ASUS ROG Ally X Review (2026): Still a Handheld Powerhouse—or Time to Move On?

Last verified: August 21, 2026
Reviewed model: ASUS ROG Ally X (2024) RC72LA
Primary SKU: RC72LA-ALLYX.Z1X — 24GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Also available: RC72LA-ALLYX.Z1X2TB — 24GB RAM / 2TB SSD

The ASUS ROG Ally X was one of the best Windows gaming handhelds of its generation. Its combination of an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 24GB of fast memory, an 80Wh battery, 120Hz variable-refresh display, full-size M.2 storage, and Windows game compatibility fixed many of the weaknesses of the original ROG Ally.

But this is 2026, not 2024.

The ROG Ally X now competes against newer Ryzen Z2-class handhelds, the ROG Xbox Ally X, SteamOS-based systems, and a handheld market that has matured considerably. That changes the question from “Is the ROG Ally X good?” to “Is the ROG Ally X still worth buying at today’s price?”

The answer depends heavily on what you pay.

Quick Verdict

The ROG Ally X remains an excellent Windows handheld, especially if you want broad PC game compatibility, strong battery life, 24GB of memory, expandable standard M.2 storage, and enough performance to run modern AAA games with realistic settings.

Its hardware has aged surprisingly well.

What has not aged as well is its price.

Best Buy currently lists the 1TB RC72LA at $899.99, although that listing was unavailable when we checked. Meanwhile, ASUS lists the newer ROG Xbox Ally X with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor at $999.99. At anything close to those prices, the newer hardware makes significantly more sense.

Ultimate Rig Guide verdict: Buy the original ROG Ally X when you find a legitimate new, certified-refurbished, or well-supported open-box unit at roughly $700–$750 or less. Around $800 it becomes much harder to justify, and near $900 we would move to newer-generation hardware instead.

Best For

• PC gamers who want Steam, Xbox, Epic, Battle.net, mods, Game Pass, and other Windows gaming platforms on one handheld.
• Travelers who value battery life as much as raw performance.
• Players who want stronger AAA performance than older low-power handhelds can provide.
• Buyers who want a standard M.2 2280 SSD upgrade path.
• Users who intend to dock the handheld to a monitor, TV, keyboard, mouse, or controller.
• Deal hunters who can find the Ally X substantially below its original premium pricing.

Skip It If

• You’re paying close to $900 for the 2024 model.
• You want an OLED display above everything else.
• You already own an original Z1 Extreme ROG Ally, Legion Go, or another similarly powerful handheld and are looking for a dramatic generational performance jump.
• You want the simplest possible console-like experience with minimal Windows interaction.
• A newer ROG Xbox Ally X or competing next-generation handheld is available for only a modest amount more.

ASUS ROG Ally X Specs

ASUS continues to list both 1TB and 2TB configurations of the RC72LA, with the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 24GB of memory, 80Wh battery, and 7-inch 1080p 120Hz FreeSync display.

Performance: The Z1 Extreme Still Has Some Fight Left

The Ally X did not introduce a new processor over the original Z1 Extreme ROG Ally. Instead, ASUS improved the system around that processor.

That turned out to matter.

The Ally X carries 24GB of LPDDR5X-7500 memory, giving the integrated Radeon GPU more room to share memory with Windows and games. That is particularly useful in modern titles where 16GB of shared system memory can become restrictive.

Third-party benchmark testing found the Ally X consistently ahead of the original Ally and competitive with or ahead of several contemporary handhelds. Tom’s Hardware also recorded around 34 FPS in Alan Wake II at very low resolution/settings in plugged-in 30W mode, while lighter titles such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 could approach 90 FPS while unplugged. A Metro Exodus stress test at 720p low averaged approximately 108 FPS while connected to power.

Those numbers illustrate the Ally X’s personality well.

This is not a miniature RTX gaming laptop. Demanding new AAA games often require a combination of reduced resolution, medium or low settings, FSR, Radeon Super Resolution, frame generation, or a 30–60 FPS target.

