So I've had the ASUS ROG Ally X for a bit...

[@baldlyrudy]

Sponsor: Get your tomtoc Bag for your handheld PC here: amzn.to/40LlrZz ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ASUS ROG Ally X is the mid-gen refresh of the original ROG Ally. In many ways, the ROG Ally X fixed a lot of the issues that the original had. In my eyes, most of my issues were fixed. Despite the issues that the ROG Ally had with its microSD card, this seems to be a winner on many fronts. Would you guys get an ROG Ally X? Hi friends! If you're interested in purchasing anything that I mentioned in the video then here are some affiliate links: 🔥ASUS ROG Ally X: howl.me/cmydK0xRsjM 🔥ASUS ROG Ally (Old Model): howl.me/cmq8cfkGuDx 🔥ASUS ROG Ally (Old Model) (Amazon): amzn.to/48NY6c4 3rd Party Docks: 🔥JSAUX Docking Station: amzn.to/3EyFAIJ 🔥JSAUX Omnicase 2: amzn.to/3JksBMW 🔥iVoler Docking Station: amzn.to/3khmRKN SSD: 🔥SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe 4.0 1TB: amzn.to/3JnQQtH 🔥Samsung - 990 PRO 4TB: howl.me/cmyJy2SS9S5 microSD Cards: 🔥Samsung 512 GB A2: amzn.to/3KFXXPs 🔥SanDisk 1TB A2: amzn.to/3lXjx7Y Handheld Wireless Keyboards: 🔥Rii K06 Mini Bluetooth Keyboard: amzn.to/468HKuH 🔥Gimibox Mini Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard: amzn.to/46p0JRZ 🔥Rii X8 Portable 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboard: amzn.to/3PgQ5GJ 65W Power Banks: 🔥Baseus Power Bank 20000mAh: amzn.to/3CBfByL 🔥UGREEN Power Bank 25000mAh: amzn.to/3qQyMSG 🔥Anker Portable Charger 24,000mAh: amzn.to/3Pmej2m If you use these links to purchase anything, I may get a commission from the sale. It helps support the channel at no extra cost to you, so thank you!

[@bogdancatinean689]

I've had my Z1X Ally for the past 8 months and it's been great for me, i even took it to work on some dead weekend days to blast through my steam backlog. I can't justify upgrading to the Ally X because of budget constraints but my opinion is that this is the only Ally they should've released. Just saying.

[@baldlyrudy]

Agreed. It makes me wonder why Zotac is also going lower on the specs while everyone (ASUS, MSI, etc.) are going up.

[@LemonRush7777]

Asus business model requires them to do incremental upgrades to entice people to buy a new device. Pretty much why I prefer the Steam Deck: Valve has no interest in hardware sales, they are just a vehicle for software sales, so you can expect long term support for your product. Next upgrade will be a slightly better battery, 32 gb ram and OLED.

[@bogdancatinean689]

Would you guys want to exchange the ally for the steam deck? I might do that tbh.

[@LemonRush7777]

@bogdancatinean689 I have both and I almost never use the Ally. Mostly use it when the SD is out of juice, or for non-steam games / games that dont run well on Linux.

[@JamieR]

Thanks for the amount of work out out into your videos, Rudy. I truly expected you to have 500k+ subs (never checked before). Exceptional quality!

[@baldlyrudy]

Thank you so much! That means a ton. 🙌

[@RyanLBC]

I sold my sd OLED recently because I found myself always going back to the OG ALLY. I realized that most of the games I play are destiny 2, mw3, apex legends - games that don’t work on steam deck due to anti cheat software. I don’t want to hassle with dual booting windows and what not so I just sold it. If and when the deck becomes compatible with these types of games I’ll go back in a heart beat

[@redcrimson1028]

Selling your deck and rebuying it when three of your favorite common games that you want behind playable on the deck? Sounds like a waste of money to me. You'll be posting for the system twice lol smh

[@RyanLBC]

@@redcrimson1028 it’s more of a hobby of Mines to collect portable handhelds so buying and selling in some thing that I’m used to doing. Same goes for pcs- don’t ask me how many pcs I’ve built and sold. I have two 4090 builds and am selling one of them already only cus I wanted to try out amd vs intel CPUs lol

[@ab85main73]

@@redcrimson1028 sounds like poor people problems

[@undisturbed809]

The steam deck fanboy are going to burn you for saying that.

[@HitmonD]

​@redcrimson1028 that was an opinion so is it really wasted if he got his money worth back to get a better system for him and can actually play the games that HE wants as the consumer?

[@Hayden120]

Have you tried testing the sleep/resume function while running games? I'm hearing that Asus have improved the way it is managed by Armory Crate in 1.5. I'm curious to know if games can reliably be suspended without crashing or the device randomly waking up.

