The original ASUS ROG Ally is no longer for sale. Best Buy has stopped restocking it, and the only way to buy one new is to grab an open-box unit for $450 to $470. Meanwhile, the ROG Ally X it was replaced by in 2024 is still on shelves at $799, even as ASUS has moved on again to a whole new Xbox-branded lineup. That leaves anyone shopping for a Windows gaming handheld in 2026 with a genuinely confusing question: is the cheaper, discontinued original still worth buying, or does the doubled battery and bigger SSD in the Ally X justify paying nearly double?
It doesn’t help that ASUS now sells four devices with “Ally” in the name at once — the original Ally, the Ally X, the ROG Xbox Ally, and the ROG Xbox Ally X — each aimed at a slightly different budget. This guide focuses specifically on the ROG Ally vs ROG Ally X decision, since that’s the comparison most people searching for a deal are actually trying to make, and folds in the newer Xbox-branded pair only where it changes the calculus.
This comparison lays out every verified spec, benchmark, and price difference between the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, and shows exactly where each one still makes sense in 2026 now that ASUS’s own ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X have arrived to complicate the lineup even further.
What Changed Between the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X
ASUS announced the ROG Ally X at Computex in June 2024, about a year after the original ROG Ally launched on June 13, 2023. According to ASUS’s own comparison breakdown, the Ally X was pitched as a direct response to owner complaints about the original: short battery life, a cramped SSD slot, a single external port, and joysticks that wore out fast.
The headline number is battery capacity, which doubled from 40Wh to 80Wh. RAM went from 16GB of LPDDR5-6400 to 24GB of faster LPDDR5X-7500, and the storage slot switched from a cramped M.2 2230 form factor to a standard M.2 2280 slot with 1TB pre-installed. ASUS also swapped the single USB-C port and proprietary ROG XG Mobile external-GPU connector for two USB-C ports, one of which supports full USB4 speeds. Cooling changed too: the original’s single 47-blade fan was replaced by dual 77-blade fans that, despite spinning faster, run about 6dB quieter, according to Tech-Critter’s hands-on comparison. ASUS also enlarged the internal speaker chambers on the Ally X, a small but noticeable change for anyone who plays without headphones.
What didn’t change is the part most buyers assume gets upgraded: the processor. Both the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X run the exact same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. The Ally X is not a performance refresh in the traditional sense — it’s a battery, storage, and ergonomics refresh wrapped around identical silicon. That single fact drives almost every buying decision in this comparison, so keep it in mind as you read the benchmarks below.
ROG Ally vs ROG Ally X: Full Specs Comparison
Here is the complete spec sheet for both handhelds, sourced from ASUS’s official comparison pages and cross-checked against Digital Trends’ side-by-side review.
| Spec | ROG Ally (2023) | ROG Ally X (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | June 13, 2023 | Announced Computex, June 2024 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8c/16t, up to 5.1GHz) | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme — identical chip |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RDNA 3, 12 CU, up to 2.7GHz, ~8.6 TFLOPS | Same RDNA 3, 12 CU — higher sustained clocks from better cooling |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 (soldered) | 24GB LPDDR5X-7500 (soldered) |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
| Storage form factor | M.2 2230 (cramped, few upgrade options) | M.2 2280 (standard laptop size, easy upgrades) |
| Battery | 40Wh | 80Wh |
| Weight | 608g (1.34 lb) | ~675g (1.49 lb) |
| Display | 7-inch 1920×1080 IPS, 120Hz, 500 nits | Same panel, no change |
| Ports | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (doubles as ROG XG Mobile eGPU port), 3.5mm audio, microSD | 2x USB-C (1x USB4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2), 3.5mm audio, microSD — no XG Mobile |
| Cooling | Single fan, 47 blades | Dual fans, 77 blades each, ~6dB quieter |
| Charging | 65W USB-C PD | Up to 100W USB-C PD |
| Operating system | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Launch price | $699.99 | $799.99 |
ASUS also sold a cheaper, non-Extreme “Z1” trim of the original Ally at $599.99 starting September 18, 2023, with a weaker 4-core/8-thread CPU and a smaller RDNA 3 GPU. That budget variant isn’t the one most reviewers compare against the Ally X, so it’s left out of the table above, but it’s worth knowing it existed if you see a cheap “ROG Ally” listing that seems too good to be true.
