I just tested the new Asus ROG Ally X: this is the evolution you expected from the portable console

Asus updates its portable game console and competition against Stream Deck with this Asus ROG Ally X that improves in all the aspects that matter.

It’s here. Finally, one of Asus’s secrets that it presents at Computex in Taipei has been revealed and it is the update of its portable game console with the new model Asus ROG Ally X.

This is the portable game console that competes against Steam Deck OLED and Lenovo Legion Go among others. As expected and being the second generation, it not only puts it on par with the Steam Deck with OLED screen, it also improves where it really matters.

It goes on sale on July 22 at a price of 899 euros. It includes double the battery, double the storage, double the USB-C connections, faster 7,500 MHz memory that gives you a performance improvement.

It is an update, but with the internal and external changes that Asus has made to ROG Ally X, we could well say that it is an evolution. Although they have not changed the screen or processor, it maintains the AMD Z1 Extreme and the 7-inch 120 Hz screen, they have managed to improve performance and design.

Perhaps the most notable thing from a physical point of view is the slight redesign it has to make it more ergonomic. But also inside. Asus has redesigned the circuitry to perform better by removing up to 6ºC of heat and adding a 80 Wh batterymaking it slightly heavier, goes to 678 grams.

Add an extra USB-C port and both are compatible with Thunderbolt 4, especially important for 100W fast charging and, why not, 10Gbps data transfer.

The good news is that the original ASUS ROG Ally remains on sale in case you want a cheaper option with more or less the same performance for 649 euros.

This is how the new Asus ROG Ally X feels in the hand

I came to Taipei for a special Asus event to try out their new products and I couldn’t wait to see how this Asus ROG Ally X felt compared to the previous generation.

The good news is that whoever is looking for a portable console has all kinds of options and with this ROG Ally X, although it is not the one with the best screen or the cheapest, in the end it is an almost round product.

Despite the change in weight compared to the previous generation, it does not feel heavy in the hand. They are only 70 grams more, but since it maintains the same size and the grip is better, you will practically not notice a change in weight compared to the previous generation.

The screen remains 7 inches and has 500 nits of brightness, bright enough for outdoors, but Asus has needed to add an anti-reflective panel. The reflections of LED lights are quite noticeable indoors.

When playing, the position of the buttons is identical, except for the rear programmable buttons, now slightly smaller. It is comfortable to play for several hours, although the problem persists: the battery.

ASUS ROG Ally X has twice the battery, but it is dragged down by Windows 11 and excessive energy consumption. I have to wait to test it more thoroughly, since the units I have touched during this event are pre-production models, but the expected autonomy of just over 3 hours will also depend a lot on how Windows 11 updates behave.

And among all the new features, for me, one of the most important is this extra USB-C connection and support for Thunderbolt 4. During the presentation, ASUS commented on the possibility of connecting an external graphics card via USB-C and taking advantage of that power to play.

Something that goes against all portability, but makes me think that ROG Ally X can be more than just a portable console: it can be a desktop PC with the right accessories.

Buying a graphics card and a card chassis thanks to Thunderbolt, added to this portable console, is ridiculous because the cost is much higher than any gaming PC, but if you already have one, this USB-C connection will give you more possibilities.

A price war for portable consoles

With the news of ASUS ROG Ally

All portable consoles have different characteristics, but it is clear that the price, in the end, is decisive and this is the competition it faces.

• ASUS ROG Ally: 649 euros
• Asus ROG Ally X: 899 euros
• Steam Deck LCD: 419 euros
• Steam Deck OLED: 569 euros
• Lenovo Legion GO: 799 euros

Right now ASUS has the most expensive portable console on the market in Spain, but with improved performance, more battery and speed between SSD and RAM. Can it compete against the popularity of Steam Deck?

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Tags: Computex, Asus