[@davidmanuel1814]

I need the answer to this… that would be a huge game changer. I once burnt out my trigger button because it randomly turned back on by itself while in my case and backpack, and it happened right before a nearly 2 month tour. That was rough…

[@Tyrone2714]

this does seem cool and i would definitely pick this up if i didn't already have a sd oled and if not for the asus controversy which makes me a bit nervous purchasing their products

[@kaiichinose9590]

I have a sd Oled and had an original ally. I had no issues with my ally but wanted to give each one a try and I’ll be selling my sd Oled. These improvements are enough for me and as much as I like the Oled I prefer vrr having the option of 900p or 1080p and just having all my games natively. I never play more than 2 hours unplugged and the deck Oled doesn’t get that great of battery life either when playing more intense titles. Not to mention I never use the track pads and the only time I ever used windows either my ally was when I initially set it up. Both are great devices. One could have both. Just purchase from Bestbuy’s with warranty or be a total tech member and you never deal with asus. If you have issues you get your money back or a brand new device off the shelf right then and there.not to mention most games don’t support 16:10 on my steam deck which is annoying for me. All that screen but can’t use it in most titles. Should have been 16:9.

[@maximum360]

The Ally X looks solid. I like my Steam Deck OLED but would consider this if I had the cash to spare. A Gamepass machine (not streaming) is enticing. I'm hoping Microsoft does come out with a handheld option.

[@antwanowens4013]

Well steam valves surpport is not that great either dom my experience

[@pain101890]

@antwanowens4013 I 2nd that and thier return policy on the steam isn't good at all.

[@backinblackskin23]

I'll get a sd OLED when it's cheap at the end of the year or early next year. I'll sell my og Ally or give it to my gf and buy an X from Best buy. I quite literally need the power and battery performance in terms of using a handheld PC gaming device. I had an og steam deck before but started picking up my Ally way more and the OLED looks way better than the og sd so I didn't mind selling it and waiting because it's the overall device improvement but not really pushing it's capability enough to justify a rush to the upgrade while I have the Ally.. they've done essentially what I want from these devices for the most part in one go from the X. A lot of people are sucking off valve while this isn't out but once this is out everything with speak for itself. I put the Ally over the og deck the OLED is about neck n neck with ally overall due to performance but it definitely has a slight edge in the other aspects of the device. I truly believe valve will perfect the deck in its performance and game support eventually but I'm calling things as I see em. Love that we are gaming in this era truly

[@AwfulMartian1]

Can’t wait for the ally x. I returned the z1x only because it was in the return window when they announced the x.

[@zainkagalwala3000]

@@AwfulMartian1 you are lucky mine was 3 days out of return window when this was announced

[@craigjoe8691]

Had the battery mod done on my Ally over 6 months ago and despite not having any battery life issues, I i find myself using the SD OLED much, much more for the simplicity and quick resume. Never had an issue coming back to a game I paused whereas on the Ally I get crashes and BSOD

[@craigjoe8691]

Oh yeah, and the community controller layout actually works on the SD. You don't have to give up the non working bindings on Auto and Gaming Mode like you do on the Ally. Steam input and bindings just work on the SD.

[@DJCJ999]

I'm personally considering Bazzite for my Ally OS... the Steam Deck's play/pause make a handheld imo.

[@baldlyrudy]

@DJCJ999 I've been considering messing with Bazzite as well.

[@udance4ever]

@@DJCJ999 Bazzite was a complete fail from me from day one - it installed to a partition just fine the first time and then it refused to complete a reinstall even though my secure and fast boot options were off (tried 4x). now I just dual boot to Batocera Linux and having some success getting Steam titles to show up inside it (Proton is fiddly so I keep Win11 on the machine to play Witcher 3)

[@Saif0412]

Setting refreshrate at 120 hz doesn't really drain more battery than at 60hz, because Freesync is only enabled at 120hz and screen matches the game fps whilst reducing stutter and tearing. Good preview otherwise 👍🏽

[@bassderek]

I’ve been on the fence. I really want the ergo and battery Improvements but don’t know if I can justify the cost since I only paid $400 for my OG Z1X.

[@robertwendal5894]

It's no different than the steam deck, if you have an LCD an OLED is an unnecessary upgrade.

[@bassderek]

@@robertwendal5894 I’d almost argue the Steam Deck is a bigger upgrade between lcd oled than Ally to Ally X. The deck got lighter and more comfortable to hold and the OLED screen is way better than the LCD.

[@TNDandTMD]

Don't get it

[@udance4ever]

Im in the similar boat - dunno if you just got yours but I can still return my Z1X by next Tue and pay the 75% upgrade

[@MrTalalaa]

I love my Rog ally but my biggest gripe is the battery life it’s so abysmal, I play Elden ring on performance mode with amd fluid motion frames hooked up to my Xreal air 2 pro with the Rog ally display turned off and I get around an hour from 80% (battery saver mode) that to me is just a joke

[@baldlyrudy]

Yuuuuup. I get that. But that's why the 80Whr of the Ally X has such an impact.

