Asus has introduced a brand new mannequin of its handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally X. However how does it examine to the common ROG Ally?
Moderately than performing as a direct sequel to the unique ROG Ally, the brand new X mannequin is as an alternative a costlier possibility, with Asus planning to promote each variations concurrently.
However what sort of upgrades are you getting by choosing the ROG Ally X? With Asus formally lifting the lid on the £799 ROG Ally X at Computex 2024, listed below are 5 key variations between the Ally X and the common Ally.
Improved battery life
The important thing promoting level of the Asus ROG Ally X is undoubtedly the prolonged battery life. Asus says that it was one of the vital requested upgrades, and so has slapped in a bigger battery pack so avid gamers can play on the go for longer.
The truth is, the ROG Ally X boasts a whopping 80Wh battery, double that of the common ROG Ally. Provided that the present ROG Ally struggles to play AAA video games with max settings for greater than 90 minutes, we’re hoping that the Ally X will be capable of hit the 3-hour mark – however we’ll have to attend till we’ve reviewed it to say for certain.
In fact, becoming in a bigger battery pack will make the ROG Ally X a heavier transportable than its predecessor, nevertheless it’s not as large a rise as some may anticipate at solely 678g, 70g greater than the common Ally.
Boosted RAM and longer M.2 slot
Asus has confirmed that it received’t be upgrading the principle chip for the Asus ROG Ally X, so it would nonetheless be powered by the AMD Z1 Excessive discovered inside the unique ROG Ally. Nonetheless, Asus stated the transportable ought to nonetheless get a efficiency enhance, however within the type of extra RAM and improved cooling.
Extra particularly, the ROG Ally X sports activities 24GB of LPDDRX5 7500 reminiscence, up from 16GB on the common Ally X. The cooling system’s followers are 50% thinner and boast a ten% enhance to airflow, with two small wind tunnels to direct air across the system and a 3rd exhaust vent to jet out that scorching air.
Asus says this additionally has a notable impact on touchscreen temperatures, that are lowered by round 6 levels Celcius.
Asus has additionally stated it has additionally the M.2 SSD slot to M.2 2280, making it simpler so that you can discover an SSD to improve the 1TB of base storage if you want to take action. That is nice to listen to, as you’re at present restricted to very quick drives, which restricts your choices and inflates the value.
New placement for SD card reader
Many present Asus ROG Ally house owners have reported points with the SD card reader, with the port seeing unusually gradual learn speeds and even typically failing to recognise any inserted card. It has been prompt the shut proximity to the transportable’s vents might doubtlessly be the reason for this.
With the ROG Ally X, Asus has moved the location of the SD Card reader away from the vents, which ought to hopefully rectify the problem.
New all-black design
Essentially the most placing distinction to the design of the Asus ROG Ally X is the brand new black color possibility, serving to it to be visibly distinctive in comparison with the unique. We welcome the brand new black color, because it’s typically higher at hiding scuff marks and the like.
It additionally has quite a few smaller design adjustments in a bid to make the transportable gaming machine extra snug to make use of. This features a barely deeper curve to the handles, added slant on the triggers, stiffer springs within the analogue stick, redesigned D-pad and a lowered M-Key footprint on the rear to keep away from unintended presses.
These are small adjustments, admittedly, however they need to all add as much as a tool that feels nicer to carry.
Asus has additionally stated its new transportable might be extra repairable this time round, with interchangeable joystick modules and retuned triggers, joystick and D-pad. We’re but to see all the design of the Asus ROG Ally X, so there could be further adjustments, however we anticipate it to principally hold according to the unique.