To be honest, the ASUS ROG Ally X is the first Windows gaming handheld I reviewed. In my previous previous job, my then-colleague was the one handling (pun intended) this genre. Still, I think any gamer will love the notion of able to play Windows games on the move. So, I was rubbing my hands in glee when I received the review unit.
The Ally X features a vibrant 7-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, 24GB of RAM, 1TB solid-state drive (SSD), AMD Radeon Graphics and AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor – all in a sleek design that weighs just around 680g.
- Price: S$1,199, get it at Shopee and Lazada
- Display: 7 inches, touchscreen, 120Hz refresh rate, 500nits
- Processor: AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme Processor (8-core /16-threads, up to 5.1GHz boost)
- Graphics: AMD Radeon™ Graphic (AMD RDNA™ 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops)
- SSD: 1TB
- RAM: 24GB
- Ports: 1 x 35mm audio jack, 1 x USB-C, 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x microsSD card reader
- Battery: 80Wh
- Weight: 678g
| PROS | CONS |
| Fast handheld performance | Proper Windows handheld UI needed |
| Superb ergonomics | Not cheap |
| Decent battery life | |
| Quiet fans |
As you might expect from a gaming handheld, there are two mini-joysticks – one on each side of the display – with the A/D/X/Y buttons on the right side and a D-pad on the left side of the display. There are also the bumpers and triggers on the top of the side grips as well as two paddle buttons at the rear of the handheld.
On top of the display, you will find the power/fingerprint sensor, microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack beside the right bumper. Beside the left bumper, you find the volume control, one USB-C port and one Thunderbolt 4 port.
Overall, the ergonomics are superb with the button placement well thought out. The sides are more rounded with comfortable grips that allow you to game longer in comfort. Talking about gaming longer, the Ally X comes with a 80Wh battery that is rated to give you 2.7 hours of heavy gaming for triple-A titles or 14.5 hours of Netflix video playback.
Of course, the Ally X’s battery life depends on what kind of games at what resolution and brightness you are playing. During my tests, I found the battery level dropped by 25 per cent when playing Metro Exodus at 1080p 75% brightness and 27W for around an hour.
The device does get a bit warm during extended play, something not unexpected but you probably have to be mindful about. On the upside, the internal cooling fans are never too loud, so your fellow passengers on MRT will never know you are slaughtering some virtual beasts.
Gameplay wise, the Ally X is excellent for many games. Without the device plugged to power and using around 27W, I was able to play Metro Exodus at up to 120 frames per second (fps), Cyberpunk 2077 at around 60fps and Diablo IV at 35fps. Even with Cyperpunk 2077, the movements are smooth with no visible screen tearing.
It is great that ASUS’ Armory Crate SD software supports a wide range of gaming platforms, including Steam, GOG Store, UbiConnect and Xbox Game Pass, making it easy to access a vast library of games.
The biggest issue though with Ally X is not about Ally X, but the software that it is running on. Something that is out of ASUS’ hands. While the Armory Crate is actually great in consolidating all games in one place, installing other non-game applications, moving windows around or even tapping “Yes” can be a chore as the user interface (UI) is just not meant for touchscreen.
Touchscreen really needs a separate UI, which is why Apple has iPadOS for its tablets. Windows’ UI is still pretty much a mouse-and-keyboard UI and until Microsoft created a handheld version of Windows, handheld gaming will always be hampered.
Pricing might be on an issue as well. While S$1,199 is not really expensive for the features and value that Ally X brings you, it still only serves one function – primarily gaming. A gaming laptop would at least allow you to do your work or studies on it.
VERDICT: The ASUS ROG Ally X is a superb Windows gaming handheld that caters to all the needs of any mobile PC gamer with its smooth performance, great ergonomics and decent battery life. Its greatest flaw is not even its fault, but that of Microsoft’s Windows not handheld friendly.