After a first portable console with very interesting promises, Asus does not intend to stop and recently unveiled its new ROG Ally X. We were able to try it out for several days to give you our review.
If you’ve been walking around a store like Fnac in recent months, you may have already come across the ROG Ally. This console launched by Asus in 2023 was clearly eyeing the Steam Deck territory in order to conquer the portable console market. While the latter had some serious advantages (notably its in-store distribution), it unfortunately rubbed shoulders with Valve’s console, which generally remained more attractive.
Asus does not intend to stop there, however, and unveils its ROG Ally X with one watchword: power. Still equipped with an AMD Z1 Extreme processor, the new Asus console is equipped above all with a better battery and more RAM to run your favorite games… For a higher price. A winning bet? That’s what we’re going to see right away.
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A slightly revised and improved design
Those familiar with the first ROG Ally model will quickly see the differences with this new generation. Featuring a much more “rounded” case, the ROG Ally X obviously sports the typical buttons that we expect from a portable console in 2024 with the joysticks, the directional cross and the A/B/X/Y buttons. There are also four buttons dedicated to the console’s home interface, “Armory Crate” but also to a whole bunch of options that were already found on the first model in 2023.
In terms of handling, the ROG Ally X clearly stands out on two points: its new, more resistant joysticks and its grip on the back of the console. The latter allows you to hold the console well without it ever slipping out of your hands, even during particularly tough gaming sequences. The joysticks, for their part, are still as pleasant to use and precise. Asus also claims to have reinforced the resistance of the latter, which would now support 5 million cycles (compared to 2 million for the 2023 model).
There’s also nothing to complain about regarding the weight of the ROG Ally X. Although it’s a bit heavier than a Steam Deck, the Asus console is still light enough to be used on a daily basis and “hands-free” without worrying about a certain heaviness in the arms.
On the connectivity side, say hello to two new USB-C ports on the top edge of the console. However, these are not similar since Asus has equipped its ROG Ally X with a UBC-C Type 4 port, a standard that has been available for a few years now and which allows for better connection speed. The ROG Ally X also has a Jack port for those who want to enjoy their headphones or earphones, but also a new SD card drawer. The first model had notably come under fire from critics following poor control of the console’s overheating which made SD cards inoperable from a certain temperature. Let’s bet that this new layout, coupled with a better console cooling system, will correct this error.
Performances significantly improved
While the ROG Ally X has the same processor as the previous model, Asus has still chosen to increase the RAM of its console to increase its power and allow you to enjoy the latest games with the maximum possible FPS. We tested the ROG Ally X alongside a Steam Deck (classic) and here are our results:
| Game tested | Average FPS (Asus ROG Ally X) | Average FPS (Steam Deck) | Graphics quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | 58 FPS | 35 FPS | High |
| Helldivers | 50 FPS | 38 FPS | Weak |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | 45 FPS | 30 FPS | AVERAGE |
| Honkai: Star Rail | 50 FPS | 38 FPS | Very high |
| Zenless Zone Zero | 60 FPS | 45 FPS | High |
So there’s a real difference in performance between the two machines. The ROG Ally outperforms the Steam Deck on all the games we tested during our week of testing, and given their price difference, that tends to reassure us.
In addition to the raw performance, the heat management on Asus’ new console must also be commended. Even with games pushed to the max in their graphics, the ROG Ally never launched its fans at such a speed that we could fully hear them. While the console can sometimes blow loudly, this remains fairly anecdotal compared to the fans of a Steam Deck which can sometimes be extremely noisy.
Let’s also talk about the sound of the ROG Ally X. In its official press release, Asus simply states that it has added more powerful speakers compared to the 2023 model without further details. A difference that we feel almost immediately while we were already praising the audio performance of the old generation. Side by side with the Steam Deck, the difference is even more noticeable. Hats off to Asus.
A console still limited to Windows 11 for better or for worse
One of the biggest differences between the Asus ROG Ally X and the Steam Deck is the operating system. The Asus console runs on Windows 11, which will allow more “average” users to find their way around the Asus console’s desktop interface more easily than Steam’s, which is limited to Linux by default.
During our test of the 2023 model, we suffered from numerous bugs and crashes from the OS or Asus’ in-house gaming overlay, “Armory Crate”. The latter forced us to restart the console several times in order to successfully play games.
Thankfully, all of that seems to be a distant memory. Throughout our week of testing, we didn’t encounter any issues with the Asus ROG Ally X. Whether it was launching or installing games on Steam or finding new platforms and indie games, the ROG Ally X gave us complete satisfaction.
Let’s particularly salute the “Armory Crate” overlay. The latter is full of options to activate or deactivate according to your needs and is fully customizable with the features that you want to find quickly when you are on a game. It is notably possible to control the power consumption of the console to allocate more or less power to it (and impact its autonomy), but also to display different terminals to follow the performance of the console. There is also an option to limit the FPS of your games up to 120 FPS, but we wish you good luck in finding a title capable of running beyond such an amount.
But the only real problem with the Asus ROG Ally X is… Windows 11. While the Steam Deck has a version of Linux that is very easy to understand and use on a daily basis, the ROG Ally’s operating system can sometimes be confusing. The latter can sometimes require some adjustments to install certain games or use peripherals. While Microsoft is always making more efforts to make Windows compatible with Video Games, there is still a little way to go. However, if you prefer the Windows environment – which is understandable – we still recommend the ROG Ally X.
Double the autonomy and one of the best on the market
When the Asus ROG Ally was released in 2023, several users and journalists expressed frustration with the console’s battery life. In our review published in May 2023, we were also frustrated that we could only play big titles for 2 or 3 hours.
Asus seems to have listened to the critics once again by deciding to double the battery of its portable console and go from 40 to 80 W. An increase that is clearly felt during our various tests where the Asus ROG Ally X was able to last nearly 4 hours on games that are demanding in graphic resources like Elden Ring, Helldivers 2 or The Witcher 3. Less demanding titles like Zenless Zone Zero or NEO The World Ends With You were even able to accompany us for nearly 5 hours! As a result, the Asus ROG Ally X becomes one of the portable consoles with the best battery life on the market (with the Nintendo Switch OLED, but the latter does not play in the same league).
The other good news is that Asus provides a charger with its new ROG Ally X. The latter has a capacity of 65 W, which is the maximum capacity of… The previous generation. Indeed, the new ROG Ally X is compatible with 100 W chargers, so it is a bit of a shame not to have one provided. The 65 W charger is still very practical and allows you to quickly recharge the console.
Our conclusion to the Asus ROG Ally X test
Is the new Asus ROG Ally X better than the Steam Deck? We would be tempted to answer yes, given our tests and the feelings of our other colleagues in the specialized press. Asus seems to have listened to all the criticisms made of its first generation of console to correct them one by one. A faulty SD card slot? It is replaced on the ROG Ally X. Very average battery life? The latter is doubled on the ROG Ally X. Performance a little fair? The ROG Ally X benefits from more RAM.
As it stands, the ROG Ally X is one of the best portable consoles on the market. But is it really worth the 900 euros asked by Asus? Such a price brings it closer to a small gaming PC and the Steam Deck OLED, in its highest configuration, remains 220 euros cheaper. We can therefore only advise you to invest in the ROG Ally X if its price suits you and the Windows 11 environment does not bother you.