As a follow up to its first handheld gaming PC, Asus has just revealed its brand new variant, the ROG Ally X. The updated Steam Deck competitor comes with a host of new features and improvements over the standard ROG Ally. Though as you'd ex?pec??t, that bumps the price up a bit.

How is the ROG Ally X better than the ROG Ally?

First and most noticeably, the new Ally X handheld gaming PC is black, wh??ile the previous version only came in white. Good news to some, but especially those who are snacking while they're playing. Next, the Ally X sees upgrades to storag??e, battery life, and an additional vent to keep temperatures low.

Asus added a new 80Wh battery, which will help with one of the biggest complaints about the ROG Ally. Its storage upgrade f??eatures a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD and it maintains a microSD slot if that's not enough for you. The ROG Ally X will come with 24GB of LPDDR5-7500 RAM.

It wil??l come with a Windows 11 operating system installed.

Other specs are as follows:

• CPU - AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor (Zen4 architecture with 4nm process, 8-core/16-threads, 24MB total cache, up to 5.10 Ghz boost.)
• GPU - AMD Radeon Graphics (AMD RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops)
• TDP - 9-30W
• Display - 7 inches, 1920 x 1080 (16:9), 10-point multi-touchscreen, 120Hz refresh rate, 7ms response time, 500nits brightness, FreeSync Premium
• Ports - 3.5mm combo audio jack, Thunderbolt 4 support DisplayPort, USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-C, UHS-II microSD card reader
• Audio - Dolby Atmos, Hi-res certification, Smart Amp technology, AI noise-canceling technology, Built-in array microphone, 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier technology
• Network - Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
• Power Supply - TYPE-C, 65W AC adapter, 20V DC output, 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal input
• Dimensions - 28.0 x 11.1 x 2.47 ~ 3.69 cm
• Security - Built-in fingerprint processor, Microsoft Pluton security processor
• Compatibility - Asus says the ROG Ally X is compatible with multiple libraries, such as "Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, and more..."

Those interested in the new Asus handheld gaming PC can purchase it from Best Buy and straight from the source for $7??99.99. It is available for preorder, though orders won't ship until its release date on July 22, 2024.

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Since the Steam Deck, a few alternative handheld gaming PCs have been hitting the market. While we're still waiting for Valve to give details about a possible follow-up to its own device, we've already seen that Lenovo is planning a next-gen Legion Go. Now, Asus is quick to follow suit.

In the latest video from the ROG Global YouTube channel, hosts Jake Kulinski and Whitson Gordon are keen to bring u??s news that a new ROG Ally is currently in the works. While not all details about the upcoming device are being revealed yet, we do get a few bits of information.

For example, the next portable PC from Asus is going to be ?called the ROG Ally X, rather than the ROG Ally 2. What we're being told is that the next iteration will be "more than just a basic refresh" of the current model, and that it's going to be targeting the more "ent??husiast" market.

Those who want "extra goodies"

It's also worth not?ing that this won't be a completely new device, either. The ROG X is basically going to be somewhere between being a refresh and a new-gen. What the next version will be is essenti?ally a response to feedback from people who wanted a bit more.

There are going to be some improvements to the current model, such as a better battery �Kulinski's eyes even widen when he tries to express how the new battery will be "very good." There's also going to be improvements t??o the RAM and storage, as well as the ports.

As I say, not a lot is being said right now, but there is going to be a special ann??ouncement on June 2, which will hopefully div??e deeper into what you can expect from the upcoming Asus ROG Ally X.

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Today Meta announced “a new era for mixed reality�and unveiled? a surprising plan to let third-party developers use its operating system. 

The newly renamed Meta Horizon OS will bring the Quest and Rift OS to new, more specialized devices, and the company already announced some of its new collaborators. ASUS is work??ing on a “performance gaming headset�as part of its Republic of Gamers brand. Lenovo is making “mixed reality devices for p?roductivity, learning, and entertainment,�and Microsoft is partnering with Meta to make an Xbox-inspired Quest device. Handy, considering you can use a beta version of Xbox Cloud Gaming on a Quest.

Meta is taking some inspiration from Google’s Android OS here, and the company drew a clear parallel in its announcement, writing: “As we’ve seen with the PC and smartphone industries, consumers are best served by a broad hardware ecosystem producing both general-purpose computing devices and more specialized products, al??l running on a common platform.�Thi??s move could make Meta’s OS the go-to platform for VR and AR devices, and its hefty suite of partnerships is sure to push that front. 