[@TNDandTMD]

The ally x will only last 2 hours at BEST. It is still not good

[@kysierkevin]

@@TNDandTMD Not true atll. Many youtubers have tested battery life and it is 4 hours minimum for triple a games at 20W sustained and Max tdp

[@liothesilverwing3016]

@@kysierkevin The simple math doesn't add up on that. The Steam Deck, which has a much lower TDP, draws about 20-25W on AAA games. The Ally is closer to 45W on AAA, which is why so many have complained about the battery life...and yeah, 45W is still gonna give you just under 2 hours with the bigger 80Wh battery.

[@toasternfriends3329]

@@TNDandTMD People have unrealistic expectations in the battery department. They want a device with a great screen and resolution, fantastic graphics and overall performance, and they want to play AAA games for hours on end on a device that would fly away in a mild breeze.

[@deadly134]

Here’s my only and I mean ONLY problem with it. In Canada right now the preorder is 1100$ plus tax so total would be 1300$ that’s well out of the price Range for a handheld if you ask me

[@baldlyrudy]

Yeah. It's basically a PC. Just in a handheld form.

[@ounaku]

Would be waiting for the Ally 2 where there is actual power improvement from AMD

[@baldlyrudy]

That's fair. I can see that happening next year.

[@hotdognobun]

You wait another year then while we all have fun playing on the go now.

[@calebkilpatrick212]

@@hotdognobun a lot of people already have the rog ally, and would rather wait for more power than a redesigned one w basically the same specs

[@paulkendrick4153]

@@hotdognobun On the go? Nice joke. You have to be near a wall at all times with its laughable battery 🔋 😂 😆

[@paulkendrick4153]

@@calebkilpatrick212 The people buying this are literally hilarious. Paying so much money for this when they can just patiently wait.

[@WhistleblowerMovement]

does it have an ambient light sensor so the brightness could adjust according to environment light?

[@baldlyrudy]

I don't think there is an ambient sensor. I always need to adjust the screen brightness manually.

[@firstclaims30]

Rog ally was already the best handheld on the market, imagine now with the ally x

[@baldlyrudy]

Like I said, they improved everything I didn't like about the original.

[@OblivionPrime]

Agreed and i cant wait to get my X

[@parlaypapi1743]

@@OblivionPrime are these out yet?

[@baldlyrudy]

@@parlaypapi1743 they release July 22nd, IIRC.

[@GamersInkInfo]

Yeah, no XG Mobile port, the XG Mobile was so expensive, anyone that spent that much money on it got screwed. They could have added the port with a USBC 4.0 port built in, or put the USBC 4.0 port at the bottom or something. It wouldn't have said, sorry, we know you spent $750 - 2K on an XG Mobile but it's now useless on future generations.

[@baldlyrudy]

My thoughts exactly. I was never a fan of it.

[@Smlworld798]

I have the original ROG ally I did not buy a new one. I bought the old one. It’s the original.

[@dtdang0309]

For me, it's the nvme 2280 enclosure is definitely make my decision at lot easier.

[@udance4ever]

same here. it's nice to know you can put a 4GB stick in there & that at some point, the cost of 8TB sticks will come down eventually!

[@InterstellarTaco]

The biggest enemy to all of these handhelds is running off windows.

[@baldlyrudy]

Agreed

[@mikejames6588]

This is an insult. The ally x should have been the ally. The most insulting part is the experience is identical. The most important thing about a handheld is the display. If you skinned the 1st gen ally in black and group tested with the ally x , users would not notice a difference. This is dead on arrival. Dead

[@TNDandTMD]

Exactly! It's especially a slap in the face to all original ally owners. I'm selling my ally and I already ordered a steam deck oled. I will never buy directly from Asus again. I got the ally for $750 total and now it will only sell for about $400.

[@jessewarren9109]

Why are they holding the FPS and battery life numbers back? are they afraid? They should not have even open pre orders until they reveal this.

[@atinybard6594]

@jessewarren9109 Yeah, def not picking this up until a week after it launches, and everyone has had a chance to review it for real. Never pre-order this stuff.

[@baldlyrudy]

Nah. Typical embargo stuff apparently. I wouldn't know much, personally. The other handhelds that I have were purchased with my own money. The Ally X was sent to me.

[@baldlyrudy]

@atinybard6594 smart, IMO.

