The ROG Ally X Arrives: ASUS Unleashes a $1,000 Handheld Beast Redefining Portable PC Gaming

Get ready to clear some space in your gaming budget, because ASUS has just pulled back the curtain on its latest handheld marvel: the ROG Ally X. Priced at a cool $1,000 and hitting pre-orders in October, this souped-up successor to the original ROG Ally isn't just an upgrade; it's a statement. And in a delightful bit of cheeky marketing, it's being dubbed the 'most expensive Xbox ever' – a nod to its incredible capability to run a vast library of games, including those from the Xbox ecosystem, despite being a formidable PC in your hands.

While the core AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor remains, don't mistake the Ally X for a mere refresh.

ASUS has listened intently to community feedback, delivering a host of significant enhancements designed to elevate the portable gaming experience. The most immediate and welcome change is the colossal leap in battery life. The Ally X now boasts an 80Wh battery, a whopping double the capacity of its predecessor, promising vastly extended play sessions for those long commutes or intense couch-gaming marathons.

Memory and storage also see substantial improvements.

Gamers will now benefit from 24GB of faster LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring smoother multitasking and better performance in demanding titles. Storage gets a boost too, with the device now supporting M.2 2280 SSDs, making future upgrades not only possible but significantly easier and more affordable than the previous M.2 2230 standard.

This means more games, faster load times, and less worry about running out of space.

Beyond the internal specs, the ROG Ally X has undergone a subtle yet impactful redesign. The chassis sports a sleek new black finish, and while it's marginally heavier, the ergonomics have been refined for better comfort during prolonged use.

Key input elements have been upgraded, with more durable joysticks and a refined D-pad, addressing common wear-and-tear concerns. Cooling has also received an overhaul, with new, more efficient fans designed to keep temperatures in check even during the most demanding gaming sessions. Connectivity is improved with an additional USB-C port, one of which supports Thunderbolt, broadening its accessory compatibility.

At $1,000, the ROG Ally X firmly plants itself at the premium end of the handheld PC market.

It's a device for the enthusiast, for the gamer who demands top-tier performance, extended play, and future-proofed upgradability in a portable form factor. While the price might raise eyebrows, the sum of its upgrades positions it as a serious contender, offering a compelling blend of power, longevity, and refined design that aims to justify every dollar.

Prepare your wallets – October can't come soon enough for those eager to get their hands on this next-gen portable powerhouse.