But properly configured, the Ally X can still deliver a genuinely impressive portable gaming experience.

Our Recommended Approach

For demanding games, don’t become obsessed with running everything at native 1080p.

A better handheld strategy is typically:

720p or 900p render resolution + sensible quality settings + FSR/RSR + VRR.

The 120Hz FreeSync display helps smooth out inconsistent frame delivery, making 40–60 FPS gameplay feel much better than the raw frame counter might suggest.

Battery Life: Still One of the Ally X’s Biggest Strengths

The move to an 80Wh battery was arguably the most important improvement ASUS made over the original ROG Ally.

It doubled the original Ally’s 40Wh capacity.

Actual runtime varies enormously depending on game, brightness, frame-rate limits, resolution, wireless use, and selected power mode, but roughly three to four hours of gaming is realistic in many moderate scenarios.

Tom’s Hardware saw the Ally X retain 73% battery after an hour of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 and recorded 8 hours 19 minutes in its lighter mixed-use battery benchmark. More demanding gaming naturally drains the battery much faster.

For travelers, flights, waiting rooms, hotel gaming, or just escaping the power cable on the couch, that 80Wh battery remains a serious advantage even in 2026.

Display: Fast and Smooth, But OLED Has Moved the Goalposts

The 7-inch display remains:

• 1920 × 1080
• 120Hz
• IPS-level
• 500 nits
• Touch enabled
• AMD FreeSync Premium
• Gorilla Glass Victus

The panel still looks good.

More importantly, variable refresh rate is excellent on handheld hardware, where frame rates naturally fluctuate depending on power limits and game complexity.

The weakness is simply that this is not an OLED panel.

OLED handheld displays have raised expectations for black levels, contrast, HDR, color intensity, and perceived image quality. The Ally X compensates with higher resolution and excellent VRR support, but OLED is an area where newer competitors can look noticeably more impressive.

Controls and Ergonomics

ASUS redesigned the Ally X chassis rather than simply stuffing a bigger battery inside the original shell.

The grips are deeper and more comfortable, the buttons were refined, the rear macro buttons were reduced in size, and the overall control layout feels more mature than the first Ally.

One specification worth clarifying: the Ally X has Hall Effect analog triggers, but ASUS lists the thumbsticks themselves as full-size analog sticks rather than Hall Effect sticks.

At 678 grams, it is heavier than ultra-light handhelds but still reasonable considering the 80Wh battery.

Long sessions will depend heavily on hand size and posture, but the Ally X remains one of the more comfortable early-generation Windows handheld designs.

Windows 11 Is Better on a Handheld Than It Used to Be

Windows was originally both the Ally X’s biggest advantage and one of its biggest annoyances.

The advantage is compatibility.

You can install traditional Windows game launchers, Game Pass titles, Steam games, Epic Games Store titles, utilities, mods, Discord, emulators, productivity applications, and games using anti-cheat systems that can cause trouble on Linux-based handhelds.

The downside was navigating desktop Windows on a 7-inch screen with thumbsticks and touch controls.

That situation has improved substantially.

Microsoft’s Xbox Full Screen Experience has expanded beyond the newer ROG Xbox Ally hardware to other Windows 11 handhelds, and ASUS confirmed its availability for the original ROG Ally and Ally X. It provides a controller-first gaming interface, reduces unnecessary background activity, and makes launching games considerably more console-like.

You still have Windows underneath when you need it.

That gives the Ally X a much better balance in 2026: a more console-like front end without sacrificing the flexibility of a full PC.

Armoury Crate SE

ASUS Armoury Crate SE remains an important part of the Ally experience.

It provides quick access to:

• Performance modes
• Fan and power behavior
• Game library management
• Controller settings
• RGB controls
• Frame-rate limits
• Resolution options
• System updates
• Command Center shortcuts

Armoury Crate SE was never perfect, but combined with Microsoft’s newer full-screen gaming interface, the overall software experience is considerably more mature than it was when the original Ally family launched.

