In the past 2-3 years, the gaming industry has seen a significant shift with the resurgence of Handheld Consoles benefiting from hardware advancements that have reached a new level of power, allowing top-ranked game stores like Steam to be portable.
ROG, a brand that takes this market seriously, introduced the ROG Ally 2 models ago. Blognone recently reviewed the latest model, the ROG Ally X, comparing it to the initial model (ROG Ally) which was positioned as a lower-tier version. Ultimately, the question arises about how much more value the new model brings compared to the older model, which was nearly 10,000 baht cheaper.
Externally, the ROG Ally X has addressed the drawbacks of the Ally as its main focus (excluding the change in machine color to black). Improvements include an enhanced rear handle for better grip, relocating the Micro SD Card slot away from the heat dissipation vents, and changing the connectivity ports from one ROG XG Mobile port (for separate GPU connection) and USB-C to two USB-C ports (one being Thunderbolt 4).
These changes are all advantages because in the ROG Ally, the highlighted areas have often posed more problems than advantages above other portable gaming devices. For instance, the Micro SD Card slot being too close to the heat vents can sometimes cause reading issues with the inserted card.
Regarding the ROG XG Mobile port, originally designed for ROG’s External GPU, the switch to another USB-C port adds flexibility as it now supports Thunderbolt 4 connectivity with GPUs of other brands. ASUS deserves credit for acknowledging and improving the ROG Ally X to be a more complete and portable gaming machine.
Internally, although the ROG Ally X still uses the AMD Z1 Extreme chip, several components have been upgraded. These include a 24GB LPDDR5X RAM running at 7500 MHz, a 1TB SSD storage, and an 80WHrs battery. While the changes may not seem substantial at first glance, they significantly impact real-world usage.
One notable game tested was STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor on both the Ally and Ally X to compare the differences. It was found that the Ally X could run the game more steadily and for a longer duration compared to the Ally, operating at a medium level of 40-55fps for Ally X and 25-35fps for Ally. Moreover, the Ally X battery usage was more efficient during gameplay sessions.
The increased battery capacity made the machine more enduring and energy-efficient, allowing for improved gaming performance. The added RAM had a direct impact on running newer games, reducing lag experienced on the Ally.
Overall, the ROG Ally X addresses several weaknesses of the original Ally, making it more capable of handling AAA games released from 2023 onwards. However, it’s important to note that while the performance has improved significantly, it’s still not on par with desktop gaming rigs due to the inherent limitations of portable gaming devices focusing more on portability than raw power.
For existing ROG Ally users considering upgrading to the ROG Ally X, it may not be justifiable unless they require the additional features provided. The Ally still meets their gaming needs adequately for now, especially for light gaming and clearing old games stored on Steam. However, for those without a portable gaming setup, the ROG Ally X is a worthy investment, delivering value for the money spent.
TLDR: The ROG Ally X improves upon the initial model’s weaknesses, offering better performance and features for portable gaming. While existing users may not find the upgrade essential, new users will benefit from the enhanced capabilities of the ROG Ally X.
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