The incredible improvement in the efficiency of the latest computer processors has opened the door to a new type of device: portable consoles that are computers. The Steam Deck is the best known, but it is not the only console that promises to be able to play the latest PC games in a portable format. The ROG Ally was one of the best alternatives, and now it is even more recommended.
Today, ASUS announced the launch in Europe of the ROG Ally X, a renewal of the original console with several internal and external improvements; Although at first glance there are not many differences compared to the original model, ASUS has actually made several changes in response to user feedback.
For example, one of the most criticized aspects of the ROG Ally was its battery life, which made it difficult to use the device as a “portable” console. In response, ASUS introduced an 80 Wh battery, double the capacitywhich will allow you to play for longer without needing a nearby outlet. The duration will depend on the type of game, but it should be much longer than the original console; and now it has a second USB-C port, to charge the console and use accessories at the same time, instead of ASUS’ proprietary port for connecting an external graphics card.
Inside, the same AMD Z1 Extreme processor is retained, which gave such good results; but the amount of memory has increased from 16 GB to 24 GBsomething more important than it seems. The Z1 Extreme is an APU, a processor with integrated graphics, so the RAM is divided between the CPU and the GPU; By having more memory, it is possible to allocate more to the graphics card and improve performance.
To this must be added the use of “super resolution” technologies such as RSR and FSR, which render the game at a lower resolution to obtain more “frames per second” and enlarge the image to the native resolution of the screen; which, by the way, has not changed either and continues to use a 7-inch IPS panel, with a resolution of 1080p and which can reach a 120Hz refresh rate.
ASUS ROG Ally X
Free Android
One change that many users will appreciate, especially now that games are taking up more space than ever, is storage. The ROG Ally X comes with a new SSD drive with 1TB capacitybut in addition, the internal card has been redesigned to include an M2 2280 slot, the standard size, which allows the user to upgrade the device with a larger capacity drive without any problem.
Recall that the ROG Ally X is a console based on the Windows 11 operating system, and as such, it promises compatibility with the vast majority of games released for PC; something that its rival, the Steam Deck, cannot promise at the moment. Additionally, the Armoury Crate SE interface has been updated with compatibility with platforms such as Steam, GOG, Xbox Game Pass, Epic and more, so we can play all our games no matter where we bought them.
The ROG Ally X is now available in Europe at a price of 899 dollars.
