ROG Ally X Review
The ROG Ally X is ASUS’s second-generation gaming handheld, an upgrade over the original ROG Ally that fixes its biggest weakness: battery life. With an 80Wh battery, 24GB RAM, and a refined design, it’s the strongest Windows gaming handheld available under $800.
ROG Ally X Specs
| Spec | ROG Ally X |
|---|---|
| Display | 7″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1080p |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| RAM | 24GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Battery | 80Wh |
| OS | Windows 11 |
| Weight | 678g |
| Price | ~$799 |
What Changed From the Original Ally
The original ROG Ally had a 40Wh battery that lasted 1.5,2 hours under gaming load, borderline unusable for travel. The Ally X’s 80Wh battery doubles that to 2.5,4 hours, which makes it a genuinely portable device. That single change transforms the product.
The RAM upgrade from 16GB to 24GB is meaningful for multitasking in Windows, running games alongside browser tabs, Discord, and apps no longer causes memory pressure. The 1TB SSD (vs 512GB in the original) gives room for a larger game library.
Performance
The Ryzen Z1 Extreme handles demanding PC games better than the Steam Deck’s custom APU, roughly 40,50% faster in GPU workloads. In practice: Cyberpunk 2077 runs at 1080p/medium with FSR at 40,50fps. Elden Ring hits 60fps at high settings. Indie and mid-tier games run at 60fps+ easily.
Windows 11 gives you full PC gaming compatibility including anti-cheat games like Valorant, Warzone, and Rainbow Six Siege, none of which work on SteamOS. That’s the Ally X’s core advantage over the Steam Deck.
Battery Life
- Demanding AAA at 25W TDP: 2,2.5 hours
- Lighter games at 15W TDP: 3.5,4.5 hours
- Streaming / low-load: 5,6 hours
Not class-leading, but livable for a gaming session. The Steam Deck OLED lasts slightly longer in equivalent workloads due to its more efficient chip and OLED panel. Bring a 65W+ USB-C charger for anything longer than 3 hours.
Display
The 7-inch 120Hz 1080p IPS display is bright and smooth. 120Hz feels noticeably better than the Steam Deck’s 90Hz for fast-paced games. The IPS panel doesn’t match OLED contrast or colour accuracy, if display quality is the priority, the Steam Deck OLED looks better. But as a gaming display, the Ally X’s screen is good.
ROG Ally X vs Steam Deck OLED
| ROG Ally X | Steam Deck OLED | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$799 | $549 |
| Performance | ~40,50% faster GPU | Baseline |
| OS | Windows 11 | SteamOS |
| Anti-cheat | ✅ Full support | ❌ |
| Display | 7″ 120Hz IPS | 7.4″ 90Hz OLED |
Who Should Buy the ROG Ally X
- Windows compatibility is a must, anti-cheat games, non-Steam titles, Game Pass via Xbox app
- You want the most powerful sub-$800 handheld
- You prefer Windows over SteamOS
Where to Buy
Bottom Line
The ROG Ally X is the best Windows gaming handheld available. The 80Wh battery fixes the original Ally’s core weakness, and the Z1 Extreme delivers real performance gains over the Steam Deck. At $799, it’s $250 more than the Steam Deck OLED, worth it if Windows compatibility or raw performance matters. Not worth it if SteamOS and OLED display quality are your priorities.
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