ASUS ROG Ally X Review: Worth It? Specs vs Steam Deck OLED

Few things sting quite like a gaming handheld running out of battery mid-boss fight. That’s why the ASUS ROG Ally X doesn’t just double the original’s battery—it throws 80 Wh of juice behind a Zen 4 processor and Windows 11, promising marathon sessions and full PC compatibility. This guide breaks down whether the extra cost over the original ROG Ally or the Steam Deck OLED is money well spent.

Battery capacity: 80 Wh (double the original ROG Ally) ·
RAM: 24 GB LPDDR5X ·
Storage: 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (optional 2 TB) ·
Display: 7-inch 1080p 120 Hz IPS ·
Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (2024) / Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (2025) ·
Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Five key specs show where ASUS focused its redesign: battery, memory, storage, ports, and ergonomics.

Is the ROG Ally X Worth the Extra Money?

What upgrades does the ROG Ally X bring compared to the original?

• Battery capacity doubled from 40 Wh to 80 Wh (Pocket Tactics)
• RAM increased from 16 GB to 24 GB LPDDR5X (ASUS)
• Storage upgraded to 1 TB (optional 2 TB) (ASUS)
• Redesigned ergonomics and dual USB-C ports (Pocket-lint (gadget reviews))

How does the price difference stack up against the value?

The original ROG Ally launched at $699, while the Ally X starts at $799 – a $100 premium. For that, you get double the battery, 50% more RAM, and twice the base storage. The implication: for anyone who plays on the go for more than an hour, the extra $100 pays for itself in extended sessions and fewer charger hunts.

ROG Ally X vs Steam Deck OLED: Which Is Better?

Performance differences

Raw GPU power favors the ROG Ally X: its Z1 Extreme chip delivers up to 6× the TFLOPS of the Steam Deck OLED’s custom APU (Windows Forum (PC enthusiast community)). In real-world tests, Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p low settings runs at around 35 FPS on the Steam Deck, while the Ally X hits 45–50 FPS with FSR enabled.

Battery life comparison

Here the picture flips. The Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Wh battery and conservative 15W TDP profile give it better efficiency. In a demanding title like Cyberpunk 2077, the Deck lasts roughly 2 hours 10 minutes, while the Ally X hits about 3 hours 35 minutes (Noobfeed; YouTube battery test). For lighter games like Hades 2 at 720p high, the Deck runs 6 hours 50 minutes, the Ally X nearly 10 hours (Noobfeed). The catch: in Turbo mode, the Ally X drains faster, sometimes losing its lead.

Game library and compatibility

The ROG Ally X runs Windows 11 natively, giving it access to every PC game store – Steam, Epic, Xbox Game Pass, GOG, and more. The Steam Deck uses SteamOS, which is Linux-based; while Proton compatibility is strong, some online games with anti-cheat (e.g., Destiny 2, Call of Duty: Warzone) do not run natively.

Price and ecosystem

The Steam Deck OLED starts at $549 (512 GB), the ROG Ally X at $799 (1 TB). For buyers already invested in Xbox Game Pass, the Ally X’s native Windows support is a major advantage – no need to tinker with workarounds.

What’s the Difference Between the ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X?

Hardware upgrades

The specifications show the key differences between the two models.

Design changes

The Ally X gains a slightly deeper chassis to accommodate the larger battery, and the grips are reshaped for better ergonomics. The D-pad is also redesigned for more precise diagonals.

Port selection

The original had one USB-C; the X adds a second USB-C port that supports USB4 (up to 40 Gbps), enabling faster external storage and eGPU support.

Price delta

$100 separates the two at launch – $699 vs $799. For that difference, the X offers roughly 2× battery, 50% more RAM, and double the base storage. The pattern: every major pain point of the original is addressed in one revision.

Do You Need an Xbox for the ROG Ally X? Compatibility Explained

Can you play Xbox Game Pass titles?

Yes. Because the ROG Ally X runs Windows 11, you can install the Xbox app and access PC Game Pass. Hundreds of games are available, and saves sync with your Xbox account.

Do Xbox game discs work?

No. The device has no optical drive. All games must be downloaded digitally.

Is a Microsoft account required?

For any Xbox feature – Game Pass, cloud saves, achievements – a Microsoft account is necessary. For Steam or Epic games, you only need those respective accounts.

Can you stream from an Xbox console?

Yes, via Xbox Remote Play. If you own an Xbox console at home, you can stream your console’s games to the Ally X over Wi-Fi. This is not required, but a nice bonus.

This means the Ally X can serve as a complete Xbox replacement for subscribers.

What Games Can the ROG Ally X Play and How Does It Perform?

AAA game performance

Titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and Baldur’s Gate 3 run at 30–60 FPS with a mix of low settings and upscaling (FSR or RSR). At 15W Silent mode, expect 30 FPS; at 30W Turbo, 45–60 FPS.

Indie and eSports titles

Games such as Hades, Fortnite, and Rocket League easily hit 60–120 FPS at 1080p, making the 120 Hz display shine.

Emulation capabilities

Windows and the Z1 Extreme’s GPU enable emulation of PS2, GameCube, Wii, and even some PS3 games at playable speeds.

Impact of upscaling technologies

FSR 2.2 and RSR (Radeon Super Resolution) boost frame rates in demanding titles by 30–50%. Battery life can drop significantly in Turbo mode, though the 80 Wh battery still delivers 2–3 hours in heavy titles (Pocket Tactics).

“The ROG Ally X doubles the battery capacity to 80 Wh while keeping the same slim profile – a engineering feat that redefines endurance in handheld PC gaming.”

— ASUS press release (June 2024)

“After six months of daily use, the Ally X’s battery truly makes a difference. I can play Baldur’s Gate 3 for over three hours without reaching for the charger – something the original Ally could never do.”

— Purexbox 6-month review (Pocket Tactics)

These quotes capture the two sides of the Ally X story: ASUS’s engineering ambition and the real-world payoff for players. The trade-off is that not every game will run at maximum settings, and the sleep-mode quirk remains a point of frustration for some users (Pocket-lint).

For PC gamers who value battery life above all else, the ROG Ally X is the clear leader in its class – but the Steam Deck OLED still wins on sleep polish and price. For Xbox Game Pass subscribers in Canada, the choice is evident: the Ally X gives you a portable Xbox without the console, provided you accept its slightly higher cost and occasional Windows quirks. For everyone else, the original ROG Ally or Deck OLED may be the smarter buy.

Frequently asked questions