ASUS ROG Ally X (2024) vs ROG Ally (2023): how different are they?
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Handheld gaming PCs have seen a boost in popularity as of late, and more than a year after launching the original ROG Ally, ASUS is back with an updated model. It comes with a list of improvements many fans have been asking for – but at a cost. That’s the simplified version, but continue reading on if you want the full rundown on the ASUS ROG Ally X vs ASUS ROG Ally, released in 2025 and 2023 respectively.
As you may expect, the Ally and Ally X are pretty similar overall, but some important changes have been made to make the newer model stand firmly above its predecessor. The Ally X is ready to buy now if you’re interested, and you can check out our comparison versus the Steam Deck while you’re here.
Specifications
With just a year of difference between them, ASUS was keen to solidify that the Ally X shouldn’t be seen as an ‘Ally 2’. The X is more of a refresh with some improvements here and there. The best way of cdomparing and contrasting is by checking out the specs below:
Specification | ASUS ROG Ally X | ASUS ROG Ally |
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Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme / AMD Ryzen Z1 |
GPU | AMD iGPU 12CU @ 2.7 GHz | AMD iGPU 12CU @ 2.7 GHz |
Architecture | AMD Zen 4 & RDNA 3 | AMD Zen 4 & RDNA 3 |
Screen size | 7″ | 7″ |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
Panel type | IPS-level LCD | IPS-level LCD |
Refresh rate | 48Hz – 120Hz variable refresh rate | 48Hz – 120Hz variable refresh rate |
Response time | 7ms | 7ms |
Storage | 1TB M.2 2280 SSD | 512GB M.2 2230 SSD |
RAM | 24GB LPDDR5X | 16GB LPDDR5 |
Battery | 80Whr | 40WHr |
Operating System | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
Dimensions (W x D x H) | 28.0 x 11.1 x 2.47 ~ 3.69 cm | 28.0 x 11.1 x 2.12 ~ 3.24 cm |
Weight | 678 grams | 608 grams |
Display
You may be surprised to hear that the ROG Ally X offers no improvements in terms of display technology when compared to the 2023 model. Some fans anticipated the inclusion of an OLED panel, mimicking the popular Steam Deck (or upcoming Zotac Zone). Either way, it didn’t see the light of day; perhaps we’ll have to wait for the Ally 2 for that.
Both screens boast a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution on an ‘IPS-level’ LCD screen. One of the big pros for the ROG Ally is retained as well – a variable refresh rate. This is important to ensure smoother visuals and minimal stuttering, whether you’re running at 50 FPS or the ideal 120. This is supported by AMD FreeSync Premium technology. Due to the lack of an OLED upgrade, both panels still feature a relatively low 7ms response time, which is slower than what you’ll find on your average gaming monitor.
Battery life
One of the best upgrades when comparing ROG Ally and ROG Ally X has to be battery life. It was easily one of the biggest complaints of the original model, as it was hard to use as a ‘true’ handheld when gaming on the go. In response, ASUS has fitted the Ally X with an 80Whr battery capacity, a 2x improvement of the original’s 40Whr. The new and improved battery life now makes it a solid contender against the likes of the Steam Deck.
The exact length of battery life depends on your usage and power-saving options, but the Ally X should last twice as long as the Ally in similar tests. ASUS hasn’t disclosed any exact figures when it comes to duration, but they’ve made the bigger battery clear when comparing the two devices themselves. As a side note, the Ally X also supports up to 100W chargers for faster charging.
Graphics performance
In terms of processing power, both variants are powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, while the original ROG Ally also has a cheaper Z1 (non-extreme) version. The Ally X ditches the non-extreme variant as it aims to be the most enthusiast option. The integrated graphics in the Z1 Extreme is the RDNA 3-based Radeon 780M, which is parallel with rivals like the Lenovo Legion Go.
So, with the exception of the non-extreme model, the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X have the same level of graphics performance, with the display using the same full HD resolution. However, the Ally X features faster memory which will help out when allocating to the iGPU. Plus, the newer model now supports USB4 speeds with a secondary USB-C port, supporting Thunderbolt devices and a wider range of external GPUs if you want to utilize a discrete graphics solution.
What are the biggest differences between ROG Ally and ROG Ally X?
As we mentioned above, the battery life is a big contrast when comparing the two models. But there are a couple of other things to discuss here. Something we haven’t touched on yet is the newer SSD in the Ally X. ASUS has upgraded the PCIe Gen 4 SSD to the M.2 2280 form factor, now with up to 1TB storage – rather than the 512GB available on the 2023 model. This form factor is more easily upgradeable too if you wish to do so in the future. Speaking of storage, the microSD card overheating issue that plagued some users of the original device has now been solved on the X, now that the slot’s position has been tweaked.
Next up is the memory. One of the biggest changes would be the upgrade from 16GB LPDDR5 to 24GB LPDDR5X RAM, offering both more total memory, and faster speeds. This helps out a ton in more resource-heavy games which hog up memory. Remember, handhelds like the Ally use integrated graphics, meaning there’s no dedicated memory for the GPU. It is a shared resource, so the extra 8GB is very useful here.
Aside from battery, storage, and RAM, the ROG Ally X does have slightly different dimensions to accommodate the changes. Despite this, it is only 4.5mm thicker and weighs 11.5% more. ASUS also advertises better ergonomics with rounder grips, more durable joysticks, and an improved D-Pad. The face buttons are slightly lower on the X and other slight adjustments have been made to improve the tactility.
Price
Moving swiftly on to the hotly debated topic of price. It doesn’t come as a surprise to see the ROG Ally X substantially more expensive than the original ROG Ally, especially the cut-down Z1 model. However, not everyone has been too impressed with the price of the 2024 model, with reviewers noting that it’s “Way more expensive than Steam Deck“.
- ASUS ROG Ally X – $799.99 on Best Buy
- ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme – $649.99 on Best Buy
- ASUS ROG Ally Z1 – $499.99 on Best Buy
For reference, the Z1 Extreme and Z1 models originally launched for $699.99 and $599.99 respectively, so they have dropped in price since then. The good news is that we’ve seen them discounted even further lately, representing excellent value for money if you can catch a limited-time deal.
Alternatives to the ROG Ally X and ROG Ally
There are a few other Windows-based handhelds out there that closely match the ROG Ally line-up. Despite all that, the improved Ally X still stands as the best Windows handheld in our opinion thanks to the upgrades – if you can justify the price. On the other hand, the ever-popular Steam Deck is perhaps the strongest alternative with its custom Linux-based SteamOS.
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MSI Claw
- Windows 11 OS
- Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU
- Intel Arc Graphics
- 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS touchscreen
- Up to 32GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 53Whr battery
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Which ROG Ally should you choose?
All versions of the ASUS ROG Ally are capable gaming handhelds, but the most recent ROG Ally X is the clear winner in terms of user experience and performance. We’d argue that this selection mostly comes down to a combination of your budget and games library.
For lightweight gaming, the non-extreme version of the original ROG Ally is still a decent option – especially at sale prices. For most people, we think the Z1 Extreme ASUS ROG Ally is your best bet while it’s on sale, especially if you don’t wish to spend a whopping $799.99 on the Ally X.
Enthusiasts though should definitely lean towards the Ally X as it comes with some important upgrades that avid users have been looking forward to. The doubled battery capacity and improved RAM are the two big factors for us – making it last longer and suffer less from performance issues in particularly demanding games. Plus, microSD overheating should no longer be a worry, so feel free to install and download games this way.