[@paulkendrick4153]

@@atinybard6594 I agree. People in the world that pre order are clowns and ruined gaming. Still can’t believe we live in an age where people pay money for an unfinished product. DLCs,Early Access, Paid Subscriptions can all kiss my @ss. Bunch of greedy people. Main reason I enjoy pirating games for my Steam Deck. Miss the days where you just went in a Store and bought a game with the entire completion.

[@powerplay074]

Huge 80wh battery

[@Jimbokoln]

This was not a great review, seemed very biased and best, dishonest at worst. He doesn’t even recommend you buy it directly from Asus but from one of the links in the description which he doesn’t disclose if is an affiliate link or not, then he says anecdotal evidence like ‘my wife said it felt lighter!’. Also when talking about a feature like the ultra-sleep he’s not even sure he knows what it does, ‘maybe something for the downloads? I dunno but I spoke with the developers and engineers, also if it doesn’t work it’s windows fault not asus’.

[@baldlyrudy]

It's not a review. More of a first impressions video. With everything that's happening with ASUS and their customer service, why would anyone recommend buying the product directly from them? Yes, there were anecdotal parts of the video, but there are literally specs shown with numbers. Lol. That feature that was mentioned isn't fully baked yet. But it should be at the time of the retail release. And yes, there are sleep/wake problems that have arisen in contrast to Steam OS that are tied directly with Windows and cannot be fixed with Armoury Crate. Though I've heard hibernate is much better than sleep on Windows. It apparently provides similar functionality compared to the Steam Deck's sleep function. Haven't tested it myself on games yet. There's also an app called Nyma, but again...haven't tested it.

[@xsaviangames2705]

Nice Video And Info, My Biggest Fear With The Ally Is Their Customer Service Trying To Scam Customers On Repairs That Have Been Going On All Over KZbin. I Decided To Go With The 1TB Steam Deck Oled. Maybe I'll Pick This One Up In The Future...

[@baldlyrudy]

Understandable. And they see that as an issue after Steve's video. It definitely brought an issue that was already happening to light.

[@entertainmentgaming8738]

you got scammed by a valve paid shill. The customer service for Asus is far better than nexus claims for clicks and valves money. the steam deck hardware is inferior in every aspect, unless you just need those niche needless trackpads. for the same price, the ally is a no brainer. theyve even had better quality updates and fixes in a shorter amount of time than it took steam deck to work properly. dont listen to paid youtubers, there is a reason they need so many youtubers to upsell their inferior product

[@ddog4171]

Got a launch ally and even though I still use it regularly, after just a year the sd card reader was fried and have a squeaky right trigger and left stick got worn down and can turn the thumb stick so sadly wouldn't buy another again.also the heat wore off all the barcode and info on the bottom of the console...other than all of that, it works great 😂

[@sjzafrani]

If you registered it you can look up the serial that way on asus website. I just rma mine last week under warranty. We’ll see how long it takes

[@baldlyrudy]

I got mine on day one. I haven't run into issues with my SD card reader.

[@udance4ever]

@@sjzafrani yeah they extended the warranty to 2 years - I confirmed this speaking to them on the phone Monday and the date is reflected in MyASUS (15 months left, fingers crossed)

[@adamredwine774]

Still a toss up between this and Steam deck. Leaning Steam deck since I'm a big fan of linux generally but I could be swayed to the Ally.

[@udance4ever]

im new here - can the SD even boot Windows? dual-booting the Ally to Windows and Linux works well. you can boot off a microSD but only through a USB-C adaptor or hub.

[@kmorris4140]

Genuine question, how long does the battery last? I’m looking at getting this or the steam deck? Thanks.

[@baldlyrudy]

I can't talk numbers until after the embargo. 🫠 Edit: Embargo is July 22nd.

[@Xanthira222]

The major issue with the Ally is the abysmal battery life. I could see value in it if you can constantly stay plugged in. But for someone looking for a true portable hand held IMO it lacks value. If you are someone buying one your primary game system it could be a great choice. But if you have a gaming PC and want an on the go option it's meh. The other issue being Asus and their shady practices and terrible customer support.

[@TNDandTMD]

Exactly! If you have a pc already just go for the deck. Even with double the battery life, the ally x will struggle with its ridiculous battery demand

[@udance4ever]

yeah i'm def in the class of this being my first gaming PC (upgrading from a docked broken screen 2015 MBP) - so Im easily impressed :D

[@sventibold]

I LOVE my Ally Z1 extreme, with all her flaws 😅

[@baldlyrudy]

Lol. Nothing wrong with that.

[@serhii_himself_98]

9:58 fo be honest eGPU acronym makes as much sense as the ePGU - whether it's graphic processing unit or processing graphic unit both means the same xD

[@baldlyrudy]

That was a typo on my part. 😅

[@clem9808]

800$ for a z1 performance? Handheld devs are getting more and more ambitious.

[@martinklein2201]

Is there a better processor for handhelds?

