ASUS ROG Ally X: Worth It? Specs, Price & Comparison

You’ve probably seen the ASUS ROG Ally X pop up on your feed and wondered if it’s actually worth the premium over the Steam Deck. After spending time with the specs and real-world reviews, one thing is clear: the battery is the headline act, but the real story is about what you gain (and lose) when you choose this handheld over its rivals. This article breaks down every claim with data, so you can decide where your money goes.

Battery capacity: 80Wh (double the original ROG Ally) ·
RAM: 24GB LPDDR5X ·
Storage: 1TB SSD (PCIe 4.0) ·
Processor (2024 model): AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme ·
Processor (2025 model): AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme ·
Price (Ireland): €899 (2025 model) / ~€799 (2024 model)

Is it worth getting ROG Ally X?

Price vs. feature analysis

At €899 for the 2025 model (Ireland) and roughly €799 for the 2024 Z1 Extreme version, the Ally X sits well above the original Ally (€599). For that extra money you get an 80Wh battery — double the original Tom’s Guide notes — plus 24GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.

The trade-off: you pay about €250 more than a Steam Deck OLED 1TB (Tom’s Guide). The question is whether the raw compute advantage and Windows ecosystem justify that gap.

Who should upgrade?

• From original Ally: Battery life alone may be worth it — twice the capacity means you can actually play away from a charger.
• From Steam Deck: Only if you need Windows-native games or higher frame rates on a 120Hz screen.
• New buyer: If you can afford it, the Ally X offers the most future-proofed RAM and storage.

Alternatives to consider

The Steam Deck OLED 512GB starts at $549 USD (Tom’s Guide), making it the budget champion. The original Ally is cheaper but has just 16GB RAM and a 40Wh battery. If you mainly play indie games or use SteamOS, the Deck makes more sense.

Is ROG Ally X better than Steam Deck OLED?

Performance benchmarks (CPU/GPU)

The Ally X’s AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (and upcoming Z2 Extreme) APU is more powerful on paper than Steam Deck’s custom AMD “Van Gogh” chip (Tom’s Guide). In Cyberpunk 2077, the Ally X manages 9.6 FPS with ray tracing on (Pocket-lint), but real-world gaming at 1080p with upscaling usually delivers 30–60 FPS.

Battery life comparison

The Ally X packs an 80Wh battery versus the Steam Deck OLED’s 50Wh. That’s a 60% larger capacity. In practice, that means longer sessions, though actual hours depend on the game. The Deck’s more efficient OLED display and custom OS may close the gap.

Screen quality and refresh rate

Ally X: 7-inch 1080p IPS at 120Hz. Steam Deck OLED: 7.4-inch OLED at 1280×800, 90Hz (Pocket-lint). The Deck’s OLED offers deeper blacks and better contrast; the Ally X gives you sharper resolution and higher refresh.

Game compatibility and ecosystem

The Ally X runs Windows 11, meaning every PC game on Steam, Epic, or Game Pass works out of the box — no compatibility layer needed. The Steam Deck uses SteamOS (Linux), which can run most titles but has hiccups with anti-cheat and some older games.

The pattern: The Ally X wins on raw specs and Windows compatibility; the Steam Deck OLED wins on display quality, price, and user experience. Your choice depends on whether you prioritise performance or polish.

Is there much difference between ROG Ally and ROG Ally X?

RAM and storage upgrades

The 8GB extra RAM helps with multitasking and future-proofing; the doubled storage means fewer SD-card shuffles.

Battery and charging improvements

Battery jumps from 40Wh to 80Wh — literally twice the capacity. Charging speed improves with a second USB-C port (one with USB4 support).

Ergonomics and port selection

• Deeper hand grips reduce strain during long sessions.
• Revised D-pad for more precise inputs.
• Dual USB-C ports (original Ally had one).

Processor differences across models

The 2024 Ally X retains the Z1 Extreme; the 2025 model upgrades to the Z2 Extreme. That means the 2024 version has the same chip as the original Ally, but with more RAM and battery.

What this means: The Ally X is a significant refresh, not a minor tweak. For original Ally owners, the battery gain alone transforms the handheld experience.

Do I need an Xbox for ROG Ally X?

Xbox branding explained

Despite the “Xbox” name on the box, the ROG Ally X is a full Windows 11 PC. The branding reflects a partnership with Xbox Game Pass, not a hardware dependency (Xbox official site).

Xbox Game Pass integration

You can install Xbox Game Pass and stream or download games directly. No Xbox console needed. The PureXbox reviewer noted the Ally X became their “go-to for Xbox Cloud Gaming” after six months (PureXbox).

Playing PC games without an Xbox console

The device runs any Windows game via Steam, Epic, GOG, or standalone installers. The Xbox ecosystem is optional.

The implication: The “Xbox” name is marketing — the Ally X is a handheld PC that happens to carry Game Pass-friendly branding. No Xbox required.

What games can ROG Ally X play?

AAA game performance (Cyberpunk, Elden Ring)

With FSR or RSR upscaling, the Ally X can push 30–60 FPS in demanding titles. PureXbox confirmed playable 60 FPS in many games after six months of use (PureXbox).

Indie and older titles

Indie games, older Valve titles, and 2D platformers run flawlessly at full 1080p 120Hz. The 24GB RAM leaves plenty of headroom for background tasks.

Upscaling technologies (FSR, RSR)

FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) and RSR (Radeon Super Resolution) help reach playable frame rates in heavier titles. The Z1 Extreme models struggle at native resolution (Tom’s Guide), but with upscaling the experience is solid.

The takeaway: The Ally X can play almost anything in the PC library, but heavier titles require upscaling compromises. It’s a portable PC, not a magic box.

Comparison: ROG Ally X vs ROG Ally vs Steam Deck OLED

Seven attributes, one pattern: the Ally X dominates on battery and RAM, but costs more and weighs more. The Steam Deck OLED wins on screen and price.

Specifications table

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• 80Wh battery (ASUS official site)
• 24GB RAM (Pocket-lint)
• 1TB storage (ASUS official site)
• Dual USB-C ports (ASUS official site)

What’s unclear

• Exact battery life in hours (depends on game)
• Real-world performance difference between Z1 and Z2 models
• Weight (speculated 678g based on original Ally but not confirmed for X)
• Improved ergonomics (subjective claim based on ASUS marketing)
• Xbox branding without requiring Xbox console (more a clarification than a spec)

What experts say

After six months of use, the battery life transformed long gaming sessions, and the device became my go-to for Xbox Cloud Gaming.

— PureXbox reviewer, 6-month review (PureXbox)

The ROG Ally X boasts an 80Wh battery and redesigned ergonomics for long gaming sessions, as well as convenient dual USB Type-C ports.

— ASUS product page (ASUS official site)

The summary: The ROG Ally X is a compelling upgrade for anyone who wants Windows portability with serious battery stamina. For Irish buyers, the €899 price tag on the 2025 model is steep, but if you value raw performance and storage above all, it’s a solid investment. For budget-conscious gamers, the Steam Deck OLED remains the smarter choice. The decision is clear: choose the Ally X if you need PC-compatible power on the go; pick the Deck if you want value and a better screen.

Frequently asked questions