Review ASUS ROG Ally X: the handheld has become more serious, but Windows continues to take its toll
The ROG Ally X represents an interesting kind of maturation in the PC handheld market. The first wave of these products already proved that there was a desire for large library games in a portable format. The second moment, however, requires more maturity: better battery, less improvised ergonomics, less annoying software and a feeling closer to a finished product than an exciting experiment. Ally X enters precisely this phase. He doesn't try to reinvent the category, but to correct where it hurts most. This already makes it more relevant than many annual hardware reviews. At the same time, there is an elephant in the room that no physical improvement solves alone: ​​Windows 11 is not yet born for handhelds. And, in this format, the system appears as much as the power.
What he delivers today
ASUS positions the Ally X as a premium PC gaming handheld, with more robust hardware, better battery life, and a more refined portable experience. The appeal remains huge for anyone who wants to access extensive libraries from Steam, Xbox, Epic and the like without being tied to their desk. The promise is simple and powerful: more freedom to play large titles outside the desktop, with a portable format and integrated control. Ally X is more convincing than the previous version precisely because it treats this promise with more operational seriousness.
The technique behind
The Ally X's technical advancement is in resolving first-generation bottlenecks: battery, ergonomics, storage, and general hardware refinement. In handhelds, thermal efficiency and autonomy have equivalent weight to raw performance, because the product lives in the hand and away from the socket by definition. The quality of the screen, sticks, ventilation and weight distribution also matter. TechRadar summed up the device's central tension well: the hardware is very good, but Windows 11 still imposes friction. This happens because the interface, background management, navigation and system consistency were not originally designed for this mode of use. The handheld then ends up needing to compensate via ASUS software and the user's patience.
Where it gets it right in real use
In real use, the Ally X is especially suitable for those who want portable PC power with more autonomy and a more refined body than the original. Games that take advantage of Windows' open library, emulation, diverse services, and configuration flexibility make the device especially attractive. The battery improvement greatly changes the product's viability when traveling and away from the socket. It also helps that ASUS is no longer explaining the category to the market; now she is polishing the execution.
Where does it limit
The problem is that software remains too big a part of the experience, and not always for the good. Windows still takes its toll on menus, updates, inconsistencies and less natural interactions than on dedicated consoles or more adapted systems. Furthermore, premium PC handhelds are not cheap and still require a certain tolerance for adjustments, power profiles and realistic expectations about performance in heavier titles. It is not for those who just want to press the button and forget that there is a system behind it.
The future it anticipates
The Ally X anticipates a future in which PC handhelds can become more mature and less experimental, as long as the hardware and system stop pulling in different directions. ASUS has already shown that it can refine the body of the proposal. The question now is whether the Windows ecosystem and partners will be able to keep up with the category with more user-friendly software. If that happens, the space for devices like the Ally X grows a lot. If not, they remain shiny, but always a little unfinished.
Verdict
The ASUS ROG Ally X is a very competent handheld and clearly better resolved than the first wave of portable gaming PCs. The bigger battery and hardware refinement make a real difference. The big brake continues to be Windows. For those who accept this bargain in exchange for flexibility, the Ally X is a great option. For those who want maximum simplicity, the equation is not yet completely pacified.
Sources
- https://rog.asus.com/gaming-handhelds/rog-ally/rog-ally-x-2024/
- https://www.techradar.com/computing/gaming-laptops/asus-rog-ally-x
- https://www.techradar.com/computing/gaming-computers/asus-rog-xbox-ally-x-review