The ROG Ally X feels like it is going to be an admirable gaming handheld, however I’ve some large points with how the preliminary reveal has been dealt with, and what it means for the market general. Asus is releasing its third ROG Ally mannequin in beneath a 12 months, and reasonably than focusing its sources on a real next-generation mannequin, it’s as an alternative chasing the moment gratification of a shiny new launch.
The prevailing ROG Ally is already among the many greatest handheld gaming PCs, and the ROG Ally X might very effectively surpass it as soon as we now have all the small print and may put it to the take a look at. That being stated, I’m struggling to grasp why it exists, and whether or not Asus has a plan to deal with Valve’s present market dominance with the Steam Deck.
Thus far, we all know that the Asus ROG Ally X shall be formally revealed on June 2, 2024. Past this affirmation, throughout a ROG World stay stream, it was confirmed that the Ally X would not have an OLED display screen. Nonetheless, it might enhance battery life considerably, have improved repairability, and permit for 2280 type issue M.2 SSDs for use.
Most significantly, it’s been confirmed that the brand new design will reposition the microSD card slot that has triggered the prevailing Z1 and Z1 Excessive fashions a ton of grief in current weeks, with guarantee extensions and harm refunds being issued.
I’m struggling to grasp Asus’ motives for releasing the ROG Ally X, although, as a result of this would be the third handheld machine in beneath a 12 months, with the earlier launch, the underpowered Z1, doing little or no to get the market excited.
It’s additionally barely ironic that, through the stay stream, the hosts used language like “formally set the document straight,” following the marginally awkward reveal that this stream wasn’t really the place the brand new machine can be revealed. They might then additional complicate issues by dancing round a number of the information Asus is keen to share in regards to the Ally X right now.
If something, I used to be left extra confused after yesterday’s livestream. It adopted experiences of each a ROG Ally 2 and a mannequin refresh, however I then heard firsthand that neither of those rumors was true. As an alternative, the hosts explicitly said that this was “greater than only a mannequin refresh with one spec change” but additionally “not a complete redesign or completely new era”.
I wish to know why Asus didn’t maintain off on the Ally X and push all its sources into a real second era handheld for subsequent 12 months. The ROG Ally X might very effectively be a large enchancment over the Z1 Excessive mannequin, however nobody was essentially clamoring for this in the best way they had been for an OLED mannequin, that means the ROG Ally X nonetheless sits behind the Steam Deck in a single key space.
Come June 2, I’ll doubtless be none the wiser concerning my questions, however I’m hoping that Asus can provide some readability as soon as and for all so I can transfer on and simply be excited for the Ally X, reasonably than merely questioning whether or not there’s any want for it.
Within the meantime, in order for you extra details about a number of the present handheld gaming PCs, take a look at our Lenovo Legion Go evaluate, and Steam Deck OLED evaluate, to get an thought of the place this new Ally X might stack up.
