The ASUS ROG Ally X just set a new standard for portable PC gaming. In this in-depth review we cover the biggest improvements over the original ROG Ally — the battery, the RAM, the storage, the ergonomics — plus real-world gaming benchmarks, battery life tests, and how it stacks up against the Steam Deck OLED and the Lenovo Legion Go.

Short version: the Ally X is the most complete refinement of the Windows handheld formula yet — the original Ally’s biggest weaknesses, fixed.

---

TL;DR — The 10-second verdict

What it is	ASUS’s refined ROG Ally — the 2025 handheld that fixes the original’s battery, RAM, and storage gripes
Who it’s for	Windows handheld gamers who want better battery life, more RAM/storage, and a more comfortable grip than the original Ally
The headline	80 Wh battery (2× the original), 24 GB RAM, faster storage, and improved ergonomics — the definitive Ally
The catch	Still a Windows handheld with the usual quirks; Steam Deck OLED still wins on price and pick-up-and-play for Steam-only players
Our take	The best Windows handheld of its generation — the upgrade to get if you own an original Ally
Where To Buy (Affiliate Links)	Amazon · Mavely · JoyLink
Video Review	YouTube

---

The Improvements

The Ally X is ASUS listening to every complaint about the original Ally:

• Battery: an 80 Wh battery — roughly double the original — the single biggest upgrade, and it transforms real-world playtime
• Memory: 24 GB of LPDDR5X (up from 16 GB) — genuinely useful for modern games and Windows overhead
• Storage: faster, more accessible SSD slot — easier upgrades
• Ergonomics: deeper grips and better button layout — much more comfortable in hand
• Cooling: refined thermal design keeps the Z1 Extreme fed without melting your palms

---

Performance & Battery

We ran real-world gaming benchmarks across the handheld’s settings, and the battery results are the headline — the Ally X’s doubled capacity means genuinely long sessions instead of the original’s anxiety-inducing runtime. Against the competition:

• vs Steam Deck OLED: the Ally X wins on raw performance and game compatibility (Windows-native), while the Deck wins on price and console-style pick-up-and-play for Steam-only players
• vs Legion Go: the Ally X is lighter and more refined in the hand; the Legion Go counters with the bigger screen

---

The bottom line

The ASUS ROG Ally X is the definitive Windows gaming handheld — ASUS fixed the original’s biggest weaknesses (battery, RAM, storage, comfort) and delivered the most complete package in the category. If you own an original Ally, it’s the upgrade to get. If you’re choosing your first Windows handheld, this is the one to beat.

— Tame That Tech Minion

Discussion

NameCommentPost comment