ASUS announced the ROG Ally X on June 2, 2024 as a hardware refresh of the original Ally, keeping the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme while increasing memory, storage and battery capacity. The “bone” for existing Ally owners was software: ASUS announced Armoury Crate SE 1.5 for both devices, with library, profile and system-management improvements. The specifications below are announcement-era figures, not independent performance or battery-life test results.
ROG Ally X vs. the original Ally: announced specifications
This comparison uses the original Z1 Extreme Ally’s launch specifications as the reference. ASUS also sold the original Ally with a lower-tier Ryzen Z1 processor; the X announcement specified the Z1 Extreme.
| Feature | Original Ally Z1 Extreme | ROG Ally X, announced June 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| Memory | 16 GB LPDDR5, according to ASUS’s original Ally announcement. | 24 GB LPDDR5X-7500, according to ASUS’s Ally X announcement. |
| Internal storage | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 storage, according to ASUS’s original Ally announcement. | 1 TB M.2 2280 SSD, according to ASUS’s Ally X announcement. |
| Battery | Capacity not stated in the original announcement excerpt cited here. | 80 Wh. ASUS described this as double the previous model’s capacity; that is a capacity comparison, not a measured runtime claim. ASUS |
| Weight | Not stated in the source comparison cited here. | ASUS said the X weighs 70 grams more than the original Ally. ASUS |
| Chassis and controls | Original design. | Revised grips, joysticks, D-pad and face buttons, plus a black finish. ASUS |
| Ports | XG Mobile port. | Two USB-C ports; ASUS identifies USB4 speeds and Thunderbolt device support for one. ASUS comparison |
The X keeps the same processor model, so ASUS’s announcement describes a broader hardware refresh rather than a new processor generation. The larger memory specification is not, by itself, evidence of a particular frame-rate increase. The same applies to the battery: 80 Wh states stored capacity, not how many hours a particular game will run.
What original Ally owners got: Armoury Crate SE 1.5
In July 2024, ASUS announced Armoury Crate Special Edition 1.5 as a centralized hub for the ROG Ally and Ally X. Its listed features included a more console-like library interface, library views and search, favorites, per-game profiles, profile import and export, gyro support, manual-mode TDP control, calibration tools, and BIOS and driver updates collected in one place. ASUS’s Armoury Crate SE 1.5 announcement
#1 Best Overall
- 🚀 AMD RYZEN AI Z2 EXTREME PERFORMANCE: Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme 8-core, 16-thread processor (up to 5.0GHz max turbo) with AMD Radeon Graphics and 24MB smart cache, delivering ultra-smooth performance for AAA gaming, AI workloads, and multitasking.(Japan Version. It can be used in the United States with the included plug adapter, and the system language can be switched to English for normal use.)
- 💾 24GB LPDDR5X RAM & 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD: Equipped with 24GB high-speed LPDDR5X onboard memory and a 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD for lightning-fast boot times, quick game loading, and seamless multitasking across demanding applications.
- 🖥️ 7” FHD 120HZ TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY: Experience crisp visuals on a 7-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS-level touchscreen with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, responsive touch control, and vivid color reproduction for immersive gameplay.
- ❄️ ERGONOMIC DESIGN & INTELLIGENT COOLING: Designed for comfort during extended gaming sessions, featuring ergonomic grips and ROG’s advanced intelligent cooling system to maintain consistent performance under heavy workloads.
- 🎮 WINDOWS 11 WITH XBOX & PC GAME ECOSYSTEM: Runs on Windows 11, providing full compatibility with Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games Store, and other PC platforms—offering a true hybrid experience that blends console-style gaming with PC flexibility.
Those were software benefits announced for original Ally users as well as X owners. They do not give the original Ally the X’s larger battery, 24 GB memory, 1 TB SSD, revised chassis or expanded port arrangement. This describes ASUS’s 2024 update announcement, not the software’s current version or support status.
What changed physically, and what that means
More battery capacity, with added weight
ASUS positioned the 80 Wh battery as double the previous model’s capacity and said the X adds 70 grams compared with the original Ally. The figures make the trade-off clear at the specification level: more battery capacity comes with a heavier device. They do not establish actual play time or how comfortable the X feels in use.
Rank #2
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
More memory and a different SSD form factor
The announced 24 GB LPDDR5X-7500 is a larger and faster stated memory specification than the original Ally’s launch-era 16 GB LPDDR5. The X’s 1 TB M.2 2280 SSD also provides twice the launch-listed storage capacity of the original Z1 Extreme Ally’s 512 GB. A replaceable or upgraded drive still needs to be checked for compatibility with the device; a listed form factor alone does not validate every SSD.
Revised controls and broader USB-C connectivity
ASUS announced changes to the grips, joysticks, D-pad and face buttons, along with cooling revisions. Its materials describe two USB-C ports, with USB4 speeds and Thunderbolt device support identified for one port in the comparison article. That expands the connection options relative to the original’s XG Mobile port, but it does not establish compatibility with every dock or external GPU.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 4TB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
Is the Ally X a performance upgrade or mainly a hardware refresh?
The processor remains the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, while memory capacity, storage, battery capacity, controls and connectivity change. ASUS’s cited launch and comparison materials provide specifications and manufacturer claims, but no independent side-by-side gaming benchmarks or measured battery-runtime results. It would therefore be misleading to translate the memory or battery figures into a guaranteed frame-rate or hours-played improvement.
Should an original Ally owner consider upgrading?
The decision depends on whether the X’s hardware changes address a real limitation for you. The software announcement gave original Ally owners new features without requiring the X, while an upgrade would be about the hardware differences.
- Consider the X if more built-in storage, greater battery capacity, the revised controls, extra memory, or the additional USB-C connectivity are priorities.
- Keep the original Ally if its current hardware meets your needs and the Armoury Crate SE 1.5 features are the main improvements you wanted.
- Wait for evidence relevant to your use if your decision depends on actual gaming performance or runtime: the cited ASUS announcements do not supply comparative measurements.
ASUS listed the original Ally Z1 Extreme at a US launch price of $699 in 2023, but that is historical pricing, not a current price comparison. ASUS
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