Storage and Upgradeability

This is another area where the Ally X got things very right.

ASUS switched to a standard M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, instead of the smaller 2230 format found in many handhelds.

That means buyers have access to a much wider selection of mainstream SSDs.

A 1TB model can realistically be upgraded to 2TB, 4TB, or potentially larger compatible drives without relying on specialty handheld SSDs.

There is also a UHS-II microSD reader for additional storage.

For anyone with a large Steam library—and we all know how quickly a “small backlog” becomes 147 games somehow—the standard 2280 slot is a major ownership advantage.

Ports and Docked Gaming

The Ally X includes two USB-C connections:

1× USB4 Type-C
1× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C

USB4 supports DisplayPort, Power Delivery, and high-speed peripherals.

That makes the Ally X surprisingly capable as a docked PC.

Add a USB-C dock and you can connect:

• External monitors
• TVs
• Ethernet
• Keyboard and mouse
• Controllers
• External storage
• Headsets
• USB accessories

The USB4 connection also gives enthusiasts more flexibility with external graphics solutions than a typical closed gaming handheld.

Just keep expectations realistic: the internal Z1 Extreme is optimized for portable gaming. Driving a large 1440p or 4K display does not magically turn the Ally X into a high-end desktop GPU.

Cooling and Noise

ASUS uses a dual-fan cooling design with heatpipes intended to work regardless of device orientation.

Independent stress testing found the Ally X remained reasonably cool in the areas actually touched during gameplay. In Tom’s Hardware testing, the internal processor remained controlled during a repeated Metro Exodus workload and the grips avoided uncomfortable surface temperatures.

Fan noise increases with higher power modes, particularly 25W–30W operation, but that is expected from a device trying to dissipate gaming-laptop-class heat from a handheld chassis.

Lower-power profiles can substantially improve the balance between thermals, noise, and battery life.

Game Compatibility

Because this is a Windows PC, compatibility is one of the ROG Ally X’s strongest arguments.

It can run software from multiple PC ecosystems rather than tying the user to a single storefront.

That makes it especially attractive for players with libraries spread across:

• Steam
• Xbox / PC Game Pass
• Epic Games Store
• Battle.net
• EA
• Ubisoft Connect
• GOG
• Other Windows launchers

Individual games can still have controller, launcher, driver, anti-cheat, or performance issues, so no Windows handheld should be described as literally compatible with every PC game.

But compared with more restricted platforms, the Ally X gives users enormous freedom.

Warranty and Support: Verify Before Buying

This is one area where we found conflicting retailer information.

Some Best Buy specification pages have displayed a two-year parts-and-labor warranty, while ASUS representatives answering questions for the U.S. RC72LA-ALLYX.Z1X specifically stated that the model carries a one-year local manufacturer’s warranty.

Because warranty coverage can vary by model, seller, region, protection plan, and promotion, buyers should verify the actual written warranty attached to the exact serial-number/SKU combination before purchasing.

This is also one reason our affiliate CTA remains gated.

ROG Ally X vs Newer ROG Xbox Ally X

This is the comparison that matters most in 2026.

The newer ROG Xbox Ally X RC73XA uses AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor while retaining 24GB of LPDDR5X memory, a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD, an 80Wh battery, 120Hz FreeSync display, and Windows 11. ASUS currently lists that model at $999.99.

That creates a simple buying rule.

If the 2024 Ally X costs nearly as much as the newer generation, buy newer hardware.

If the older Ally X is discounted by several hundred dollars, the equation becomes much more interesting.

ROG Ally X vs Steam Deck OLED

The Steam Deck OLED remains the easier handheld for players who want a console-style experience and primarily use Steam.

Valve’s current 2026 pricing starts at $789 for the 512GB OLED, after a May 2026 price increase. The Steam Deck OLED uses a 7.4-inch 90Hz HDR OLED display and a 50Wh battery.

