Asus ROG Ally X evaluate: Don’t promote your Steam Deck

Simply over a yr after the debut of the ROG Ally, Asus is following up its latest entry into the aggressive handheld enviornment with the ROG Ally X. A lift in RAM and battery is meant to be the secret right here. 

Nonetheless, loads of what I – and the staff – have reiterated in our handheld evaluations, is that Home windows might be liable to betraying the wonderful {hardware} on board handhelds of this type. Simply know that Home windows isn’t going to be fairly as slick as SteamOS.

Key specs

• APU: AMD Z1 Excessive
• RAM: 24GB DDR5 (6400MHz)
• Show: 7-inch 16:9 (120Hz show)
• Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
• Working System: Home windows 11
• IO: USB-C (DisplayPort), USB-C PD, UHS-II MicroSD Slot
• Options: Embedded controller, three efficiency modes, twin audio system
• Worth: $799

Design

In comparison with the unique ROG Ally, the ROG Ally X is kitted out with a blacked-out coloration scheme throughout the complete machine. Play at evening, even with a lightweight hue from the RGB atop every analog stick, and the machine seemingly melts away. 

The ROG Ally X appears nice, visually, as did the unique. There are simply not many main variations between the general design of the 2 gadgets to debate. It’s nonetheless a snug handheld, regardless of its barely extra angular options.

On the again, the little again paddles are precisely the identical as its predecessor, which I’m personally not an enormous fan of, as they by no means really feel super-satisfying to actuate.

The Ally X improve ought to have introduced one thing new to the design desk to tell apart every mannequin, except for a easy colorway change. I discovered myself reaching for trackpads that weren’t there, one thing that extra Home windows handhelds are in dire want of, which continues to be one thing Valve’s Steam Deck OLED will get so, so proper.

Options

Souped-up with a brand new 80-watt-hour battery and 24GB of RAM, the ROG Ally X is sort of essentially the most highly effective handheld on the market. Whereas Ayaneo would possibly nonetheless maintain that crown, it’s nonetheless a superb addition. However, the unique Ally’s chipset hasn’t been upgraded for this newer mannequin.

The Z1 Excessive has loads of energy left within the tank, and I feel the Ally X is the proper instance of showcasing it. It would begin to discover itself outclassed in offering uncooked energy sooner or later, however you shouldn’t be too involved that it’s not had a giant chip improve: Till AMD’s next-gen chipsets land in Steam Deck rivals, the Ally X is nearly on par with each different handheld in the marketplace, just like the Legion Go.

AMD’s FSR is the brand new regular

Throughout my time with the Ally X, I discovered AMD’s FSR suite doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to efficiency. AMD has additionally ensured that its flagship handheld chip is handled to the perfect. Body Era in The First Descendant made it one among my favourite methods to play the sport, smoothing efficiency points out with no bother.

This isn’t a foul factor, as with the Body Era on, The First Descendant outclassed the technically extra highly effective 32GB Ayaneo 2S.

Even with the uncooked energy of the expanded {hardware}, the ROG Ally X was capable of pull in some respectable outcomes.

Huge new battery

The brand new battery is equally spectacular. I timed a small session of Gears of Struggle: Final Version. The Coalition’s remaster is a troublesome sport to run on this class of {hardware}, and the Ally X nonetheless struggled performance-wise. Battery-wise, nonetheless, it was intriguing. 

At 720p, 30FPS, on the 17W energy mode “Efficiency”, on Low settings, I misplaced 20% of the battery. Placing the machine to sleep after this session, and shutting the sport, misplaced me a further 4% in a single day.

In tremendous light-weight video games like Balatro, it was an excellent a number of hours earlier than we reached for a charger. Older titles like Useless Rising’s 2016 PC port additionally thrive right here, with the battery life seeing us by way of a lot of the first few chapters of the sport. This is among the greatest promoting factors of the Ally X, and it actually does ship the battery energy the place it counts.

Assuaging your self of any battery nervousness whereas on the transfer, the Ally X is among the many greatest in its class, sitting subsequent to the Deck OLED and Ayaneo Kun as champions of the rising handheld PC battery warfare.

I used to be additionally despatched the brand new ROG-branded GaN charger. This claims to offer as much as 140W of cost however didn’t provide a cable. Now, not all USB-C cables are constructed the identical. You’ll must discover a USB-C PD-compliant cable, which may run you about $15 further. 

This meant that for some periods, the 30W Turbo mode outpaced the charging cable, leaving me with a useless machine. The pack-in charger fortunately by no means appeared to have this downside.

Display

I’m additionally nonetheless a giant fan of the display screen, which isn’t an OLED, however is vibrant and vivid. Being 120Hz made enjoying video games like Rollerdrome a far smoother expertise. In the meantime, with the ability to restrict the refresh price on the fly lets you push the battery additional.

That’s about as good as you’ll hear me discuss Asus’s software program choices. as Armory Crate and myAsus are apps it’s worthwhile to depend on for updates. 

