For the final couple of years, PC gaming has sought to flee the inflexible confines of its electric-outlet certain, RGB-coated monolithic towers with quick framerates at huge resolutions for one thing a bit extra modest and transportable.
In 2023, PC maker Asus shipped its transportable gaming PC, the ROG Ally, to compete with Valve’s standard Steam Deck. Not like the Steam Deck which runs Linux, Asus went with customary Home windows for its working system, which in concept permits for extra video games to run natively in addition to the choice to extra simply run quite a lot of PC gaming storefronts. Now, in 2024, the Ally X gives a much-needed {hardware} refresh that improves the shape issue and performance of the gadget. And this time, Asus assures us the Ally X gained’t be frying SD playing cards (extra on that later).
The Ally X, notably, isn’t a full blown “sequel” to 2023’s Ally. At $799, it doesn’t improve the processor from the primary, greater tier mannequin. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive, nevertheless, is greater than able to powering a overwhelming majority of contemporary video games, from tiny indie titles that gained’t ever bother it, to extra substantial graphical powerhouses like Cyberpunk 2077. The Ally X, nevertheless, did add extra (and quicker) reminiscence, with 24GB of ram and it has a really, very beneficiant 80Wh battery that made me nearly by no means take into consideration battery life throughout my time with it. And it does have the identical 7-inch, 1080p, 16:9 LCD display screen that, whereas clearly not as flashy as an OLED panel, by no means fails to look splendid (that’s, when my fingerprints weren’t throughout its shiny floor).
Whereas I’ve points with Home windows as an working system for handheld gaming, the Ally X has made it laborious for me to return to my Steam Deck. That mentioned, I nonetheless discover Valve’s transportable PC to be a greater gaming expertise general. However oof, it’s gettin’ shut ya’ll.
My expertise with the Ally X
I’ll spit numbers and stats at you in a second, and I’ll extra totally tackle my complaints the place they exist. However there’s no mistaking it: The Ally X supplied me with a beautiful transportable gaming expertise, and it’s more likely to proceed doing so. It’s a substantial enchancment to the expertise of the unique Ally and is compact sufficient to make it price placing up with Home windows.
As a New Yorker, I made a decision to essentially lean into the Ally X’s transportable potential as a lot as potential. Whereas that motivation was a bit lower brief by the truth that the Ally X doesn’t embody a case (forcing me to make use of the interior shell of my Steam Deck OLED case by which it…principally match), its smaller dimension in comparison with the Steam Deck was welcome as I traveled on trains and buses every day.
As soon as I acquired previous some frustrations with Home windows 11, I not often thought of {hardware} and software program, I simply gamed. My time was largely spent with Flintlock, Elden Ring, Future 2 (which I needed to be residence for attributable to a required web connection), and No Man’s Sky. All ran with nearly zero flaws at an honest 40-60 frames per second relying on how I fiddled with the graphics settings. The display screen has a 120HZ refresh charge too, so you’ll be able to push to even greater framerates with the precise sport.
And since I used to be enjoying video games on my Steam account, I might come residence and decide up proper the place I left off on my rather more highly effective residence pc. Just like the Steam Deck, the Ally X flattens the boundary between PC gaming at residence and on the go, however with fantastic battery life and a kind issue that’s extra like pulling my Swap out of my bag than it’s the mini battle tanks different transportable gaming PCs are usually.
The Ally X gives a improbable PC gaming expertise on the go for a value that’s a contact steep, however truthful in case you’re up for investing in a fantastic transportable expertise.
That mentioned, the selection of working system right here, which technically isn’t Asus’ fault, could make for some tough setup and various irritating quirks.
Home windows %@*&ing sucks for this sort of gaming expertise
My first hour or so with the Ally X was spent, effectively, establishing Home windows. I needed to signal into my Microsoft account, flip down all of the presents for a free trial of OneDrive, Microsoft 365, and different stuff that isn’t a priority to me in any respect on a gaming machine. Then, for some cause, it wouldn’t acknowledge my pin to signal into the gadget. So I needed to reset that a lot of occasions.
Given that you just shouldn’t go away a conveyable Home windows machine simply open for anybody to choose up and signal into your private account, having a pin to unlock the gadget is critical. And since Home windows doesn’t acknowledge controller enter on its lock display screen, I had to make use of the contact display screen as I tried and reset my pin two or 3 times.
