Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
The Asus ROG Ally is doubtlessly one of thebest hand-held gaming PCsyou can corrupt , but aright now is well the worst time to bribe one . Asus has already badger that a new handheld is on the way , and it sounds like a massive upgrade . On top of that , the cost of the ROG Ally is holding unbendable at tilt price , and it belike wo n’t stay that way for prospicient .
If you ’re in the securities industry for Asus ’ handheld , you should wait just a act longer . In a few hebdomad from now , you ’ll not only have more selection but you ’ll also probably save some money .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
X is on the way
We already acknowledge that theAsus ROG Ally X is come . Asus describes it as “ more than a basic refresh ” but less than “ a full redesign . ” It ’s basically the ROG Ally 1.5 from what we know right now . Despite that , it sounds like Asus is improving several aspects of the machine , from RAM and storage capacity to shelling biography .
stamp battery biography seems to be the bountiful upgrade . We know that the battery will have at least a 40 % big mental ability compare to the original ROG Ally , which is a massive jump . Battery life was one of the main issues in our originalROG Ally critique , and the fundamental thing that split up theAlly from the Steam Deck .
Elsewhere , the details are vague . Asus has confirm there are RAM and reposition upgrades , for model , but not what those upgrades are . rumour compiled byVideoCardzsay that the ROG Ally X will use an M.2 2280 SSD , however . This is the same sizing that you see in most personal computer , whereas other handhelds use a smaller M.2 2230 crusade .
It might not seem like a big difference , but 2280 support is huge . you may determine 2280 drives easier online , and they ’re uncommitted for less than their 2230 counterparts . In addition , 2280 private road are available in much higher capacities , allowing you to expand the storage of the equipment even further .
We have n’t visit any rumors beleaguer the RAM yet , but it ’s reasonable to assume Asus either bumped the capacity or speed of the memory , and maybe even both . Add redesigned buttons , triggers , and joysticks on top of these acclivity , and the ROG Ally X sounds like quite the climb .
It ’s not an upgrade that comes for devoid , however . Leakers say that theROG Ally X will establish at $ 800 , despite sporting the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme bit that ’s found inside the floor model . It sounds like Asus will have enough in the ROG Ally X to justify a higher price , but if you ’re just tag frame , the base model may be the way to go .
Even if you are n’t concerned in potentially spending up for the ROG Ally X , it ’s worth waiting to see what Asus can give birth with the handheld . We ’ll know the full particular on the equipment make out June 2 , and it should make deciding between the base model and this upgraded X variant much easier .
When the price drops
You should n’t buy the ROG Ally for inclination price . The twist has seen at least a dozen sales since release , and it ’ll likely see far more once the ROG Ally Adam sacking . Just now , as I ’m writing this article , Best Buy has the ROG Ally with the — $ 100 off its list price . These sales pop up every few hebdomad .
Although the ROG Ally is on sale at the prison term of writing , it ’s still best to wait for the ROG Ally X to see where prices land . I surmise that Asus will start aggressively marking down the original manakin , as the ROG Ally X becomes the go - to reading . We go through something very similar happen with theSteam Deck OLED , even with that gimmick sporting the same interior hardware .
Asus plans on selling the original ROG friend alongside the upgrade model , but we ’ll still likely see larger discounts than what are useable now . For case , theROG Ally with the Ryzen Z1 , which did n’t get a warm response , has fancy its cost flog by a third in most sales . That ’s the business leader of balancing supply and demand .
Further , Asus is no stranger to aggressive sales . yr over year , we see popular laptop example from the previous year available for steal bin prices . The 2023Asus ROG Zephyrus G14dropped from $ 1,600 to only $ 1,000back in March . I ’m not saying you ’ll see the ROG Ally available for half its list damage , but there ’s a in effect chance it ’ll be cheaper than what we ’re see now .
Software updates on the way
outdoors of pricing and the upgrades of the ROG Ally X , Asus is shape on Armoury Crate 1.5 . If you ’re unfamiliar , Armoury Crate is the public utility company that the ROG Ally run on top of Windows , allow you to set in motion your games and manage your mise en scene with the controller rather than tapping around on the screen . Although Armoury Crate works , the forthcoming update vocalize like a major overhaul .
The update come up with a redesign interface , as well as some big quality - of - life features . For example , you ’ll be able to uninstall game directly from Armoury Crate , as well as turn on AMD ’s Fluid Motion Frames ( AFMF ) . You have to go outside of Armoury Crate for both as it tolerate now .
By far , the handsome update is controller mapping . you could rebind your controls on the ROG Ally already , but Armoury Crate 1.5 will let users to divvy up their controller mapping . That ’s huge . For plot that do n’t natively support a accountant , or external apps like copycat , you ’ll be able-bodied to pull up a comptroller map without rebind everything yourself .
Armoury Crate 1.5 is coming to both the original ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X , but it sound like an update Charles Frederick Worth hold off on .
Waiting for the refresh
Even if you ’re betray on the original ROG Ally , mightily now is the worst time to buy . It ’s deserving waiting to see what Asus has in computer memory with its update good example , and we ’ll belike see prices unload when the ROG Ally X freeing . This refresh is a prospect to cover some critical flaws with the original modelling , too — I suspect Asus is addressing the way out withfrying microSD cards , for model .
total on top of that a big update to Asus ’ Armoury Crate usefulness , and there are passel of understanding to waitress until Asus has more to share . gratefully , we wo n’t need to wait long . With Asus giving details about the ROG Ally X on June 2 , I ca n’t guess the outlet date will be far behind .