Pricing in 2026: $450 Open-Box vs $799 New
Pricing is where the two handhelds tell completely different stories. According to GamesRadar’s 2026 hardware coverage, new ROG Ally stock has dried up at major US retailers, leaving only open-box units in “excellent” condition for $469.99 and “good” condition (light screen scratches possible) for $450.99 at Best Buy. The ROG Ally X, by contrast, is still sold new at its original $799.99 price point, occasionally dipping during sales events.
| Device | Launch price | Launch date | 2026 price / availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) | $699.99 | June 13, 2023 | Discontinued — open-box only, $450–$470 |
| ROG Ally X | $799.99 | June 2024 | Still sold new at $799.99, occasional sales |
| ROG Xbox Ally | $599.99 | October 16, 2025 | Current entry-level model |
| ROG Xbox Ally X | $999.99 | October 16, 2025 | Current flagship model |
| ROG Xbox Ally X20 (OLED anniversary bundle) | Estimated $2,000+ | Teased Computex 2026 (June 1) | “Notify Me” listing, expected H2 2026 |
That last row matters for context: ASUS isn’t just quietly discontinuing the original Ally, it’s actively moving the entire ROG Ally brand upmarket. The X20 bundle — the first Ally-series device with an OLED display, a 7.4-inch ROG Nebula HDR panel, paired with ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 AR glasses — is shaping up to cost more than two ROG Ally X units combined, according to Tech Times’ Computex 2026 report.
Battery Life: Does Doubling the Cell Actually Double Runtime?
XDA Developers ran both handhelds side by side at identical settings — Turbo mode, 25W TDP, maximum screen brightness — in both a real game and a synthetic benchmark loop. The results back up ASUS’s marketing almost exactly.
| Test (25W Turbo, max brightness) | ROG Ally (40Wh) | ROG Ally X (80Wh) | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTA Online (real gameplay) | 57m 9s | 1h 55m 58s | ~2.03x |
| 3DMark Time Spy (stress loop to depletion) | 1h 5m 35s | 2h 23m 36s | ~2.19x |
In practice, that’s the difference between a ROG Ally dying before a single Fortnite match wraps up and a ROG Ally X making it through a transatlantic flight’s entertainment window. Both devices show steep frame-rate throttling once the battery drops below roughly 30%, per XDA’s testing, so the effective “comfortable” playtime is even shorter than the raw runtime numbers suggest — another reason the Ally X’s larger buffer matters more than the doubled Wh figure implies on its own.
Gaming Performance Benchmarks From 3 Independent Reviewers
Because the CPU and GPU are identical between the two handhelds, raw frame rates are close to a wash. Digital Trends found “basically identical performance in Dying Light 2 and Cyberpunk 2077” when testing both units at matched power limits, with the Ally X only pulling ahead in memory-bandwidth-sensitive titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and Strange Brigade — a direct result of the RAM upgrade (16GB/6400MT/s vs 24GB/7500MT/s), not the identical GPU cores.
| Game | Reviewer | ROG Ally vs Ally X result |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Digital Trends | Basically identical — same silicon |
| Dying Light 2 | Digital Trends | Basically identical — same silicon |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Digital Trends | Ally X ahead — benefits from faster/larger RAM pool |
| Strange Brigade | Digital Trends | Ally X ahead — same RAM-bandwidth reason |
Two other independent benchmarks add useful context, even though they involve newer hardware. HardForum’s review of the newer ROG Xbox Ally X recorded 44 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 against Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 at 37 FPS on the same test pass, and separately clocked the Xbox Ally X at 42 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 and 76 FPS in Forza Horizon 5 at high settings with FSR upscaling set to Quality. And Notebookcheck measured the entry-level ROG Xbox Ally running the Bazzite Linux distribution at 38.8 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at just 20W, with 1% lows of 31 FPS — actually beating the same hardware’s stock Windows 11 install. That’s a useful data point if you’re weighing whether to install Bazzite or SteamOS on any of these handhelds instead of sticking with Windows.
