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The May 24, 2024 report about the ROG Ally X was substantially accurate. ASUS officially announced the handheld on June 2, 2024, confirming an 80Wh battery, 24GB of memory, 1TB of storage at launch, a redesigned chassis and improved cooling. The important correction is that “twice the battery” means twice the battery capacity—not guaranteed twice the gaming runtime.
What the leak got right
The original report, published by Ars Technica on May 24, 2024, described an 80Wh battery, 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, a revised chassis, better cooling and additional connectivity including USB4. Those details were leaks at the time. ASUS later confirmed the central specifications when it announced the ROG Ally X on June 2, 2024.
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The Ally X launched in the United States at $799.99, $100 above the original Ally’s $699.99 launch price. ASUS currently lists the 2024 Ally X on its US product pages, although availability and retailer pricing can change.
ROG Ally versus ROG Ally X
| Feature | ROG Ally (2023) | ROG Ally X (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Ryzen Z1 or Z1 Extreme, depending on model | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 | 24GB LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe, M.2 2230 | 1TB M.2 2280 at launch; ASUS also lists a 2TB configuration |
| Battery | 40Wh | 80Wh |
| Display | 7-inch, 1920×1080, 120Hz IPS-level touchscreen | 7-inch, 1920×1080, 120Hz IPS-level touchscreen |
| Weight | Varies by specification reference | 678g / 1.49lb |
| US launch price | $699.99 | $799.99 |
| Chassis | White original design | Redesigned black chassis |
| USB-C connectivity | USB 3.2 Gen 2 and proprietary XG Mobile interface | USB4-capable USB-C port plus USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C |
For upgrade comparisons, the relevant original model is the Ryzen Z1 Extreme version. ASUS also sold a less powerful Ryzen Z1 model, so performance comparisons should not treat every 2023 Ally configuration as identical.
#1 Best Overall
- 🚀 AMD RYZEN AI Z2 EXTREME PERFORMANCE: Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme 8-core, 16-thread processor (up to 5.0GHz max turbo) with AMD Radeon Graphics and 24MB smart cache, delivering ultra-smooth performance for AAA gaming, AI workloads, and multitasking.(Japan Version. It can be used in the United States with the included plug adapter, and the system language can be switched to English for normal use.)
- 💾 24GB LPDDR5X RAM & 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD: Equipped with 24GB high-speed LPDDR5X onboard memory and a 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD for lightning-fast boot times, quick game loading, and seamless multitasking across demanding applications.
- 🖥️ 7” FHD 120HZ TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY: Experience crisp visuals on a 7-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS-level touchscreen with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, responsive touch control, and vivid color reproduction for immersive gameplay.
- ❄️ ERGONOMIC DESIGN & INTELLIGENT COOLING: Designed for comfort during extended gaming sessions, featuring ergonomic grips and ROG’s advanced intelligent cooling system to maintain consistent performance under heavy workloads.
- 🎮 WINDOWS 11 WITH XBOX & PC GAME ECOSYSTEM: Runs on Windows 11, providing full compatibility with Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games Store, and other PC platforms—offering a true hybrid experience that blends console-style gaming with PC flexibility.
Is the battery really twice as large?
Yes. The original Ally has a 40Wh battery, while the Ally X has an 80Wh battery. That is exactly double the rated capacity.
It does not guarantee twice the time in every game. Runtime changes with the game’s workload, processor wattage, screen brightness, refresh rate, frame rate, background applications, power mode and battery health. A demanding AAA game running in Turbo mode can drain either handheld quickly, while video playback uses considerably less power.
ASUS claims more than 2.7 hours of heavy AAA gaming and up to 14.5 hours of Netflix playback under its stated test conditions. These are manufacturer estimates, not universal real-world guarantees. The larger battery is most meaningful for people who regularly play away from a wall outlet; it also makes the Ally X heavier.
