ROG Xbox Ally X: A Next-Gen Powerhouse for Handheld Gaming
The gaming world is evolving rapidly, and ASUS’s Republic of Gamers division is once again leading the charge with its latest innovation — the ROG Xbox Ally X. Building on the success of the original Ally, the Ally X introduces smarter design choices, better battery life, improved ergonomics, and upgraded storage options — all while maintaining the core gaming DNA that made its predecessor a hit.
For gamers who want the ultimate handheld experience without compromises, the ROG Ally X is shaping up to be the new gold standard.
Design Evolution: Familiar Yet Refined
At first glance, the Ally X maintains the recognizable layout of the original Ally — compact, sleek, and gamer-friendly. But look closer and you’ll notice key refinements. ASUS has adjusted the chassis for better hand comfort, adding curvier grips, improved button placement, and enhanced tactile feedback on the sticks and triggers.
Despite packing in a larger battery and more advanced cooling system, the Ally X weighs just slightly more than its predecessor — still maintaining great portability for gaming on the go.
Major Battery Boost: Longer Playtime, Less Worry
One of the biggest complaints about the original Ally was its limited battery life. ASUS has taken that feedback seriously. The ROG Xbox Ally X now features a whopping 80Wh battery — double the size of the original.
This translates to up to 8 hours of gaming depending on settings and workload, giving users far more flexibility to game unplugged. Whether you’re flying cross-country or grinding through an RPG marathon, the Ally X ensures you can stay in the zone longer.
Massive Storage and Faster Memory
The Ally X also addresses another pain point: storage. The device now comes equipped with 1TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage and 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM (7500MHz). This is a huge upgrade, especially for AAA game installs that often exceed 100GB each.
Load times are practically non-existent, and the extra RAM ensures smoother performance for multitasking, emulation, and even light content creation on the side.
Same Powerful Chipset, Smarter Cooling
The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU, a fan-favorite in the handheld space, continues to power the Ally X. Built on Zen 4 CPU cores and RDNA 3 GPU architecture, it strikes a perfect balance between performance and efficiency.
However, ASUS has upgraded the thermal system significantly. The Ally X features a redesigned dual-fan setup with optimized airflow and larger internal heat dissipation. The result? Better sustained performance and quieter operation even under load.
Windows 11 + Xbox Ecosystem = Limitless Gaming
Like the original Ally, the Ally X runs on Windows 11, giving gamers full access to Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games Store, Battle.net, and more. You’re not locked into a single ecosystem — this is true open-platform handheld gaming.
The built-in Xbox integration means your saves, achievements, and cloud gaming services are just a tap away. The Ally X is essentially a portable Xbox and Windows gaming PC in one.
Enhanced Controls & I/O
The controls are more durable and tactile this time around. ASUS says it has refined the joysticks for greater longevity and accuracy, while the buttons and D-pad now offer a more premium click.
Connectivity has also improved: You still get a USB-C port, but now there’s support for USB4, allowing for higher-speed data transfer and broader accessory compatibility. There’s also a better SD card reader for quick expansion or media transfer.
Final Verdict
The ROG Xbox Ally X isn’t just a revision — it’s a mature evolution of an already exciting handheld. With a larger battery, faster memory, bigger storage, refined ergonomics, and smarter cooling, it delivers on the promises the original set out to fulfill.
For gamers who demand performance, portability, and platform flexibility, the Ally X might be the ultimate all-in-one device for 2025 and beyond.