Thermal Performance: Sustained Clocks in Handheld vs Docked Mode
Both handhelds expose the same broad power profiles through ASUS’s software: a Silent mode for battery-friendly indie games, a Performance mode for balanced play, and a Turbo mode that pushes the Ryzen Z1 Extreme toward its peak clocks, plus a Manual mode for setting a custom wattage ceiling. Because the chip is identical, the peak numbers on paper are the same on both devices. The difference shows up in how long each one can hold those peak clocks before the fan curve and internal temperature force a step down.
The Ally X’s dual 77-blade fan setup and larger internal chassis volume give it more thermal headroom than the original’s single-fan design, which is part of why Digital Trends found the two devices trading blows depending on the title rather than the Ally X simply winning outright — in short, evenly matched CPU-bound titles stay close, while longer sessions and memory-heavy titles are where the Ally X’s extra cooling and RAM headroom compound into a real advantage. This also matters if you plan to dock either handheld to an external monitor over USB-C: both support video-out to a TV or monitor via a USB-C hub or ASUS’s own dock accessories, and since a docked, plugged-in handheld isn’t drawing down a battery, it can sustain its top power profile far more consistently than in handheld mode on either device.
Display, Design, and Ergonomics
The screen itself didn’t change: both handhelds use the same 7-inch, 1920×1080 IPS panel running at 120Hz with 500 nits of brightness. If you were hoping the Ally X added an OLED upgrade, it didn’t — that jump is reserved for the teased X20 anniversary bundle mentioned above.
Where the Ally X earns its keep is ergonomics. ASUS rounded off the grips, stiffened the joysticks, raised the face buttons, and shrank the rear macro buttons so they’re less prone to accidental presses — all changes drawn directly from owner complaints about the original, according to ASUS’s own comparison writeup. The tradeoff is size and weight: the Ally X is about 11.5% heavier than the original 608g Ally, landing at roughly 675g, and it’s slightly thicker to accommodate the doubled battery. For anyone who found the original Ally already a bit of a wrist workout during long sessions, that extra weight is worth testing in person before buying.
Storage and Upgradeability: Why the SSD Slot Change Matters
This is the most underrated upgrade in the whole comparison. The original ROG Ally shipped with a 512GB SSD in the M.2 2230 form factor — a small, laptop-rare size that severely limited aftermarket upgrade options and, for a while, sold at a premium specifically because so few drives existed in that size. The Ally X moved to the same M.2 2280 standard used in most desktop and laptop motherboards, meaning the pre-installed 1TB drive can be swapped for a 2TB or 4TB replacement using parts that are cheap and everywhere.
In practice, this means an Ally X buyer who runs out of space can add a full modern game library’s worth of storage for the cost of a single drive, while an original Ally owner is stuck either hunting for one of the few 2230 drives on the market or living with cloud storage and constant reinstalls. If you’re pairing either handheld with emulation frontends like RetroArch or EmuDeck, where ROM and BIOS libraries can balloon quickly, this single spec difference may matter more than the battery upgrade.
The physical swap itself is a standard rear-shell job on both devices: a set of Phillips screws holds the back cover on, and the SSD sits under a small removable bracket once it’s off. The difference is availability once you’re in there. A 2280 drive for the Ally X is the same part sold for almost any modern laptop, so a 2TB upgrade is a same-day order from any electronics retailer. A replacement 2230 drive for the original Ally is a narrower market, and since that device is now discontinued, doing any internal work on one also means doing it without the safety net of a fresh manufacturer warranty.