The Ally X counters with:

• Windows compatibility
• 1080p resolution
• 120Hz VRR
• 24GB RAM
• Stronger high-power performance
• 80Wh battery
• Standard M.2 2280 storage
• Broader launcher and anti-cheat compatibility

The Steam Deck counters with its OLED display, highly polished SteamOS experience, excellent suspend/resume behavior, and controller-first design.

This is less about which device is universally “better” and more about whether you want Windows flexibility or SteamOS simplicity.

ROG Ally X vs Lenovo Legion Go S

The Lenovo Legion Go S is another interesting 2026 alternative because Lenovo offers configurations using the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme platform with up to 32GB LPDDR5X, a larger 8-inch 1920 × 1200 120Hz VRR display, and either Windows or SteamOS.

The Ally X retains an advantage in battery capacity with its 80Wh pack versus the Legion Go S’s 55.5Wh battery.

The Legion offers a larger display and the option of a factory-supported SteamOS experience.

Again, price should break the tie.

Pros

• Excellent 80Wh battery
• Ryzen Z1 Extreme remains capable
• 24GB LPDDR5X memory
• 1080p 120Hz FreeSync display
• Standard M.2 2280 SSD
• Two USB-C ports including USB4
• Strong Windows game compatibility
• Improved ergonomics over the original Ally
• Good cooling
• Xbox Full Screen Experience improves handheld usability
• Useful docked-PC capability

Cons

• 2024 processor architecture is now a generation behind
• IPS display instead of OLED
• Windows still occasionally reminds you that you’re holding a very tiny PC
• No Hall Effect thumbsticks from the factory
• 678g weight may fatigue some users
• Current $899.99 retailer listing is difficult to justify
• Warranty information should be verified carefully
• No major reason to upgrade from another strong Z1 Extreme handheld unless battery life is the priority

Final Verdict

The ASUS ROG Ally X has aged better than many gaming devices do.

Its 80Wh battery, 24GB of fast memory, Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 120Hz VRR display, USB4 connectivity, and standard M.2 2280 storage still form an exceptionally capable handheld package.

And software improvements have actually made it better than it was at launch.

The problem is no longer the machine.

The problem is the price.

At around $900, the original ROG Ally X is too close to newer Ryzen Z2-class hardware to make sense.

At roughly $700–$750 or below, however, the story changes dramatically. At that price the Ally X becomes a powerful, mature Windows handheld with great battery life, excellent expandability, and enough performance to remain relevant for several more years.

Our Buying Recommendation

Under $700: Excellent value
$700–$750: Recommended
$750–$800: Compare alternatives carefully
$800–$850: Difficult to justify
Near $900: Skip it and move to newer hardware

The ROG Ally X isn’t obsolete.

It has simply graduated from premium flagship to high-end bargain hunter’s weapon.

And at the right price, that’s not a bad place to be.

Related Reading

• High-End Reviews
• Gaming PC vs Gaming Laptop
• Best Gaming Laptops 2026
• Gaming PCs

Affiliate and Update Status

Affiliate CTA: GATED

The currently verified Best Buy 1TB listing identifies model RC72LA-ALLYX.Z1X and seller Best Buy, but the unit was listed as unavailable at the time of verification. The displayed $899.99 price also places it too close to newer-generation hardware for us to recommend that listing as a current-value purchase.

Do not activate an affiliate purchase button until:

1. Exact RC72LA SKU is confirmed.
2. Product is actually in stock.
3. Seller is authorized and clearly identified.
4. Final checkout price is verified.
5. Manufacturer warranty is confirmed for that SKU.
6. Return policy is verified.
7. The price is compared against the current ROG Xbox Ally X and other major handheld alternatives.

Recommended affiliate trigger: Re-evaluate aggressively if a new or manufacturer-supported unit reaches approximately $750 or less.

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