At the same time, Meta is also making some changes to its App Lab, a platform that lets just about anyone publish an app on Meta devices. The App Lab will now be openly featured in the also-newly renamed Meta Horizon Store, which should make finding the newest, strangest VR apps quite a bit easier. Alongside that, Meta is trying to promote more mixed reality experien?ces by allowing developers to apply for access to its “spatial app framework�that’s designed to make bringing mobile apps to the Meta Horizon OS easier. 

It’s unclear how open Meta is going to be with its OS, but even if it’s only working with certain companies on Meta OS-powered devices, this could still be hugely impactful for VR and AR development. The Metaverse hasn’t really taken off, but with new devices like the Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest 3, and PlayStation VR 2, it’s an exciting time for VR in general and VR gaming in particular. Personally, I’m still not sold on strapping a headset to my face to workout o??r jump on a Zoom with my coworkers, but any move that leads to even more high-quality VR games has my interest. 

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How will valve react?

Those of you who have been waiting for the new ASUS ROG Ally handheld, the day has finally arrived. Although it was only announced back in April, with many even thinking it was a prank, it's nice ??to see some Steam Deck competitio??n on the market.

With the Ally now out, we can truly see what PC handhelds can offer those looking for gaming on the go. While Valve's Deck device has been the front-runner so far, time will tell whethe??r ASUS can make as big an impact.

Where the ROG Ally differs from the Steam Deck is in its potential to be a better machine. For example, while the latter has a Ryzen Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 graphics, the former has the newer Zen 4 processor as well as RDNA 3. The Ally is also said to be lighter.?? It's also running Windows 11, which will be one of the most immediate differences on the software side, compared to the Deck's operating system which runs off the Linux-powered Proton.

[caption id="attachment_386459" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image via ASUS.[/caption]

Howeve?r, at the moment, the Ally only comes in one model, which features 512 GB of storage. By comparison, the Steam Deck has three variants, each with different SSD capacities, though 512 is the maximum out-the-box. Both devices do have Micro SD slots, though, for additional storage.

So what about the price? This is where the ASUS ROG Ally falls down ever so slightly. While the Valve machine can set you back around $649, the altern??ative is paying almost $700 for the ASUS brand. That's not a huge difference, and it is still cheaper than a gaming PC. On top of that, you are getting updated hardware and it being loaded with Windows means the Ally is probably ?going to be better in terms of game compatibility.

You can find more details on what the ROG offers from the ASUS website. No doubt Valve will have something up its sleeve to arm its latest competitor out the way, so it will be interesting to see what the Half-Life developer comes up with.

The post ASUS ROG Ally now o??ut, offering a Steam Deck alternative appeared first on Destructoid.

Two models are on the way

Asus has officially unveiled the arriva??l windows for its new handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally. This looks to bring some more competition to the market, with one model arriving in June and another sometime in Q3.

The first-available ROG Ally is the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme model, which boasts up to 8.6 teraflops and a 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, as well as a 7-inch 1080p, 120 Hz FHD screen. It's up for pre-order now at Best Buy for $699, with an ?exp?ected release date of June 13.

The second option arrives sometime in Q3, with an AMD Ryze?n Z1 and up to 2.8 teraflops, with the same SSD storage. That version of the ROG Ally wil?l retail $100 lower, at $599.

Both models come packed with the same screen, as well as cooling fans, 16 GB of LPDDR5 dual channel memor??y, and three months of G??ame Pass Ultimate free.

Today's ROG Ally launch event dove ?more into the details, showing how the new handheld will take more of a Windows focus. The idea is that everything, from Steam to Xbox and Battlenet, will be accessible through the Ally.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_2L7xw_zGw

The fight for the handheld PC market

With the ROG Ally, it looks like we've got another contender for the PC handheld throne. The price point is certainly interesting. While other companies have introduced their own alternatives to Valve's Steam Deck, the price point has often been a key distinction. $699 ?is much closer to Valve's price point than others have been in the past.

Early reviews for the ROG Ally also dropped today, and have been intriguing to follow. The Verge's review notes three sticking points: the relatively short battery life, glitches, and issues with the Windows OS. IGN also notes poor battery life and a ??"frustrating user experience," while still noting that the 1080p screen looks good.

