The ROG Ally X: A Leap Forward, But Still Wrestling with Windows
The original ASUS ROG Ally was a bold statement, a powerful handheld gaming machine built on the foundation of Windows, a platform not traditionally designed for this kind of experience. While it offered raw power and versatility, navigating the operating system with a controller proved frustrating, ultimately hindering its overall appeal. However, with the ROG Ally X, ASUS takes a significant step forward, addressing many of the original’s shortcomings, but still facing the fundamental challenge of navigating a desktop OS on a handheld.
Externally, the Ally X largely retains the familiar silhouette of its predecessor. A sleek, black chassis houses a bright 7-inch touchscreen display, flanked by intuitive controller components. Ergonomic improvements include rounded grips for increased comfort during extended play sessions and slightly elevated ABXY buttons, providing a more responsive feel. While the design itself is familiar, these subtle alterations significantly enhance the overall user experience.
Underneath the hood, the Ally X boasts a multitude of substantial upgrades. The most notable change is the battery, now a massive 80 Wh unit—double the capacity of the original Ally. This increase, larger than the battery found in ASUS’s acclaimed Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop, promises remarkably extended playtime, potentially altering the way players approach handheld gaming sessions. The Ally X achieves this impressive leap in battery life while adding only about 70 grams to its overall weight, a testament to efficient engineering.
Further enhancements include a significant storage upgrade to a 1 TB SSD (up from 512 GB), 8 GB more DDR5 RAM, and a swap from the potentially niche XG Mobile port to a modern USB4 port**. This versatile USB4 port unlocks speeds up to 40 Gbps, making it ideal for connecting to external displays, docking stations, and other peripherals, maximizing the Ally X’s potential as a portable powerhouse.
Pushing Beyond Hardware:
While the Ally X boasts impressive hardware improvements, the true measure of its success lies in how well it addresses the inherent challenges of running Windows on a handheld device. Here, even with significant strides, ASUS faces an insurmountable wall. Windows, designed for a desktop experience, remains an awkward fit for a controller-driven system, requiring constant compromises to navigate its inherent limitations.
ASUS has taken strides to mitigate these issues by introducing Armoury Crate SE, a dedicated app designed to bridge the gap between the various game services on the Ally X. Armoury Crate SE launches at startup, boasts a dedicated controller button for quick access, and offers shortcuts to popular platforms like Steam (using controller-friendly Big Picture mode) and Xbox. While this app provides a more streamlined interface for accessing games, the fundamental issue of interacting with the Windows environment itself remains a constant hurdle.
The Xbox app, for example, represents a microcosm of this ongoing struggle. While the Ally X can play Xbox Game Pass games, the user experience remains frustratingly desktop-driven. Navigating menus, initiating downloads, and managing game installations often requires a mouse-like precision that a controller simply cannot provide.
The Ally X’s True Strength: Bridging The Gap
Despite the limitations of Windows on a handheld platform, the Ally X shines when it embraces its strengths as a hybrid device. Its ability to run anything a traditional Windows PC can, combined with its exceptional portability, creates a unique niche for gamers seeking a powerful and versatile handheld experience.
The Ally X excels in scenarios where its dual nature truly benefits the user:
- Gaming on the Go: With its powerful hardware and extended battery life, the Ally X delivers a premium handheld gaming experience. Games on platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store run smoothly at high visual fidelity, opening up a world of titles previously inaccessible on traditional handhelds.
- Productivity on the Move: The Ally X’s Windows foundation allows users to access familiar productivity tools and software. Whether it’s browsing the web, editing documents, or even handling basic coding tasks, the Ally X offers a powerful and portable solution for on-the-go work.
- Multimedia Hub: Beyond gaming, the Ally X shines as a versatile multimedia device. Stream movies and TV shows, listen to music, and even edit video content, all within the compact form factor of a handheld device.
The Verdict: A Substantial Leap Forward
The ROG Ally X represents a significant leap forward compared to its predecessor, addressing many of the original’s shortcomings and offering a compelling proposition for gamers seeking a powerful and versatile handheld device. Its impressive battery life, upgraded storage, and the addition of a USB4 port elevate the Ally X to a new level of usability and portability.
However, the Ally X’s reliance on Windows, while providing versatility, inevitably creates friction within the handheld experience. Navigating the operating system with a controller remains a hurdle, and the lack of inherent controller support within certain apps and services leaves a sense of compromise.
Therefore, the Ally X is not a complete solution for those seeking a seamless and intuitive handheld gaming experience. It excels in its versatility, offering a platform that can effortlessly transition between gaming, productivity, and entertainment. For players willing to embrace the limitations of Windows on a small screen and navigate those challenges with a controller, the ROG Ally X provides a powerful and portable gaming experience unlike anything else on the market.