[@riomendoza1111]

Is there some older handhelds I'm not aware of they when they started they were right on ?

[@TNDandTMD]

​@@martinklein2201no but there are way better batteries

[@Valkaze111]

@@clem9808 at least it’s the “most affordable” option out there for the top spec windows handhelds in the market.

[@Digikidthevoiceofreason]

ePGU? Wtf is a ePGU ??? Spell check is a great thing. 😂😂😂

[@baldlyrudy]

If only Davinci Resolve had Spell check. 😅

[@briandickson6470]

Rog Ally X vs a 4050 laptop? Can find the laptop for slightly less then the Ally.

[@TNDandTMD]

Definitely get the laptop. The rog ally gpu is equivalent to a gtx 1660 at best

[@federicocatelli8785]

Performance wise no contest....you get stuff like the Ally because of the form factor that allows to play resting on the couch,bed etc...

[@D.Middzz]

I was looking at the Lenovo Legion Go, but since this was announced, should I wait for this instead?

[@baldlyrudy]

There are rumors of a Legion Go Lite in the works. I like the Legion Go, but for very specific things.

[@GamerGuy1985]

I would get this instead.

[@baldlyrudy]

@@GamerGuy1985 I would as well. Just depends on what they want out of the device.

[@BrandonD]

The original was super glitchy. It got really hot and almost made it feel like my hands were burning. It kicked me out of the game like every few minutes. I took it back and vowed to never get another one.

[@baldlyrudy]

You're 100% right. The original got toasty. I'd like to run more tests so I can get numbers, but early impressions show the cooling in the Ally X is superior.

[@BrandonD]

@@baldlyrudy thank you

[@baldlyrudy]

@@BrandonD no worries. I'll have an in depth video with more info once the embargo is over.

[@pain101890]

​@baldlyrudy when is the embargo over? On release date ?

[@BrandonD]

@@pain101890 July 22

[@2buckgeo843]

6c better thermals is not that big imo. 15c and higher is worth it. Like going from air to AIO. Big jump. The only thing I see the X having that’s good is the battery. That’s it. But who has 3 hours to play video games…. Adults are busy making $$$

[@Diego-de6dq]

The base rog ally is sold at less than 600€ in my country and the the new rog ally x costs 950 €. In no world is the new x worth over the base ally.

[@pintobeans994]

Got my z1 rog for 340. Loving it.

[@baldlyrudy]

That's a heck of a steal.

[@adamdavis1737]

I just picked up that model for about that price. I think at that price point It's more than fair for it being The lower performance model For me it's an upgrade from a Nintendo switch so it still blows it out of the water either way lol

[@udance4ever]

Seems like a bunch of peeps are trading in their Ally Extremes to put a preorder for the Ally X so Best Buy is selling a bunch of them at 456 just because it's missing an adaptor. At this price I can totally swallow it and appreciate the machine. I can't help but want the bigger battery, 2380 NVMe and esp USB4 to futureproof this lil guy but I can't swallow nearly twice the cost at the moment! that said, I have til next week to decide...

[@mbarrera2]

@@udance4ever so what did you decide? I just found an open box one for 325 small scratch but nothing a screen protector can’t cover

[@zomg346]

Same gpu and cpu so kinda pointless to upgrade for now.i wait for ally 2 or steam deck 2

[@baldlyrudy]

Like I said in the video, if battery and ergonomics are important, then it's worth it. If not, then don't.

[@federicocatelli8785]

The added RAM makes quite some difference in game like Avatar (on the Ally it stutters a lot on the Ally X works fine)

[@zomg346]

@@federicocatelli8785 at most it's 5-6 fps more In most games .I say 5 fps more for 500 bucks more ain't worth it

[@federicocatelli8785]

@@zomg346 I concur that price is the main issue with Ally X

[@zomg346]

@@federicocatelli8785 yeah over here in Europe it's going for almost 1100

[@inflamesv]

Bro do you know if this will be usable with 24V charger in car?

[@udance4ever]

as long as the power supply produces the wattage you need, I dont see why it wouldn't work - it's USB-C!

[@iiarskii]

I think I’ll just buy a 70$ power bank to pair with my rog ally and wait for the ally 2

[@federicocatelli8785]

Wish it was somewhat cheaper.....at not much more than 900 eur you start seeing some cheap laptop with dedicated gpu

[@CyberDopamine]

I love it dude. Top notch quality

[@baldlyrudy]

Thanks dude! 🙌

[@barkermush7147]

As you've had it for a while, what's like playing plugged in? I ask because I don't like the location of those usb ports, right infront of the heat exhaust vents. We know how much heat the original Ally gives off. So having your power lead going over that exhaust vent surely can't be good? Won't it end up with overheating the charging cable or even the actual charging port? At least on the original Ally, the usb port is in the center, between those 2 heat exhausts.

