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 large resolutions for one thing just a little extra modest and moveable.
In 2023, PC maker Asus shipped its moveable 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 principle 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 supplies a much-needed {hardware} refresh that improves the shape issue and performance of the machine. And this time, Asus assures us the Ally X received’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, increased tier mannequin. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive, nonetheless, is greater than able to powering a overwhelming majority of recent video games, from tiny indie titles that received’t ever bother it, to extra substantial graphical powerhouses like Cyberpunk 2077. The Ally X, nonetheless, did add extra (and quicker) reminiscence, with 24GB of ram and it has a really, very beneficiant 80Wh battery that made me virtually 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 onerous for me to return to my Steam Deck. That stated, I nonetheless discover Valve’s moveable 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 deal with my complaints the place they exist. However there’s no mistaking it: The Ally X offered me with a beautiful moveable 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 actually lean into the Ally X’s moveable potential as a lot as attainable. Whereas that motivation was just a little minimize brief by the truth that the Ally X doesn’t embody a case (forcing me to make use of the inside shell of my Steam Deck OLED case wherein it…principally match), its smaller dimension in comparison with the Steam Deck was welcome as I traveled on trains and buses day by day.
As soon as I obtained previous some frustrations with Home windows 11, I hardly ever considered {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 as a result of a required web connection), and No Man’s Sky. All ran with nearly zero flaws at a good 40-60 frames per second relying on how I fiddled with the graphics settings. The display screen has a 120HZ refresh fee too, so you possibly can push to even increased framerates with the precise sport.
And since I used to be enjoying video games on my Steam account, I might come residence and choose up proper the place I left off on my rather more highly effective residence laptop. Just like the Steam Deck, the Ally X flattens the boundary between PC gaming at residence and on the go, however with great battery life and a kind issue that’s extra like pulling my Change out of my bag than it’s the mini battle tanks different moveable gaming PCs are usually.
The Ally X supplies a incredible PC gaming expertise on the go for a value that’s a contact steep, however honest for those who’re up for investing in a fantastic moveable expertise.
That stated, the selection of working system right here, which technically isn’t Asus’ fault, could make for some tough setup and quite a lot of irritating quirks.
Home windows %@*&ing sucks for this sort of gaming expertise
My first hour or so with the Ally X was spent, effectively, organising Home windows. I needed to signal into my Microsoft account, flip down all of the affords for a free trial of OneDrive, Microsoft 365, and different stuff that isn’t a priority to me in anyway on a gaming machine. Then, for some cause, it wouldn’t acknowledge my pin to signal into the machine. So I needed to reset that a variety of occasions.
Given that you simply shouldn’t depart a transportable Home windows machine simply open for anybody to choose up and signal into your private account, having a pin to unlock the machine is important. 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 means of Home windows setup and continuously 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 register.
And it didn’t finish there. Home windows would continuously 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 continuously 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 machine.
Suspending the machine to toss it again in my bag whereas transferring between trains was additionally unpredictable. I’d hit the ability button to see it go black after which all of a sudden 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 resolution for moveable 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 Change. I might gladly take a gaming-specific working system that may technically run fewer video games (although the Proton compatibility layer for Linux OS is making Home windows much less and fewer important lately) 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 machine, it’s nonetheless greatest observe to arrange your Ally X with a keyboard and mouse related. I liked the {hardware} of the Ally X, however firms like Asus desperately want to begin exploring alternate options, or Microsoft must relent and provide some type 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 resolution.
However as soon as I obtained gaming, and Home windows left me alone, rattling, the Ally X rocks.
The Ally X simply feels proper
Upon first holding the machine, the Ally X is straight away extra snug than its predecessor and every little thing 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 arms extra naturally. To be sincere, I nonetheless discover the Steam Deck to be extra snug even when it’s a bigger machine 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 machine. The thumbsticks, particularly, are wonderful, with extra resistance than the earlier ones. The d-pad additionally obtained 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 machine I had discovered to be too vulnerable to unintended presses.
I virtually by no means considered battery life
The Ally X ships with a 65W charger that will get the Ally X as much as a full cost rapidly (it’s suitable with a 100W charger if you’d like even quicker cost occasions). I don’t bear in mind what number of occasions I charged this machine, but it surely wasn’t an on a regular basis requirement. You’ll get much less battery life for those who swap the machine to its extra highly effective efficiency setting in Asus’ utility software program, however even whereas enjoying trendy 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 just a little extra “premium” within the bizarre approach that further weight typically does.
All of those kind issue adjustments imply that for those who’re contemplating an improve from the primary Ally, you’re gonna need to go purchasing for a brand new case and/or pores and skin because it received’t be suitable with present 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 to your eyes to give attention to the display screen extra so than the brilliant 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, a further 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 machine. 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 most effective addition, nonetheless, is an additional USB-C port that may each cost the machine and connect with peripherals or any USB4 suitable machine. With the Ally X, Asus has made the case that these sorts of machines want two USB ports. You received’t want an exterior hub, for instance, to cost the machine whereas connecting it to a display screen or different machine. With two ports, the Ally X simply feels extra moveable and fewer depending on carrying round a bag full of additional stuff to sprout extra connections into the machine.
The Ally X is a superb, premium-feeling moveable PC gaming expertise with incredible battery life, a really fairly, color-rich display screen, and elevated utility with its extra USB C port.
Essentially the most minor of {hardware} complaints
I really like the Ally X, as you may’ve seen. However there have been just a few issues I believe 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 that you must 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 rapidly. 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 is able to usually lead me to by accident contact the display screen with my proper thumb. Not solely would that depart extra fingerprints, it could typically 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 an alternative 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 machine. Such a ratio is customary on the Steam Deck and Change for a cause. The 16:9 letterbox form simply feels just a little too tight for me. That stated, some older video games don’t help that decision, so the additional actual property isn’t all the time 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 definitely 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 downside. Finally, the corporate would problem a further 12 months 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 probably the most sincere and clear when it got here to servicing a faulty machine. 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 finished. And, to be sincere, that’s one thing to take into accounts after we’re speaking about throwing down $800 on the brand new Ally X.
Talking to Kotaku, an Asus consultant acknowledged that the SD card problem has “lengthy been recognized” and that the crew “took all precautions attainable to keep away from customers encountering related points with the Ally X.” Time will inform how true that’s. Asus additionally stated that it will likely be providing a normal, one-year guarantee with the Ally X, because it doesn’t anticipate the brand new machine working into the identical problem that brought about them to increase the guarantee on the unique Ally to 2 years.
The ROG Ally X is a incredible {hardware} refresh
The Ally X is definitely the most effective 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 stated, Asus goes to need to earn its belief again after earlier issues. I hesitate to say it’s price an improve in case you have already invested within the Ally Z1 Excessive from final 12 months, however for those who’ve been fascinated about moveable PC gaming and want Home windows, the Ally X is greater than as much as the job.
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