ASUS ROG Ally (2023) vs ASUS ROG Ally X
The Ally X is ASUS's fix-everything follow-up to the original Ally: the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme, but with a doubled 80 Wh battery, 24 GB of faster RAM, a 1 TB SSD, USB4/Thunderbolt, and a resolved SD-card-reader defect that plagued the 2023 model. The original Ally is now discontinued and worth considering only used, at a steep discount, given its documented SD-reader failures and stick drift.
Spec comparison
| Spec | ASUS ROG Ally (2023) | ASUS ROG Ally X |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $499 | $799 |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Screen size | 7" | 7" |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 (16:9) | 1920 × 1080 (16:9) |
| Weight | 608 g | 685 g |
| Battery | 40 Wh | 80 Wh |
| APU | Ryzen Z1 | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| Max TDP | 30 W | 30 W |
| Hall-effect sticks | No | No |
| Gyro | Yes | Yes |
ASUS ROG Ally (2023)
Pros
- Sharp 1080p 120 Hz FreeSync Premium display
- Z1 Extreme (RDNA 3, 12 CUs) is genuinely fast at 30 W
- Hall Effect triggers; ROG XG Mobile eGPU option
Cons
- SD card reader failures — a widely reported, high-severity defect
- Potentiometer sticks drift; poor repairability
- Small 40 Wh battery; Windows suspend/Armoury Crate issues
ASUS ROG Ally X
Pros
- Large 80 Wh battery — roughly double the original
- 24 GB LPDDR5x, 1 TB M.2 2280, USB4/Thunderbolt
- Improved grips; gen-1 SD-reader defect resolved
Cons
- Still potentiometer sticks (Hall triggers only)
- Windows suspend/resume friction persists
- Heavier (685 g) and pricier than rivals
Who should buy which
Buy the original Ally only used and heavily discounted — its SD-card-reader defect and 40 Wh battery are real, widely reported drawbacks.
Buy the Ally X for a doubled battery, resolved SD-reader issue, USB4/eGPU support and better ergonomics — it's the complete ROG Ally.