There was a time when handheld consoles were quite the rage. Sony’s PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS had started gaining a lot of popularity. Then along came smartphones and the sheen of a handheld console faded away. However, with Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck, the flag was held high. The likes of Asus and Lenovo entered the fray with their own devices. Asus’ ROG Ally caught the attention of critics and experts as it made a fine debut. Asus has now launched the ROG Ally X — an iteration of its first handheld console. People might say that smartphones are perhaps the most personal gadget you can have, gamers would disagree.
You see, gamers are a diverse tribe, and their gear of choice, varies quite a lot. There are those who swear by the handheld consoles as they give them the freedom to play whenever and wherever they want. The console fans are more like the purists who love to game in the comfort of their living room on a large screen. And then there are the PC gamers who love customisation and overpowered machines to satiate their gaming needs. I am a console gamer though time isn’t always my ally when it comes to do too much gaming. I put the ROG Ally X to test for a while to see whether it can make a dent in a rather niche market.
The in-hand feel and look
If you are used to gaming on a smartphone, the Ally X feels really heavy. In my first few days with the Ally X, to get more than 20 minutes of a gaming session felt cumbersome. It takes time to get used to the ROG Ally X. Asus has made it better in terms of ergonomics compared to the previous-generation ally. It’s still not a form factor that hits the sweet spot for me as there are remnants of gaming console in terms of button. Asus has added RGB lighting which gives it a character. But if portability is a factor for you then I am not sure the Ally X is going to cut the mustard.
The other issue I had with the Ally X was carrying it around. It does fit your average backpack but then most average backpacks already have a lot of stuff. If you have a M-series Mac, then perhaps you aren’t carrying a laptop charger. Otherwise, there’s the laptop, the charger, other chargers, headphones, and whatnot in most people’s bags. You really need to love handhelds to actually make space for one in your backpack on a daily basis.
The Asus ROG Ally X comes in a black colourway and is slightly thick. That’s because Asus has put in a more effective cooling system. You will find three exhaust ports at the top of the chassis, which keep the device rather cool during long gaming sessions. Asus has replaced the ROG XG port with a Type-C one. The buttons on the back of the Ally X are also smaller now.
The ROG Ally X features a 7-inch HD+ display. Now, here’s the thing. While it’s understandable Asus has crammed in a lot of buttons and the design is such that the display size can’t be bigger. But the display size for me feels inadequate. Here I am playing FIFA 24 and the control experience is good but the display size felt really small. FIFA 24 on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 looked far more vibrant and better than the Asus ROG Ally X.
Still, for most games, the display's brightness and contrast levels are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The resolution, however, could have been much better. It doesn’t look like a new-age modern display.
Games people play
I tried quite a few games on the Asus ROG Ally X but FIFA being a favourite I kept coming back to it more often than not. The albatross around the Ally X’s ergonomic neck goes by the name of Windows. Sure, there is the sense of familiarity of Windows but this isn’t a desktop. The interface is very desktop oriented and the amount of times my eyes were rolled would give Mitchell Pritchett from Modern Family a complex. Using touch controls or the buttons on Windows can be challenging. There are apps which aren’t optimised for the smaller screen size. Plus, for me, when I am gaming I am not sure the multiple notifications and pop-ups that Windows rams down your throat is the ideal setting.
Credit to Asus here for making a valiant attempt to improve the user experience with Armoury Crate. Yet, do I really want to be reminded of Microsoft wanting me to use Office 365? No. Just no. Not when I am gaming or, for that matter, otherwise.
The lack of a dedicated handheld gaming interface spoils what is otherwise a good gaming experience.
Forza Horizon 5 looks great on the Ally X and is really smooth. You don’t see any lags or stutters even when the frame rates are set to high. Those who love gaming PCs would enjoy the experience on this handheld.
At work on the ROG Ally X is the AMD Z1 Extreme chip, which provides ample power for running AAA titles smoothly. Asus has added extra RAM — it now goes up to 24GB — and a more efficient cooling system. Not once did the device overheat even while playing demanding titles. You can choose from three different operating modes to balance performance and power usage. There’s the Silent Mode's 10W to Performance Mode's 15W all the way up to Turbo Mode's 25W. You can ramp it up to 30W if connected to a charger.
Speaking of chargers, the battery life has also been improved. There’s an 80Wh battery on the Ally X and Asus claims it can last for more more than 2.7 hours of heavy AAA gaming. The real-life number is close to Asus’ claims and if you play less demanding titles you can get close to five hours of battery life.
Impressive device, but…
The Asus ROG Ally X is a capable gaming handheld that offers impressive performance and a premium build quality. The display could’ve been better especially considering what competition has to offer. The Nintendo Switch offers an OLED screen which is a big miss on the Ally X. The display while sufficient is not worthy of the Rs 89,900 which Asus wants you to pay.
While the ROG Ally X has a lot going for it, one can’t overlook the elephant in the room — Windows. While familiar, it just isn’t exactly optimised for handheld gaming. Now if you are a gamer who wants another weapon in your arsenal, the ROG Ally X could be the ally for you. As long as you don’t mind the occasional duel with Windows 11’s quirks. Asus ROG Ally X is fast, powerful, and gives you the flexibility to game wherever and whenever you want.
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