Time will tell if this becomes a true competitor to Valve's handheld, but it does seem like we've got a decent fight, at the least. ??The Asus ROG Ally launches its Z1 Extreme model on June 13.

The post Asus outlines price, date,? and details for the ROG Ally appeared first on Destructoid.

The Steam Deck competitor's price tag will be 'below $1,000'

Asus has is hosting a launch event for its handheld PC gaming device, the ROG Ally, on May 11. The announcement comes just over a week after Asus said the Ally release may be "sooner than you expect." Given that the device was only announced on April 1, May 11 ?certainly fits the bill of "sooner than we expected."

Asus is keeping most of the ROG Ally's details close to the chest for now. On May 11, the company is hosting a launch event to reveal the full system specs, price, and availability. A spokesperson told PC Gamer that the price "will be below $1,000. 200% ??it will be below $1,000." PC Gamer's preview also says the launch date is the same as the stream: May 11.

//twitter.com/asus_rog/status/1650862237505163264?s=61&t=J7wYh8B6WCsUP5WJjv4?Y-Q

Price details aside, we did get a look at some technical specs. The Ally will pack a special? 6-core, 12-thread Ryzen Z-1. There are also, according to pre?views, dual fans and "anti-gravity heat pipes" to deal with thermal concerns.

New handheld on the block

YouTuber Dave2D was one of the first people to get their hands on the ROG Ally, and the device showed incredible potential. In his own comparisons, the ROG Ally boasted up to twice the performance of the Steam Deck in certain titles. It's an impressive feat since the Steam Deck is only a smidge over one-year-old at this point.

Other competitors to the Steam Deck, like the Ayaneo 2, exist that beat it on performance. Yet, no other PC handheld has come close to the Steam Deck in terms of price. Valve hasn't said if it's selling the Deck at a loss, but president Gabe Newell did state in 2021 that its prici??ng on the Deck was "painful," but also "critical." Still, Valve has Steam, while Asus doesn't currently have a storefront to generate additional revenue after an ROG Ally's been sold.

If Asus can launch its ROG Ally at anywhere close to the highest tier, ?512GB Steam Deck at $649, Valve may have a fight on its hands. Asus has the pedigree to come out swinging too. The company currently sells gaming-dedicated tablets like the ROG Flow Z13, so it's used to pushing the envelope when it comes to gaming. Particularly portable gaming.

Al??l will be revealed in due course, as the ROG Ally launch event will take place on YouTube and Twitch on May 11 at 10 am ET.

The post Asus is hosting a launch event for its ROG Ally ??PC handhel?d in May appeared first on Destructoid.

The Ally is no April fool

Asus has announced the ROG Ally, ROG's first handheld gaming console meant for taking PC games on the go, much like a Steam Deck. But thanks to the day the company made the ann?ouncement, Asus has had to reaffirm that yes, it's for real.

Originally revealed around April 1, the Asus ROG Ally is a handheld console. Its initial pitch video shows the handheld bouncing between different popular PC games, played in a variety of locations. It's essentially similar to the Steam Deck and various other competitors that have emerged.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5lq4Q7YAjE

The thing was, this hardware was revealed around April 1, a.k.a. April Fool's Day. A holiday for announcing fake game news. So you can imagine the shock when no one responding to the original reveal believed it was real, doubled up by a confusing social post on LinkedIn, as spotted by The Verge.

Well, now it's April 3, and Asus is asserting that it's "not an April Fool's joke," and that the ROG Ally is real. There's even a Best Buy page up for notifications about new information.

//twitter.com/ASUS_ROG/status/1642882143193010176

A new Deck on deck

YouTuber Dave2D also posted a video, sharing so?me hands-on and technical details of Asus' new Steam Deck competitor. Judging by his video, it seems like Asus is theoretically trying to compete with the Steam Deck; it's got some decent hardware, and looks a bit slimmer and sleeker than the Steam Deck.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=drLZxyv79Oo

But, as you might have noticed, I'm still couching all my statements because this is the weirdest timing to announce an actually real product. I guess this semi-worked, becaus??e it has a lot of people curious. But surely there was already interest in seeing other companies try and take on the handheld gaming PC market. So to me, this ??will be real when it's on a shelf or in stock. You can hit up the Best Buy site to sign up for notifications about when that might occur.

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