Battery capacity, runtime and charging speed are separate measurements. Charging depends on the adapter, cable, USB Power Delivery support and whether the system is being used while charging. The standard configuration lists a 65W USB-C adapter; ASUS also identifies a compatible 140W GaN charger as an optional accessory.
How much more RAM does the Ally X have?
The original Ally has 16GB of LPDDR5-6400 memory. The Ally X has 24GB of LPDDR5X-7500 memory, arranged as two onboard 12GB modules.
Rank #2
- 🖥️ High-Performance 7" Gaming & Productivity Display | 1920x1080 Glare TFT LCD with 120Hz refresh rate delivers ultra-smooth visuals for gaming & streaming; 10-point capacitive multi-touch panel + precision pointing device ensures intuitive control. Powered by Windows 11 Home 64-bit, this black handheld balances portability (11.4"x4.8"x1.1", 1.6 lbs) and immersive play.
- ⚡ Top-Tier AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor | 8-core/16-thread chip paired with integrated AMD Radeon Graphics, 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 onboard memory & 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD for lightning-fast load times, seamless multitasking & crisp gaming graphics. Max power consumption of 65W optimizes performance without excessive energy drain.
- 🔋 Long-Lasting Battery & Flexible Power Options | 4-cell 80Wh lithium polymer battery offers up to 13.9hrs of video playback or 22.3hrs of idle use—ideal for all-day gaming marathons or remote work.
- 🎮 Professional Gaming Controls & Smart Features | Full layout with left/right sticks, D-pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, bumpers/triggers, 2 macro buttons & dedicated Xbox/display/library keys for customized gameplay. Built-in accelerometer/gyroscope for motion control; Windows Hello fingerprint recognition ensures secure, one-touch login.
- 🔌 Versatile Connectivity & Complete Accessories Kit | Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.4 for lag-free online gaming & device pairing; 2 Type-C ports (USB 4 + USB 3.2 Gen2) support data transfer, video output & PD charging.
That is an increase of 8GB, or 50% more capacity—not a doubling. The faster memory may also improve bandwidth, but it does not produce a universal 50% gaming-performance increase.
The extra capacity matters because the integrated Radeon graphics processor and Windows share the same memory pool. More headroom can reduce pressure when a game uses higher texture settings, when the system has several applications open or when the GPU needs a larger allocation. A game limited primarily by GPU compute, however, may see little benefit. The memory is onboard and is not a user-replaceable DIMM upgrade.
What else changed?
Storage
The original Ally uses a 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2230 SSD. The Ally X launched with 1TB storage and uses the longer, more common M.2 2280 format. ASUS’s current US specifications also list a 2TB configuration.
The 2280 format can make replacement or expansion easier because compatible drives are more widely available. It still requires opening the handheld, checking drive thickness and thermals, and reinstalling or cloning Windows. Regional configurations may differ, so confirm the exact model before buying a replacement SSD.
Cooling
ASUS says the redesigned cooling system uses fans that are 23% smaller with 50% thinner blades, two airflow tunnels and a third exhaust vent. The company claims 24% more air volume and a display that can be up to 6°C cooler during use. These are ASUS engineering claims rather than independent test results.
Rank #3
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 4TB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
Better cooling can help the system sustain its selected power level more consistently, but it does not turn the Ally X into a new processor generation.
Ports and connectivity
The Ally X adds a USB-C port supporting USB4 alongside a separate USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. ASUS lists DisplayPort, power delivery and Thunderbolt 4 compliance for the USB4-capable port.
This is useful for docks, external monitors, high-speed external SSDs and peripherals connected while charging. Compatibility still depends on the accessory, cable, dock, drivers and power-delivery profile. USB4 does not make every accessory behave identically.
Controls and chassis
The redesigned chassis adds revised grips and controls, Hall-effect triggers, two assignable rear buttons and a fingerprint reader. At 678g, the Ally X is about 70g heavier than the original Ally. It is therefore a more substantial handheld, not a lighter replacement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did not change?
