ROG Ally vs ROG Ally X: Which Should You Buy in 2026?

ASUS surprised everyone when they released the ROG Ally X — an upgraded version of the original ROG Ally released just over a year after the original. More RAM, more battery, a better USB-C port, and other refinements. But is it actually worth the price jump?

If you’re choosing between the original ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X in 2026, here’s everything you need to know.

Quick Comparison Table

Same GPU Performance

The single most important thing to know: both the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X use the exact same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU. The same CPU cores, the same RDNA 3 GPU with 8.6 TFLOPS, the same everything under the hood.

In gaming benchmarks, the two devices are essentially identical in GPU performance. The ROG Ally X will edge ahead in a few scenarios due to the faster LPDDR5X RAM and more RAM bandwidth, but you’re talking single-digit percentage differences in practice — nothing that changes what games you can play or at what settings.

If you’re choosing purely on gaming performance: they’re the same handheld.

Battery: The ROG Ally X’s Biggest Win

The ROG Ally X doubles the battery — 80Whr vs 40Whr. This is a massive improvement that changes the device’s real-world usability.

Real-world battery estimates:
– ROG Ally (40Whr): ~1.5–2 hours gaming in Performance mode; ~3–4 hours at 15W TDP
– ROG Ally X (80Whr): ~3–4 hours gaming in Performance mode; ~6–7 hours at 15W TDP

The original ROG Ally’s battery life was its most-criticized weakness. Two hours unplugged in AAA games is barely enough to get through a boss fight. The X’s 80Whr battery puts it in genuinely portable territory.

If you use your gaming handheld away from outlets — on planes, trains, at a desk without cable — the ROG Ally X is a fundamentally different device because of this battery.

RAM: 24GB Makes a Real Difference

The ROG Ally X comes with 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM vs the original’s 16GB. On a gaming handheld, this matters more than you might think.

In Windows 11, the OS + background processes take ~4–6GB of RAM. With 16GB, you’re left with 10–12GB for gaming + GPU VRAM (which is shared from the system RAM). With 24GB, you have ~18–20GB for gaming + VRAM — a 50–60% increase.

Where this helps:
– Modern AAA games with large memory footprints (Hogwarts Legacy, Cyberpunk 2077, etc.)
– Game + Discord + browser open simultaneously
– Emulation (PS3/Wii U emulation benefits significantly from more RAM)
– Future-proofing — games only get more memory-hungry

The LPDDR5X speed (faster than the original’s LPDDR5) also gives slightly better GPU performance due to higher memory bandwidth.

USB-C: Two Ports vs One

The original ROG Ally had a single USB-C port that was the charging port — and it didn’t support DisplayPort Alt Mode. To connect to a monitor or TV directly via USB-C, you needed a dock or the XG Mobile connector.

The ROG Ally X fixes this with two USB-C ports, both supporting:
– USB 3.2 Gen 2 data transfer (10Gbps)
– Power delivery (charging)
– DisplayPort Alt Mode (connect to monitor without a dock)

This is a significant quality-of-life upgrade. You can now charge from one port while using the other for a USB-C hub or monitor connection simultaneously.

Ergonomics: The Ally X Has Better Grips

The ROG Ally X features larger, more ergonomically shaped grips that many users find more comfortable for long sessions. The original Ally’s grips are fine but somewhat flat and compact — hands get tired after 2+ hours.

The trade-off: the X is 70g heavier (678g vs 608g). For handheld use, you’ll feel that difference. If you primarily dock it, it doesn’t matter.

Should You Upgrade from ROG Ally → ROG Ally X?

Upgrade is worth it if:
– Battery life is your biggest pain point (the #1 complaint with the original Ally)
– You play modern AAA games that push 16GB RAM limits
– You want two proper USB-C ports for flexibility
– You can sell your original Ally for $400–500 and net upgrade for $150–200

Skip the upgrade if:
– You mostly use it plugged in at a desk or dock
– You primarily play older/less demanding games where 16GB is plenty
– You’re waiting for next-gen handheld hardware (ROG Ally 2 rumors are circulating)

ROG Ally vs ROG Ally X vs Steam Deck OLED

If you’re starting from scratch in 2026, the choice isn’t just between two versions of the Ally:

See our Steam Deck vs ROG Ally X deep-dive for the full comparison.

The Verdict

Buy the ROG Ally X if:
– You need the best portable battery life from an ASUS handheld
– You play modern AAA games and want 24GB of RAM headroom
– You travel or game away from outlets regularly

Buy the original ROG Ally if:
– You’re on a budget and found it at $450 or less
– You mostly game docked or plugged in
– Lighter weight matters to you (608g vs 678g)

The ROG Ally X is the better device in almost every way that matters for daily use. The battery improvement alone justifies the price difference if you game away from an outlet. But the original ROG Ally is still an excellent handheld at a lower 2026 price — and if you’re primarily docked, you’ll never notice what you’re missing.

FAQ

Is the ROG Ally X faster than the ROG Ally?
The GPU performance is essentially identical — both use the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU. The X has faster LPDDR5X RAM (vs LPDDR5) and 24GB total (vs 16GB), which provides a small but real performance benefit in memory-intensive games and applications.

Is the ROG Ally X worth it over the original?
For most buyers, yes — especially if battery life matters. The ROG Ally X has double the battery capacity (80Whr vs 40Whr), 50% more RAM, and better USB-C connectivity. If you game away from outlets at all, the battery improvement alone is worth the price difference.

What’s the difference between ROG Ally and ROG Ally X storage?
The ROG Ally launched with 512GB internal NVMe SSD. The ROG Ally X comes with 1TB. Both are user-replaceable M.2 2242 slots.