[@baldlyrudy]

Funnily enough, I was thinking about this in the morning while running some tests. A USB port on the bottom and the top (similar to the Legion Go) would've been best. The only concern that I would have is that being close to the battery and how it would impact the heat around it. Are those concerns unfounded? Because I'm not sure. Edit: Yes! There's heat there. I'm just not sure if that heat would ruin the wire overtime or not.

[@barkermush7147]

@@baldlyrudy Thanks for checking. Let's hope not, I've already pre-ordered the Ally X.. and I will be playing plugged in mainly. I wonder if there is something like a sideways adapter I could buy (like the right angle jsaux ones) to make the lead come from the side instead of over the vent..

[@baldlyrudy]

@@barkermush7147 that's definitely a possible solution.

[@udance4ever]

while heat is not any the best friend of any electrical component - I can only imagine it's more important to direct heat away from things that are more sensitive like the CPU, GPU, battery, SSD, micro SD, chips, etc. My guess is wires can take a beating esp if you're not exchanging any data over the wire!

[@Flo.891]

@@barkermush7147 One question: Does constant battery charging not weak the battery lifespan?

[@alphamacguru]

Does this version allow boot from SD card?

[@udance4ever]

i don't get how Lenovo and ASUS left this out of the BIOS. I have a zillion micro SDs for Batocera Linux development!

[@Jello_Criminal]

I find myself with a bit of extra money this month. I want to buy a handheld i haven't had my own computer/laptop in 2 years. I got a job now and my first check is all for myself and I dont want/dont have the time to a deticated laptop or computer so i really am leaning towards a portable. Can you just recommend one of the handhelds to me i like RPGs and games like project zomboid. Thanks

[@baldlyrudy]

Honestly, you might be fine with the Steam Deck because of how lightweight Project Zomboid is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZCsmoWmhbtqrJYsi=ugMo8oT6OM0mB3-K If you want heavier hitting titles to run smoothly, then I'd go with the ROG Ally X or Legion Go. Both are great options with different pros and cons.

[@LordDahmirious]

Does the Ally X not come with case?

[@baldlyrudy]

No. It doesn't. That's an extra accessory.

[@robgbaby]

@@baldlyrudy Disappointing considering the other big handheld PCs come with one. And no track pad.

[@ratchat111]

ROGLOX it’s a pretty good device only the differences the ram and the batteries rest. Everything is same, but I still recommend allegiant go with the biggest screen with amazing group with different style of flame.

[@extremium_studios]

Wow! When I younger I couldn't even imagine handhelds that have this kind of power. Might pick one up.

[@baldlyrudy]

Same! It's absolutely insane how far tech has gone.

[@Diamond5854Kevin]

How dare you it's still good the device the original one they made on hard work

[@jeraldehlert7903]

ok. So I Like this video... but... you don't have to say the fully branded name of the device every. single. time. It gets old 🙂

[@baldlyrudy]

Haha! I get that. I tend to avoid nicknames, but I appreciate the feedback.

[@CosmicApe]

Something that might also matter to some users; PWM. The SD OLED has pretty abysmal PWM performance and can be damaging on the eyes and cause strain to some users. The ROG Ally has nearly a 100% flicker free screen. If you care about that sort of thing, the Ally screen will be significantly better on your eyes, even if you aren't PWM sensitive and don't get headaches, etc.

[@fpvpilot7713]

My rog Ally dies in 45 minutes running medium settings. That is the deal breaker for me. Double that would still suck. My minimum would be 4 to 5 hours on any new device I buy. That’s what makes me like the switch, it runs almost all day. Improving graphics, fps and resolution is not better to me if you lose battery life. The X is no way worth my Ally and 5 hundred dollars.

[@baldlyrudy]

If that's the case, then why don't you just run the Ally/Ally X at 720p and at low settings (still a better resolution than the Switch). You'll easily get more than 45 minutes at those settings. Running it at 25w will give you that performance. 15w and 720p is a more realistic setting to get better battery life.

[@cameronphelps6740]

You just made some shit up bro lololol 45 minutes. Behave. Lolol “that’s why I like the switch”? Like homie just said run games at 720 p then. Even at 1080p no game is gonna kill the Rog ally in 45 minutes unless you’re playing a game like Callisto protocol on high settings at 1080p….unless you’re plugged in don’t even do that.