The Ally X retains the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, an eight-core, 16-thread Zen 4 processor with up to 5.1GHz boost, paired with RDNA 3 integrated graphics and 12 compute units. ASUS lists the same broad 9–30W processor power range on its specifications page.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #4
![HIDevolution [2024] ASUS ROG Ally X RC72LA 7' FHD 120Hz, 3.3 GHz Ryzen Z1 Extreme, AMD Radeon, 24 GB LPDDR5 RAM, 1 TB PCIe SSD, Windows 11 Home](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Hdv7hcvYL._SL160_.jpg)
- AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme 8 Core - 16 Thread Processor, 3.3 GHz (Max Turbo Frequency 5.1 GHz), 24 MB Smart Cache with AMD Radeon Graphics
- 7" FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 7ms, IPS-Level, Touch Screen
- PCIe based storage--1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD--ensures that you experience the fastest boot up & load times
- 24 GB (2 x 12 GB) LPDDR5X on board system memory (Speeds subject to system capability)--run memory hungry applications and multitask with ease
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home. HIDevolution Promise: Authorized ASUS Build to Order Dealer, thorough quality testing, a 1 Year Warranty, and access to our expert support staff. Contact us for more customization options.
That makes the Ally X a mid-cycle redesign rather than a second-generation silicon leap. Extra memory, higher memory bandwidth and improved cooling can help in particular workloads, but buyers should not expect a new CPU or GPU architecture.
The display is also broadly unchanged: a 7-inch 1920×1080 120Hz IPS-level touchscreen with 500-nit brightness and FreeSync Premium support. The Ally X is not an OLED refresh and does not change the screen’s size or aspect ratio.
Is the Ally X faster?
Sometimes, but “faster” needs context. The unchanged Z1 Extreme remains the main performance constraint. The Ally X may perform better when the original system runs into memory pressure, when faster memory helps a workload, or when the redesigned cooling system sustains performance more effectively.
Any benchmark comparison should identify the processor model, AC or battery power, Silent/Performance/Turbo mode, resolution, graphics preset, upscaling or frame-generation settings, BIOS, drivers and Windows version. ASUS notes that performance can change with BIOS, drivers, operating modes and later software updates.
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Who should buy the ROG Ally X?
- Portable players: The 80Wh battery is the clearest reason to choose it.
- Large-game users: The higher-capacity SSD and 24GB of memory provide more room for modern PC games.
- Multitaskers: Shared graphics memory leaves more headroom for Windows and background applications.
- Original Ally owners with complaints: The revised controls, cooling, storage format, USB4 connectivity and larger battery address several weaknesses of the first model.
- New Windows-handheld buyers: It offers the Ally X feature set without requiring an immediate storage or battery workaround.
Who should skip it?
- Original Ally owners who are satisfied with 40Wh battery life and the existing ergonomics.
- Players who spend most of their time plugged in.
- Buyers expecting a major CPU or GPU-generation performance increase.
- People who prioritize the lightest handheld.
- Anyone specifically seeking an OLED screen.
- Buyers who can find the original Ryzen Z1 Extreme Ally substantially cheaper and do not need the larger battery or newer chassis.
Bottom line
The leak was legitimate and its headline specifications were largely correct, but the precise interpretation matters. The ROG Ally X doubled battery capacity from 40Wh to 80Wh and increased memory from 16GB to 24GB—50% more, not twice as much. It also adds faster memory, more storage, a more convenient SSD format, USB4, revised controls and a redesigned cooling system.
Its unchanged Ryzen Z1 Extreme and familiar 1080p 120Hz display make it a refinement rather than a new-generation performance machine. For portable play, the battery and broader redesign are meaningful. For plugged-in owners seeking substantially faster graphics, the $799.99 launch price is harder to justify.
For current US pricing and configuration details, check the official ROG Ally X product page; ASUS and retailers may change prices or availability.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
