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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