[@rorisangpitswane3595]

When it comes to handheld gaming, there’s a tradeoff. 1. Steam Deck’s have average higher than average running times when compared to its competition BUT also struggle to optimise the steam library leading to certain poor performances on certain games and cannot run games that use “anti-cheat” 2.ROG Ally X, better than Steam Deck in literally every spec provided, can play “anti-cheat” games and is a far more demanding console… If you are someone that loves the outdoors, love to travel, and are looking for something you want to game on the go with CHOOSE STEAM DECK. But If you’re looking for the pound for pound for pound best portable gaming PC experience, with limited portability then the ROG Ally-X is for you. Personally, I value portability within my household. Instead of sitting in front of a monitor and ruining my spine or setting up in game of Fifa and my shoulders start aching. I’d much rather game within the comfort and leisure of my home. Sure potentially being able to bring a portable device on certain outings can still happen with enough preparation (power banks etc) but I’m more so focused on the portability within my own home.

[@paulkendrick4153]

@@Cakebattered Switch 2 will make this overpriced copycat garbage irrelevant when it’s released. Imagine buying anything from a horrible company like Asus 😆

[@MumeiGami]

​@@paulkendrick4153 you do realize the switch itself is a copycat like all other consoles Nintendo or anyone has ever made right? The only original handheld console is the Microvision. Which was made by smith engineering and not Nintendo. Also this is a computer so no switch 2 will not blow this out of the water unless it releases 3 or more years from now. Unless your only metric is battery life (which can be pretty close to good on ally and likely good on the X if you know how to set up your games) but keep fanboying harmon smith.

[@seanslife7822]

You can get an 8tb ssd

[@Rhoody]

I’m trying to find out if the hard drive from the first ally will work with the Ally X? Does anyone know?

[@baldlyrudy]

I don't think it will. The Ally has a 2230 and the Ally X is a 2280. It might work with an adapter though.

[@googleboy7530]

Sadly, Asus doesn’t care about warranty

[@fqomarumbois-bc9wg]

Steamdeck lets fix flaw with software Ally lets fix with releasing new device

[@baldlyrudy]

Lol. No. The Steam Deck OLED did almost the same thing as the Ally.

[@Padawan333]

I really wish these had a custom slimmed down version of windows. Thats my only issue I have with my Ally

[@baldlyrudy]

Agreed. But I don't think it'll ever happen. Windows is more geared towards everything else and gaming is a sliver of its usage. This is especially true when you compare it to the commercial side.

[@GUILTYKING-c6z]

Can't wait to see the full review

[@catchwreck928]

They dropped the Ball by not making it have a bigger screen. it should of atleast 8 Inches*PAUSE NO SUS* also asus i heard was moving kinda funny style so that doesnt help. Over all personally if you have a handheld regardless if steam deck lenovo ally, i say tough it out until they release the ally 2, go2, or steamdeck 2 OR another handheld that beats all three. i have a feeling somethings coming.... like someone said earlier down in the comments this was the version they should of released. GOOD VIDEO BTW i like your style.

[@baldlyrudy]

You know what, I'm okay with 7", but I posted a poll asking what people thought and the majority also preferred 8". I also think something is coming. I'm surprised there isn't a handheld with Stix Point at this point. I'm guessing everyone is saving it for the next round of handhelds?

[@Fr1edBr3ad]

Yea no, making the bezels smaller would have been a nice touch tho.

[@TNDandTMD]

Yeah I'm waiting for the steam deck 2 for sure

[@robertwendal5894]

I'm 6'4 so my hands are large, Ally is extremely uncomfortable for long periods of time, Legion go is the most comfortable for me.

[@baldlyrudy]

I get where you're coming from. The only thing I don't like about the ergonomics on the Legion Go is the rough edges on the side of the grips.

[@TNDandTMD]

The ally is designed for TINY hands, I can't use it for more than a half hour without a special case

[@robertwendal5894]

@@TNDandTMD yes my pinkies would bend in and cramp up, I'm not a young man anymore so that hits the joints after awhile. Reminds me of something LTT once pointed out covering the PSVR 2, the nose area was made for Asian faces, essentially your engineers are developing products based on their comfort, which is vastly different from European descent form factors.

[@oryanstar1010]

EXTENSIVE RETURN WINDOW IF YOU MEAN 15 DAYS FOR RETURNS I WOULD DISAGREE ABOUT THAT RETURN WINDOW USED TO BE LIKE A MONTH BAD PEOPLE RUIN IT FOR GOOD PEOPLE

[@joselerma3325]

I’m new to this but idk which one to get bro what do you recommend me to get

[@baldlyrudy]

100% depends on the games that you want to play. If you want to play games that have Anti-Cheat software (COD, Overwatch, etc.), then I'd recommend a Windows device like the ROG Ally X or Legion Go. If you're going to play more single player games and want a more console-like experience at the cost of power and performance, then the Steam Deck may be the better choice. Right now, the best one on paper is the Ally X. That could obviously change in the future as tech advances. But even the original Ally is still solid today.

[@TheKingdavid004]

Thank you pre order mine from best buy

[@baldlyrudy]

You're welcome! Happy gaming!

