Asus ROG Ally X is Official; Set for July Release

Asus’ much-teased ROG Ally X is finally official, all set for a July 22 release, with preorders opening up in other countries. The new package promises a number of tweaks both to the device’s internals and even its ergonomics; so much that it almost feels like a completely new gadget when compared to the original model.

Let’s get one thing straight though: This isn’t a direct successor to the original ROG Ally just yet. Similar to the Steam Deck OLED or the Nintendo Switch OLED a few years ago, this is more of a refresh/revision. It’s a version 1.5 so to say, rather than a full 2.0. The upgrades sure look promising however:

Twice the battery, twice the storage

Asus wasn’t lying when they promised twice the battery inside the ROG Ally X. You now get an 80Wh battery inside; up from the original 40Wh found in the original ROG Ally. Nonetheless, the new Ally is only around 70g heavier than its predecessor, with the weight of the bigger battery offset by a slightly lighter chassis and circuit board.

RAM has been expanded up to 24GB now compared to the 16GB of the previous model, with the frequency increased from 6400MT/s to 7500MT/s. What’s more significant is the storage. You now get a full-length M.2 2280 PCIe 4 SSD slot that supports double-sided drives. This opens you up to more options compared to just the compact 2230 SSD in the original console.

And yes, you still retain SD card support, now relocated to a different location which should solve some of the overheating issues in the previous model. Asus hasn’t acknowledged it to be a widespread problem however.

Other changes

A lot of the other changes center around the exterior of the device. Asus has ditched its proprietary XG Mobile eGPU port for a second USB-C Thunderbolt 4. As such, you should be able to plug in the Ally X to any external GPU enclosure you want, rather than being restricted to Asus’ own external GPUs. Additionally, you’re now able to charge the device while being connected to a different USB-C accessory.

The overall device also appears to be more rounded which should make it just a bit more comfortable in the hand. Macro buttons on the back are a lot smaller, which Asus claims should result in fewer accidental presses (though honestly? We didn’t really encounter it as a problem in the original).

You get a slight bump in both its “Silent” and “Performance” power modes, with the former going from 10W to 13W and the latter going from 15W to 17W. The Turbo mode still operates at 25W. There’s a slightly bigger rear intake vent and smaller fans but now, using Asus’ own custom 77 ultra-thin blades compared to the 47-blade ones of the original.

So it should be lighter, but theoretically cooler under load, whether you’re swinging across the Manhattan skyscrapers in Spider-Man Remastered, or battling undead horrors in the lands between of Elden Ring.

Charging has been bumped up to support 100W charging too. Unfortunately, Asus did confirm that it still comes with its original 65W charging adapter.

Oh, and the device now comes in black, kind of like the Steam Deck. Those who prefer the white color will have to stick with the original Ally unfortunately.

Performance

Asus hasn’t revealed any official performance numbers just yet but, we’re expecting it to be fairly similar to the original ROG Ally. For one, you’re still getting the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor inside, as well as the same 7-inch 120Hz FHD IPS display. The upgraded RAM could result in a slight uplift but we’ll have to wait and see it perform in a number of different games first.

The ROG Ally X will also be running with Windows still, which has been a hit-or-miss with some gamers. It’s not as streamlined as Valve’s SteamOS on the Deck but, it does lead to the ROG Ally being easily more compatible with more games and launchers like Game Pass.

If you’re an existing ROG Ally owner, you should be able to easily migrate your settings to the Ally X via cloud backup too, which is quite convenient.

Pre-orders and Pricing

The Asus ROG Ally X is now available for preorder in the US for $799.99 at Best Buy, with everyone else getting it sometime next month. A lot more expensive than its predecessor and it’s up to you whether the improved battery life, ergonomics, SD card and SSD compatibility, and all-black colorway is worth the price increase.

Otherwise, the Asus ROG Ally is still available here at Kimstore for a more affordable price! Get the best deals on your favorite gaming consoles here today! Make sure to move fast while stocks last!

For gadgets and electronics, get it at Kimstore!