By the tip of going by way of Home windows setup and consistently getting into my pin, I used to be exhausted and left with a tool with fingerprint smudges on it as a result of I can’t use the controller buttons to sign up.
And it didn’t finish there. Home windows would consistently do its bizarre Home windows issues. Whereas enjoying Elden Ring, I’d get spontaneously taken again to the desktop with no method to get the sport again on the display screen simply. Keep in mind, there’s no keyboard, so I can’t Alt + Tab to it. I’d swipe up consistently to make the Home windows taskbar seem to maintain urgent the sport’s icon to no luck. That, in fact, left extra fingerprint smudges on the gadget.
Suspending the gadget to toss it again in my bag whereas shifting between trains was additionally unpredictable. I’d hit the facility button to see it go black after which instantly pop to life once more on the Home windows lock display screen. Why? I don’t know. Certain, there are methods to tailor Home windows to play nicer with this sort of kind issue, however the working system is an unideal answer for transportable gaming. It pales compared to SteamOS on the Steam Deck and doesn’t even come near the seamless expertise of utilizing one thing like a Nintendo Swap. I’d gladly take a gaming-specific working system which may technically run fewer video games (although the Proton compatibility layer for Linux OS is making Home windows much less and fewer important today) over an working system that’s simply foundationally not meant for this sort of kind issue.
There’d be different points, like troubleshooting randomly disconnecting Bluetooth with a pair of Pixel Buds Professional that by no means has points on different units. Random Home windows prompts right here and there have been one other ache level, as was any time I seemingly activated Co-Pilot for causes unbeknownst to me.
Whereas Home windows has gotten higher with recognizing a gamepad as an enter gadget, it’s nonetheless greatest apply to arrange your Ally X with a keyboard and mouse related. I cherished the {hardware} of the Ally X, however firms like Asus desperately want to start out exploring alternate options, or Microsoft must relent and provide some sort of extra light-weight model of its OS for these sorts of gaming units.
One thing’s gotta give as a result of this isn’t a fantastic answer.
However as soon as I acquired gaming, and Home windows left me alone, rattling, the Ally X rocks.
The Ally X simply feels proper
Upon first holding the gadget, the Ally X is instantly extra comfy than its predecessor and all the pieces simply feels extra premium this time round. The shell has been tweaked a bit so it’s a contact bigger than the unique Ally, however its grips are much less angular so it simply rests in your fingers extra naturally. To be trustworthy, I nonetheless discover the Steam Deck to be extra comfy even when it’s a bigger gadget in comparison with the Ally X.
The triggers and bumpers have been reshaped and really feel higher. The identical is true of the 4 face buttons, which, although nonetheless flat and fewer colourful as I’d like them to be, really feel higher to press than the unique gadget. The thumbsticks, specifically, are glorious, with extra resistance than the earlier ones. The d-pad additionally acquired some love and feels extra dependable and fewer slippy than the shiny one on the unique. The twin rear buttons are additionally much less outstanding than the unique Ally, which on that gadget I had discovered to be too susceptible to unintentional presses.
I nearly by no means thought of battery life
The Ally X ships with a 65W charger that will get the Ally X as much as a full cost shortly (it’s appropriate with a 100W charger if you need even quicker cost occasions). I don’t keep in mind what number of occasions I charged this gadget, but it surely wasn’t an on a regular basis requirement. You’ll get much less battery life in case you change the gadget to its extra highly effective efficiency setting in Asus’ utility software program, however even whereas enjoying fashionable video games, battery life was past beneficiant.
The Ally X is a contact heavier than the unique Ally, however for my part, this helps it really feel a bit extra “premium” within the bizarre manner that further weight generally does.
All of those kind issue modifications imply that in case you’re contemplating an improve from the primary Ally, you’re gonna must go looking for a brand new case and/or pores and skin because it gained’t be appropriate with current equipment for the primary Ally.
Lastly, the selection to go along with a slick matte black isn’t simply aesthetically pleasing, it helped me focus a bit extra on the sport. Whereas I like a colourful object as a lot as anybody else, the black case makes it simpler on your eyes to deal with the display screen extra so than the intense white of the unique Ally’s case.
What precisely did Asus improve?