Home windows, Armory Crate & launchers

Armory Crate homes the embedded controller perform. You’ll be able to’t escape it, and also you undoubtedly can’t remap its virtually ineffective button. The capabilities it gives within the fast menu are all it ought to be, with remapping left in a much less intrusive interface.

It’s additionally meant to double as a sport launcher. Nonetheless, loads of the video games I’m enjoying nonetheless require me to make use of their launcher. Steam nonetheless kicks down the door to indicate it’s loading a sport. The Epic Retailer and HoyoPlayer additionally, nonetheless barge in entrance of Armory Crate to deal with the job.

There are too many PC sport launchers as it’s, and it’s worthwhile to look no additional than Steam. Too usually whereas utilizing the Ally X, I might boot up Huge Image Mode, simply to have much less time interfacing with Home windows.

In an occasion the place I used to be making an attempt to launch one thing on Sport Go, the whole lot went unsuitable. Steam was making an attempt to deal with inputs for issues, whereas Armory Crate additionally battling for management, which left Sport Go a bit confused. 

Armory Crate is unhealthy. Nonetheless, it’s not solely Asus’s fault right here. Not that their software program choices have to be defended, but it surely’s the symptom of a bigger downside. Microsoft has but to make any sort of transfer on its very actual, and quickly rising handheld market.

If it sounds such as you’ve learn this someplace earlier than, it’s since you in all probability have. The Legion Go and its launcher? Simply terrible. Ayaneo has gotten higher, however the consumer expertise continues to be sullied with mistranslations and haphazard implementation. Outdoors of Huge Image mode, Steam continues to be made for a mouse.

It shouldn’t be on Asus to offer this to us. They’re doing it as a result of they must. Asus’s strengths have by no means been in its software program.

On Microsoft’s personal platform, it’s simpler so as to add non-Steam video games to your library, set up them, after which use Steam Huge Image mode to launch the whole lot from there. Valve is exhibiting everybody up on Microsoft’s dwelling turf.

Gaming efficiency

Cyberpunk 2077

Even with the Steam Deck preset, 720p continues to be the way in which to go for Cyberpunk 2077. Even with the extra horsepower. There are particular uplifts for these prepared to tinker correctly with the settings.

We are able to see simply how well-optimized for gaming the Z1 Excessive is over its cousin, the 7840U. Even over the unique Ally, that 24GB of RAM actually provides worth in real-world efficiency. I think the brand new configuration hasn’t been absolutely up to date on the software program aspect. We might see additional advantages sooner or later.

FSR 2.1 does a superb job with steadying efficiency. Nonetheless, most of Phantom Liberty and later areas within the base sport nonetheless dip in efficiency in hectic conditions. Benchmarks don’t at all times mirror the moment-to-moment, however in regular circumstances, right here’s what you may anticipate:

ROG Ally X vs Ayaneo 2S

These two handhelds are virtually completely evenly matched. However, what you won’t understand is that whereas the Ayaneo 2S can handle across the similar ranges of efficiency, if not barely decrease, the Ally X has an enormous lead when it comes to battery life.

ROG Ally X vs ROG Ally

Each handhelds are nearly evenly matched relating to efficiency, with the Ally X’s large RAM capability probably not giving it a lot of an edge in real-world gaming efficiency.

Evil West

Evil West isn’t the perfect operating sport, even beneath respectable {hardware}. The sport runs at a considerably clean 30 on the Steam Deck. Asus’s ROG Ally X struggles with the shading stutters from Unreal Engine 4, however nonetheless manages to placed on fairly a present.

Forza Motorsport

Flip 10

Much less pleasant to handhelds than Forza Horizon 5, Motorsport performs nice at low, 720p and whereas backed up by FSR. Fortunately FSR’s muddy nature is masked by the blinding pace of some races.

Rollerdrome

Roll7

My new favourite to choose up and play. Rollerdrome presents fast-paced thrills in a third-person shooter mixed with Tony Hawk Professional Skater. It’s a spectacular sport and one which runs flawlessly at 17W and 30W at 120Hz on the Ally X.

Artificial benchmarks

Must you improve?

The efficiency speaks for itself. Positive, some video games run a lot smoother than on the ROG Ally, however the X is an costly query. Is $800 value it for just a few frames extra? 

Whereas the battery life and extra RAM are a boon, it’s not value ditching your present handheld for. In the event you’re on the Steam Deck, you’re not lacking out right here. 

Sure, Sport Go and entry to unplayable multiplayer video games is a pleasant thought. Nonetheless, the much better thought-out consumer expertise on the Steam Deck continues to be an excessive amount of to surrender altogether.

Verdict – 3/5

In the event you’re already in possession of a handheld, the Ally X isn’t going to blow you away. It’s nonetheless the identical comfy machine. It’s additionally nonetheless hampered by Home windows. Till Microsoft makes a correct determination on easy methods to deal with this, The Steam Deck stays king. 

Uncooked energy means nothing when the general usability is held again by the working system.
I’ve been reaching for the Ally X very often for smaller or inaccessible video games on Linux. The idea works, and I actually consider in it. However throwing extra {hardware} doesn’t resolve the software program points confronted by small handhelds operating a desktop OS.