The Asus ROG Ally X Transforms PC Gaming by Offering a Portable Console Experience

Just over a year since the debut of the ROG Ally, Asus has unveiled an upgraded iteration, the ROG Ally X. This enhanced portable device, based on Windows, will start its shipments from July 22, priced at $800. Having spent a few days exploring this portable console, I must say, it impresses, particularly in terms of hardware.

Valve’s launch of the Steam Deck in 2022 marked a pivotal moment in popularizing handheld PC gaming. While not the pioneer in this area, Valve found the ideal amalgamation of specifications, mobility, and affordability.

This success did not go unnoticed among PC makers. Lenovo came out with the Legion Go, and Asus introduced the handheld gaming community to the ROG Ally. Specialist brands like Ayaneo have also made their mark.

Featuring a dazzling seven-inch screen with a 1080p resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz, the device also includes a standard gaming controller setup surrounding the display, much like the Nintendo Switch does.

However, contrarily to the Switch, the device doesn’t suffer from diminutive control issues. The ROG Ally X provides the feel of wielding a full-sized controller, complete with joysticks reminiscent of those found on the latest Microsoft Xbox controller, large tactile A/B/X/Y buttons, and analog triggers with satisfying depth.

The D-pad, though, didn’t quite meet my expectations, feeling somewhat less precise, similar to what one might find on a less expensive third-party controller. The View and Menu buttons also posed a slight challenge, positioned too close to the screen and requiring a thumb stretch to pause games.

To counteract this, two additional macro keys have been cleverly integrated at the back of the device, which I assigned as View and Menu buttons for convenience. The screen’s sides feature a command center button for swift performance adjustments and an Armoury Crate button to access Asus’ game launcher easily.

The ROG Ally X’s primary software, the Armoury Crate SE, serves adequately as a game launcher, amalgamating your games from various platforms like Steam, the Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, etc., and offering device setting adjustments. Despite its functional purpose, it has its downsides such as occasional bugs, slow menu navigation, and sporadic crashes.

The command center, essential for on-the-go setting adjustments, occasionally lags in response, affecting the overall experience.

While the device remains comfortable to hold for shorter periods, its weight and the tendency to warm up during gameplay mirror common issues among PC gaming handhelds.

Before experimenting with the ROG Ally X, I dedicated hours to the Logitech G Cloud, an Android device designed for cloud and remote gaming, which offered a notably satisfying gameplay experience due to its quiet, fanless design, prolonged battery life, and ease of handling.

The evolution of PC gaming from traditional towers to compact yet powerful handheld devices is just beginning. Over time, we anticipate these gadgets will become smaller, lighter, and quieter, resembling more the Android-based devices. Nonetheless, experiences akin to the G Cloud are still in their nascent stages for now.

Conversely, the ROG Ally X stands as a milestone in the journey of gaming handhelds. With the Game Boy’s debut 35 years ago, Nintendo made it possible to enjoy NES games on the move.

Similarly, the ROG Ally X serves as an ideal gaming companion for long trips or daily commutes, demonstrating that despite its heft, engaging in gaming for extended hours remains a delightful possibility.

A Haven for Indie Gaming

Retaining the same AMD Z1 Extreme APU but augmenting the RAM to 24GB from 16GB, the ROG Ally X significantly boosts gaming performance, leveraging the shared memory pool between VRAM and system RAM.

It features a replaceable 1TB NVMe storage card (2280 format) and a battery capacity doubled to 80Wh, moving from a proprietary eGPU port to a more versatile USB Type-C port with USB 4 support.

This handheld excels with games that do not require high-end PC capabilities, smoothly rendering 60 to 120 frames per second for games in 1080p resolution, even without engaging the 30W boost mode.

For more demanding titles, some trade-offs are necessary. Marvel’s Spider-Man, for instance, plays at about 45 frames per second on high graphics settings when RSR, AMD’s resolution scaling tool, is activated. However, for titles that previously struggled on handhelds, such as The Last of Us: Part I, adjustments like low settings and aggressive resolution scaling are essential to achieve 30FPS.

While the form factor may not suit everyone, particularly fans of strategy or simulation games, the device can be connected to a monitor and used with a mouse and keyboard, making it a versatile standalone PC.

Battery life varies significantly based on gameplay type and selected power mode. Lighter games in “silent mode” can be played for extended periods, whereas more intensive games like The Last of Us in “boost mode” will consume battery much faster. In-depth testing is pending, but early impressions suggest a range of performance benchmarks will soon be available.

Operating as a gaming console, the ROG Ally X’s uniqueness stems from its PC foundation, running Windows. While it allows for the installation of any game available on the platform, navigating Windows without a mouse and keyboard can be cumbersome. It’s efficient for setting up a game launcher and a few games, but traditional laptops or smartphones might be more practical for other tasks.

As it stands, the ROG Ally X’s console-like design does not necessarily translate to a refined console experience. Instead, it presents a glimpse into the potential future of PC gaming, a future where console form factor and PC functionality merge.