Ports and Connectivity: Losing XG Mobile for USB4
Here’s a case where the “upgrade” isn’t a clean win for everyone. The original ROG Ally’s single USB-C port doubled as ASUS’s proprietary ROG XG Mobile connector, letting owners dock the handheld into an external desktop GPU enclosure for serious horsepower at a desk. The Ally X dropped that proprietary connector entirely in favor of two standard USB-C ports, one supporting full USB4/Thunderbolt-class speeds.
For most buyers, two flexible USB-C ports beat one proprietary one — you can now charge from either port, run an external SSD and a display simultaneously, or dock to any standard USB4 hub instead of an ASUS-only accessory. But if you specifically bought into the ROG XG Mobile ecosystem, the Ally X is a downgrade, full stop, since existing XG Mobile eGPU docks are not compatible with it. That’s a rare scenario, but a real one, and it’s one of the only aspects of this comparison where the discontinued original genuinely does something the newer device can’t.
Software and Controller Customization: Armoury Crate on Both Devices
Both the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X run Windows 11 with ASUS’s Armoury Crate SE as the control center layered on top. That’s the app that switches between Silent, Performance, and Turbo power profiles, remaps the back paddle buttons, adjusts stick deadzones and trigger response curves, and pulls in community-shared “Game Profiles” that auto-apply a known-good configuration when it detects a specific title launching. Because this is entirely a software layer running on identical Windows hardware, it is not a differentiator between the two devices in this comparison — whatever you can configure on one, you can configure on the other.
It is, however, a real differentiator against the newer ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, which layer Microsoft’s Xbox full-screen experience on top of (and in front of) the same underlying Windows and Armoury Crate stack. That interface handles power profiles and library management through an Xbox-style dashboard instead, suspending the traditional Windows desktop to free up RAM rather than asking you to tab out to Armoury Crate directly. If you specifically like tinkering in Armoury Crate’s granular menus, the original Ally and Ally X arguably offer a more direct, less abstracted path to those settings than ASUS’s own newer hardware does.
Repairability, Joystick Drift, and Long-Term Reliability
Analog stick drift is one of the most common long-term failure points on any handheld gaming device, and ASUS’s own comparison materials for the Ally X specifically highlight “stiffer, more durable joysticks” as a design change — a tacit acknowledgment that the original Ally’s sticks were a known wear point after enough hours of use. That matters more for the original Ally today than it did in 2023, since any open-box unit you buy now has already accumulated some amount of stick cycles from its previous owner, with no fresh multi-year warranty to fall back on if drift shows up a few months in.
Both handhelds are built the same way internally: a screw-secured rear shell rather than a glued one, based on community teardown videos, which makes basic repairs and part swaps realistic for anyone comfortable with a small screwdriver. The Ally X’s move to a standard M.2 2280 SSD slot, covered above, extends that same repairability logic to storage. The practical takeaway is that the Ally X is the lower-risk long-term hold between the two: it’s still an active retail product with standard warranty coverage, its sticks were specifically redesigned to reduce a known failure mode, and its internals use more standardized, easier-to-source parts.
Why the Original ROG Ally Was Discontinued in 2026
ASUS hasn’t issued a dramatic press release about killing off the original ROG Ally — it’s simply stopped restocking it. GamesRadar’s reporting frames the remaining open-box inventory as a “last chance” to grab the device, noting that despite its age, the original Ally still holds up reasonably well against far newer hardware because it shares its core silicon with the Ally X.
The bigger picture is that ASUS has effectively replaced the entire ROG Ally family. The Ally and Ally X were the first generation; the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, both launched October 16, 2025, are the second. Rather than iterate on the original naming scheme a third time, ASUS partnered with Microsoft to fold Xbox branding and a full-screen Xbox interface directly into the new devices. That leaves the original Ally and Ally X in an awkward, unofficial “legacy” tier — still functional, still supported, but clearly not where ASUS is focusing new development.
