Asus' ROG Ally X officially started shipping last July 22, bringing an all-around better handheld gaming PC in terms of aesthetics, ergonomics, and specifications.
As per sources, one of the main specification upgrades is an increase in memory. Since the APU uses 24GB of RAM instead of 16GB for system memory and VRAM, the ROG Ally X now has 24GB of RAM, which offers some performance benefits. Moreover, the maximum RAM frequency has increased to 7500MT/s from 6400MT/s.
Upgrades to storage should become much simpler with the new ROG Ally X, which also doubles battery capacity and expands the SSD to an M.2 2280 type in addition to 1TB. The portable itself can accommodate up to 8TB of storage.
Finally, in response to consumer outrage, Asus swapped out the ROG XG mobile connector with a USB 4. With this modification, the ROG Ally X may now be used with an external GPU, placing it in a completely new class.
With the release of Valve's Steam Deck in 2022, portable PC gaming became more accessible. Though it wasn't the first company to look into form factor, Valve was the one who discovered the perfect ratio between cost, portability, and specifications.
The quick success of it made PC manufacturers take notice. Lenovo debuted the Legion Go, while Asus introduced the ROG Ally, a mobile PC gaming device.
The gadget sports a seven-inch, brilliant display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and 1080p resolution. The traditional set of gaming buttons and joysticks is positioned in front of the display, just like on a Nintendo Switch.
ROG Ally X Review
Techcrunch observed in their review that the new handheld's controls are less cramped than the Switch's. The ROG Ally X feels like a full-size controller in the user's hands.
The joysticks look and feel similar to those seen on a modern Microsoft Xbox controller. The big, clicky buttons are labeled X, Y, A, and B. The analog triggers also have a lot of travel.
Armoury Crate SE, the primary software interface for the ROG Ally X, is apparently at best mediocre. It serves as a central location for all of the installed games from Steam, the Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, and other sources.
It can also alter the settings on the user's device, including the gamepad profiles and joystick LEDs.
Xbox Handheld Hints
As more and more manufacturers produce their versions, handheld gaming keeps progressing. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, recently hinted that Microsoft's gaming division would release a portable game system shortly.
Since Spencer has a history of dropping huge hints about the portable device, this is thought to be the largest hint behind the Xbox handheld so far.
In a recent interview with IGN, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer revealed some shocking details about a potential Xbox game system that the firm may be developing or considering. This is due to Spencer's belief that Xbox "should have" a portable device as well, particularly at this point in the console's popularity.
When Spencer was questioned later in the interview about the benefits of an Xbox portable-such as playing games locally or streaming the Xbox CEO stated that, in contrast to the PlayStation Portal, they wanted a "true handheld."
Spencer disclosed that he has a Lenovo LEGION GO with local gaming access, a ROG Ally, and a Steam Deck.