After much speculation, Asus has officially unveiled the ROG Ally X, an upgraded version of its popular handheld gaming device, the ROG Ally. Needless to say, this announcement has generated significant hype among gamers and handheld video game console enthusiasts alike. After all, the Asus ROG Ally X aims to deliver an even more immersive gaming experience by building on the strengths of its predecessor while also addressing its limitations.
While ROG Ally X retains the original’s sleek and portable form factor, it introduces a new colour variant, giving gamers a more aesthetically pleasing option. The design also remains largely the same, ensuring comfort during extended gaming sessions is not impacted.
Now, let’s take a closer look at every improvement this new console brings to the market, along with its release date and price.
ASUS ROG Ally X release date, price and features
The newly introduced ROG Ally X’s features are aimed at enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Just like the original Ally, X is equipped with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. However, the ROG Ally X features 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a significant leap from the 16GB RAM available in its predecessor. Additionally, the new model includes two USB Type-C ports; a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port and a Thunderbolt 4 port.
The Asus ROG Ally X also features the same 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS LCD display with AMD FreeSync Premium.
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Asus has also shifted the position of the joysticks, which now provide gamers with better feedback and are more durable. The newly redesigned D-pad also contributes to the improved gaming experience. Finally, the macro keys of the ROG Ally X have been made smaller and more compact to reduce the frequency of accidental presses.
Asus has also made the fans on ROG Ally X’s heatsink 23% smaller, with 50% thinner blades. These fans allow for 10% more airflow, keeping the device a lot cooler.
Ally X comes with an 80Wh battery, which is double the size of the 40Wh battery seen in the original model. Unfortunately, due to the additional weight of the double-sized battery, the console now weighs 678 grams, around 68 grams more than its predecessor.
The Asus ROG Ally X’s price is set at USD 799 (HKD 6,248) and is currently available to pre-order. The device comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed and a 3-month Game Pass subscription.
ASUS ROG Ally X: How do these upgrades affect the gameplay?
Every upgrade in Ally X will provide gamers with an enhanced experience.
The increased 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM will allow for better multitasking and smoother performance in memory-intensive games. This will be beneficial for newer titles that demand more memory.
The improved battery life speaks for itself as now gamers will be able to enjoy longer gaming sessions of even the most taxing of games. This also makes the Ally X more suitable for long trips.
Improved ergonomics will make sure gamers are more comfortable as they play their favourite games on Ally X. From the improved joysticks to a redesigned D-pad, everything will make the gameplay experience better and more responsive.
This device may not be what fans imagined the Asus ROG Ally successor to look like, but it is still a sizeable improvement that, in our opinion, is worth getting, especially for those who have yet to get their hands on one of these impressive handheld gaming consoles.
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(Hero and featured image credit: Asus)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Asus ROG Ally X release date is 22 June.
The most standout Asus ROG Ally X features are its improved battery life and increased RAM.