This is a familiar pattern in the handheld PC category specifically, where product cycles have been running much faster than traditional laptops or even game consoles. A device that felt cutting-edge at launch can be functionally superseded within 18 to 24 months, well before most owners would consider it “old” by PC standards. For a would-be buyer, that just means the calculus is less about whether a two-or-three-year-old handheld is capable — the Ryzen Z1 Extreme in both original Allys is still a genuinely competent chip — and more about how much runway you want before the next generation makes your purchase feel dated.
How the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X Fit Into the Picture
If you’re comparison shopping in 2026, you can’t really ignore the newer lineup, so here’s how it fits. The ROG Xbox Ally X ($999.99) uses an entirely new AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip — Zen 5 architecture, 8 cores and 16 threads, up to 5.0GHz, paired with a RDNA 3.5 GPU (Radeon 890M, 16 Compute Units) and an NPU rated at up to 50 TOPS for Copilot+ features. It also gets 24GB of even faster LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery in a 715g body. That’s a genuine generational leap over the Ally X’s four-year-old Z1 Extreme silicon, not just a battery refresh.
The entry-level ROG Xbox Ally ($599.99) tells a stranger story. Its AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor isn’t a new design at all — according to PCGamesN and PC Gamer, it’s the same “Van Gogh” die AMD built for the original 2022 Valve Steam Deck: 4 cores, 8 threads, Zen 2 architecture, an 8-Compute-Unit RDNA 2 GPU, and a configurable 6–20W TDP. Tom’s Hardware’s review confirms the chip runs at 2.8–3.8GHz and notes it likely exists to hit a low price point using a design AMD had already fully amortized. It’s a legitimately budget chip wearing a 2025-era name.
That context matters for this comparison: if your real choice is between a $450 open-box original Ally and a $599.99 new ROG Xbox Ally, you’re actually looking at two devices with roughly comparable-generation silicon underneath very different branding, not an obvious win for the newer one. The Ally X ($799.99), on the other hand, still beats the entry Xbox Ally on RAM (24GB vs 16GB) and matches it closely enough elsewhere that the decision comes down to battery (Xbox Ally’s 60Wh vs Ally X’s 80Wh) and whether you want the Xbox full-screen interface.
7 Real-World Scenarios: Which Handheld Actually Fits You
Specs are only useful in context. Here’s how the tradeoffs above play out for specific kinds of buyers.
| Use case | Recommended device | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget retro-emulation build | ROG Ally (open-box, ~$450) | Same CPU/GPU as Ally X for emulation workloads that rarely tax RAM; 40Wh battery is less painful on lighter emulated loads |
| Frequent traveler / long commute | ROG Ally X | 2x battery runtime is the difference between finishing a flight and finding an outlet |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 / heavily modded RPGs | ROG Ally X | 24GB RAM and faster memory bandwidth avoid stutter in memory-hungry configurations |
| Owns a ROG XG Mobile eGPU dock already | ROG Ally (original) | Only the original has the proprietary XG Mobile port; Ally X dropped it for USB4 |
| Wants the newest chip and doesn’t mind Xbox UI | ROG Xbox Ally X ($999.99) | Genuine Zen 5 + RDNA 3.5 + NPU generational upgrade over both older Allys |
| Wants to run Linux instead of Windows | Either ROG Ally or Ally X | Both install Bazzite/SteamOS-style distros; Notebookcheck found Bazzite can outperform stock Windows on this silicon family |
| Cross-shopping against Valve/Lenovo | Depends on budget | See internal comparisons below against Steam Deck and Legion Go before deciding |
Migration Guide: Moving Your Library From ROG Ally to ROG Ally X
If you already own an original ROG Ally and you’re upgrading rather than buying fresh, here’s how to move over without re-downloading everything from scratch.
- Sign into Steam, the Xbox app, and any other launchers on the new device first, and let each one sync your cloud saves before you touch local files — this alone recovers progress for the vast majority of modern titles.
