB] $749/€849 [155H+512GB] $699 [135H+512GB] | $749 [Z1E+1TB] $699/€799 [1E+512GB] | $649/€679 [1TB] $549/€569 [512GB] |
| Release Date | July 2024 | June 2023 [Z1E] September 2023 [Z1] | March 2024 | October 31, 2023 | November 2023 |