Although it sports activities the identical processor and 120HZ display screen of the unique Z1 Excessive Ally, the Ally X comes with twice the battery capability, an extra 8 GB of RAM (which runs at a quicker pace than the unique), extra cooling vents and improved followers to push warmth out of the gadget. It additionally ships with 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage. Try the one-to-one breakdown of each mannequin’s specs on Asus’ weblog.
Maybe the very best addition, nevertheless, is an additional USB-C port that may each cost the gadget and connect with peripherals or any USB4 appropriate gadget. With the Ally X, Asus has made the case that these sorts of machines want two USB ports. You gained’t want an exterior hub, for instance, to cost the gadget whereas connecting it to a display screen or different gadget. With two ports, the Ally X simply feels extra transportable and fewer depending on carrying round a bag full of additional stuff to sprout extra connections into the gadget.
The Ally X is a wonderful, premium-feeling transportable PC gaming expertise with improbable battery life, a really fairly, color-rich display screen, and elevated utility with its further USB C port.
Probably the most minor of {hardware} complaints
I really like the Ally X, as you would possibly’ve observed. However there have been a number of issues I feel might’ve been higher (other than Home windows sucking the enjoyable out of the room).
Whereas the display screen seems nice, it’s a fingerprint magnet. Given how a lot you should use the contact display screen to function Home windows to make use of the machine, meaning a single session of gaming will see this factor smudged up fairly shortly. I discovered that I needed to carry round a microfiber material to constantly wipe away the marks. The Ally X additionally repositioned its proper thumbstick to be nearer to the display screen. This may usually lead me to by chance contact the display screen with my proper thumb. Not solely would that go away extra fingerprints, it could generally set off one thing in-game as many video games acknowledge a contact display screen as a mouse click on.
I additionally would’ve favored to have seen a 16:10 1920×1200 display screen as a substitute of the cinematic, extra desktop customary 16:9 1920×1080 dimension. With 16:10, you get a taller picture which pairs properly with a smaller gadget. Such a ratio is customary on the Steam Deck and Swap for a cause. The 16:9 letterbox form simply feels a bit too tight for me. That mentioned, some older video games don’t help that decision, so the additional actual property isn’t at all times getting used. Nonetheless, it could’ve been a pleasant inclusion.
Additionally, for 800 bucks, the Ally X ought to ship with a case.
Asus’ previous Ally troubles
A formidable machine in its personal proper, the primary Ally actually impressed with a fairly LCD display screen, a slim kind issue, and a few satisfyingly highly effective compute energy to run video games at 1080p, usually at nice framerates. However with nice energy comes nice warmth, and that warmth turned out to be an issue for the 2023 Ally mannequin as it could be recognized to fry SD playing cards.
To make issues worse, Asus wasn’t precisely swift to come clean with this drawback. Finally, the corporate would challenge an extra yr guarantee on the Ally to make up for any future issues customers might have with the SD card reader.
That wasn’t the tip of it. As Players Nexus documented in its video on the Ally’s restore companies, Asus seemingly wasn’t essentially the most trustworthy and clear when it got here to servicing a faulty gadget. It was an expertise many different Ally house owners had as effectively, which might lead Asus to vow to revamp its customer support expertise to keep away from additional points.
For some, the harm might have already been accomplished. And, to be trustworthy, that’s one thing to take into accounts once we’re speaking about throwing down $800 on the brand new Ally X.
Talking to Kotaku, an Asus consultant said that the SD card challenge has “lengthy been recognized” and that the workforce “took all precautions potential to keep away from customers encountering comparable points with the Ally X.” Time will inform how true that’s. Asus additionally mentioned that it will likely be providing a normal, one-year guarantee with the Ally X, because it doesn’t anticipate the brand new gadget working into the identical challenge that brought on them to increase the guarantee on the unique Ally to 2 years.
The ROG Ally X is a improbable {hardware} refresh
The Ally X is definitely the very best model of the Ally. It feels nice to play. Has beyond-excellent battery life and is available in a kind issue that’s good for on-the-go gaming, regardless of a irritating working system.
All of that mentioned, Asus goes to must earn its belief again after earlier issues. I hesitate to say it’s price an improve when you’ve got already invested within the Ally Z1 Excessive from final yr, however in case you’ve been excited about transportable PC gaming and want Home windows, the Ally X is greater than as much as the job.
.