- For games that don’t support cloud saves, find their local save folders (usually under
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Gamesor%APPDATA%) and copy them to a USB drive or transfer them directly over a USB4 cable before wiping the old device. - Because the original Ally uses a 2230 SSD and the Ally X uses a 2280 slot, you can’t just move the drive over physically. Instead, pull the old 2230 drive, put it in a cheap USB NVMe enclosure, and treat it as an external drive on the new machine.
- Use Steam’s library transfer feature, or mirror the folder manually and let Steam “verify” the files instead of re-downloading them:
robocopy "D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps" "E:\SteamLibrary\steamapps" /E /COPYALL /R:3 /W:5- After the copy finishes, add the new drive’s SteamLibrary folder as a library location in Steam settings, then right-click each game and choose “Verify integrity of game files” instead of reinstalling — Steam will detect the existing files and only patch what’s missing.
- Re-authorize DRM-heavy launchers (EA app, Ubisoft Connect, Epic Games) individually, since most cap the number of simultaneously activated devices and may need the old handheld deauthorized first.
- If you’re moving to a ROG Xbox Ally X instead of a standard Ally X, expect the device to boot into the Xbox full-screen experience by default. Steam and other Windows launchers still install and run normally underneath it, but sign into your Xbox/Microsoft account during first-time setup before installing anything else.
Pros and Cons of Each ROG Ally Generation
| Device | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| ROG Ally (original) | Cheapest entry point today (~$450 open-box); ROG XG Mobile eGPU support; lighter at 608g; identical CPU/GPU to Ally X | Discontinued, no new-unit warranty; small 40Wh battery; cramped 2230 SSD slot; single USB-C port; 16GB RAM ceiling |
| ROG Ally X | 2x battery life; 24GB RAM; upgradeable 2280 SSD; dual USB-C incl. USB4; quieter cooling; still in production | $799.99 asking price; heavier at ~675g; lost XG Mobile port; same aging Z1 Extreme chip as a device it’s meant to replace |
ROG Ally X vs the Rest of the Handheld Market
Neither ROG Ally is shopping in a vacuum. Valve’s Steam Deck remains the default comparison point for anyone weighing a Windows handheld against a SteamOS one — we’ve broken down that tradeoff in detail in Steam Deck vs ROG Ally. Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 and the newer ROG Xbox Ally X are the closer premium-tier rivals, covered in ROG Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2, and Lenovo’s cheaper Legion Go S sits closer to Steam Deck pricing, as covered in Legion Go S vs Steam Deck.
It’s also worth remembering that neither ROG Ally locks you into Windows. Both the original Ally and the Ally X can run SteamOS-style distributions instead, and our SteamOS 3.8 on Windows handhelds and Bazzite vs SteamOS breakdowns cover what that experience actually looks like on this exact hardware family — relevant given Notebookcheck’s finding above that Bazzite outran stock Windows on the same silicon.
The practical reason to consider a Linux-based install on either ROG Ally isn’t just the occasional frame-rate win: it’s that Windows 11 on a 7-inch touchscreen was never really designed for handheld navigation, and a SteamOS-style interface removes most of that friction. Anyone coming from a Steam Deck and picking up a ROG Ally X specifically to get the RAM and storage upgrades, while keeping a console-like boot experience, is a realistic and increasingly common setup worth knowing is fully supported on this hardware.
The Verdict: Which ROG Ally Should You Buy in 2026
Based on the data above, the ROG Ally X is the safer default if you’re choosing strictly between these two devices. It’s still sold new, it doubles battery runtime from roughly one hour to nearly two in real gameplay per XDA’s testing, and its upgradeable storage slot alone can save real money over the life of the device. The extra $100 over the original’s launch price, or roughly $330 over current open-box pricing, buys a genuinely more livable handheld, not just a marketing refresh.
That said, the original ROG Ally isn’t a bad buy at $450 — it’s a clear-eyed budget play. Since the CPU and GPU are identical to the Ally X, you’re not sacrificing gaming performance, only battery life and storage flexibility, both of which matter less if you mostly play docked or in short sessions. The one group that should actively prefer the original is anyone already invested in ASUS’s ROG XG Mobile eGPU ecosystem, since the Ally X can’t use it.
If your budget stretches to $999.99, though, neither of these is actually the best ASUS handheld you can buy right now — that’s the ROG Xbox Ally X, with its genuinely newer Zen 5 chip, RDNA 3.5 graphics, and Copilot+ NPU. This ROG Ally vs ROG Ally X comparison is really a comparison of ASUS’s first generation; treat it as a budget-vs-mid-tier decision within that generation, not as a decision about the best handheld ASUS currently makes.
One last data point worth weighing: resale and long-term support. A discontinued product’s parts and community troubleshooting threads don’t disappear overnight, but they do thin out over time as attention moves to newer hardware. The Ally X, still an active SKU with ongoing driver and Armoury Crate updates from ASUS, is the more future-proof of the two purely from a support-lifecycle standpoint — a real factor if you plan to keep whichever handheld you buy for another three or four years.
Related Coverage
- Steam Deck vs ROG Ally: $789 OLED vs $999 120Hz
- ROG Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: $999 vs $1,349
- Legion Go S vs Steam Deck: $599 vs $789 OLED
- SteamOS 3.8 Takes On Windows 11 on 6+ Handhelds
- Bazzite vs SteamOS: NVIDIA & 20+ Handhelds
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ROG Ally still worth buying in 2026?
As an open-box unit at $450–$470, yes, provided you’re comfortable buying a discontinued device without a full new-unit warranty. It shares its CPU and GPU with the ROG Ally X, so gaming performance is identical — you’re only giving up battery life and easy storage upgrades.
What’s the actual difference between ROG Ally and ROG Ally X?
Battery (40Wh vs 80Wh), RAM (16GB vs 24GB), storage form factor (M.2 2230 vs 2280), ports (single USB-C/XG Mobile vs dual USB-C with USB4), and cooling (single fan vs dual fan). The CPU and GPU are unchanged.
Can I put a new SSD in the ROG Ally X?
Yes. The Ally X uses a standard M.2 2280 slot, the same size used in most laptops and desktops, so widely available 2TB or 4TB drives fit directly. The original Ally’s M.2 2230 slot is a much less common size with far fewer upgrade options.
Does the ROG Ally X have better gaming performance than the ROG Ally?
Barely, and only in specific titles. Digital Trends found near-identical frame rates in Cyberpunk 2077 and Dying Light 2 since both devices share the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. The Ally X only pulls ahead in RAM-bandwidth-sensitive games like Horizon Zero Dawn, thanks to its faster 24GB LPDDR5X-7500 memory versus the original’s 16GB LPDDR5-6400.
Why did ASUS discontinue the original ROG Ally?
ASUS hasn’t given an official reason, but the practical answer is that the entire ROG Ally family has moved upmarket twice since 2023 — first to the Ally X in 2024, then to the Xbox-branded ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X in October 2025. Restocking a three-generations-old entry point no longer fits ASUS’s current lineup strategy.
Is the ROG Ally X the same as the ROG Xbox Ally X?
No, despite the similar name. The ROG Ally X (2024) uses the older Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. The ROG Xbox Ally X (2025) uses an entirely new Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip with a Zen 5 CPU, RDNA 3.5 graphics, and a dedicated NPU, plus a Windows interface that boots into a full-screen Xbox experience.
Can I still use an external GPU with the ROG Ally X?
Not through ASUS’s proprietary ROG XG Mobile connector — that port was removed in favor of standard USB4. If owning an existing XG Mobile eGPU dock matters to you, the original ROG Ally is the only one of the two that supports it.
Should I buy the ROG Ally X or wait for/buy the ROG Xbox Ally X?
If budget allows the extra $200, the ROG Xbox Ally X’s Zen 5 chip and RDNA 3.5 graphics are a genuine generational upgrade, not just a battery and storage refresh like the Ally X was over the original Ally. Buy the Ally X only if the Xbox-branded interface doesn’t appeal to you or the price difference matters more than the newer silicon.