[@angin52]

SD card heating problem has been solved?

[@Momo14161]

@@angin52 yep

[@Addicted2cars]

Greetings from Poland :D

[@baldlyrudy]

Cześć!

[@darkoppz18]

one question is it compatible with my xg 4090 rtx? it looks like they removed the top port it usese to connect to the xg i jus got the 4090 it cost way to much not to use it with the upgrade

[@TNDandTMD]

I don't think it will be

[@Jimmyz96]

they added a thunderbolt port, you'll be able to use it

[@AmaurisRM]

Is better to wait for the x or buy the Lenovo?

[@baldlyrudy]

Depends on what you want. If it's just performance, then the Ally X has a slight advantage. If its resolution and perfect integer scaling, then the Legion Go.

[@PeteOnTheBeat]

Question: can we play Game pass games offline on the Ally?

[@baldlyrudy]

I haven't tested that, and I'm actually on vacation at the moment. But my assumption would be no. The DRM with Game Pass is pretty strict, even on their own consoles.

[@chrisaawalker]

Yes you can. In the Xbox app there's a toggle to turn on offline mode and it's what I've done to play Forza Motorsport on my laptop when travelling. I imagine it's no different with Ally being the same OS.

[@RavageSoul69]

Can you log in to your windows account or do you have to create a new one during first set up?

[@baldlyrudy]

Either or. You have the option to do either when setting up.

[@udance4ever]

@@baldlyrudy were you able to use Windows Backup to bring all your settings from your Ally to your Ally X?

[@zenphotocraftmedia8326]

How nits is the screen brightness

[@baldlyrudy]

It has the same panel as the original Ally, so up to 500 nits.

[@vjaymetal9626]

hi, I just want to know if its safe or okay to play Ally while charging? Will it not reduce the battery life?

[@baldlyrudy]

You should be fine. It would run at 30w.

[@vjaymetal9626]

@@baldlyrudy thanks. 😊

[@baldlyrudy]

@vjaymetal9626 you're welcome.

[@udance4ever]

be sure to have the "Battery Care" option on so it only keeps the battery charged at 80%

[@OSKSNAKE]

Thats crazy how much of a difference the big screen makes. I can't do anything lower than 8 inches. Just watching you play and seeing how small UI elements are strains my eyes.

[@baldlyrudy]

It's funny. I'm okay with 7", but I think the 8.8" that the Legion Go has is almost too big. I think 8" would be a sweet spot for the next batch of handhelds.

[@DaltPlaysGuitar]

Until the Ally gets track pads I’ll be on the Steam Deck

[@baldlyrudy]

Fair. How do you feel about the Zotac Zone?

[@Cub__]

@@baldlyrudy I don't like the look of it, looks cheap (even if it's not) and not a fan of the Dpad + the trackpads that are on it seem way too low to be used as functional as the ones on the Steam Deck but that's my opinion.

[@Digikidthevoiceofreason]

Track pads are not needed. It has a touchscreen.

[@baldlyrudy]

@@Cub__ yeah. I can see that. But I'd want to really give it a go on a long term basis to see how I really feel about it.

[@baldlyrudy]

@@Digikidthevoiceofreason I would say it depends on the game. I don't play RTS games, but I know track pads are basically a must.

[@serhattaskesen3635]

I wish i could afford one 😢

[@TNDandTMD]

If you ever can, get a steam deck instead because the ally's battery is awful

[@mreverybody1150]

The SteamDeck LCD is cheapish.

[@מתןנודלמן-ב7ש]

Steam deck oled or Rog ally x?

[@baldlyrudy]

If you're only looking at specs, then I'd go with the Ally X.

[@TNDandTMD]

If you want a handheld that has good enough battery though get the deck

[@midphoenix]

As GTA is releasing next year and if ROG Ally X isn't that powerful to run it in quality graphics this Asus must be working on ROG Ally 2 to play games like GTA 6

[@dimensionfive1780]

@@midphoenix gta 6 will run enjoyably on ps6 and rog ally 3

[@midphoenix]

@@dimensionfive1780 PS6? And ROG Ally 3????? It will launch next year for PS5

[@dimensionfive1780]

@@midphoenix Look at gta 5 graphics on PS3 and compare with gta 5 graphics on PS5. Then look at the Most recent avatar game's framerate on PS5. Ps5 won't play the game very enjoyably. Ps5 pro will be ok. Ps6 will be gooder Have a nice day ✌️

[@midphoenix]

@@dimensionfive1780 PS3 launched in 2006, PS4 in 2013 PS5 in 2020 So PS6 will be launching in 2026-2029

[@midphoenix]

@@dimensionfive1780 I guess you mean ROG Ally 2. Cause what launched this year is just Rog ally X with just more ram and battery and ofcourse storage but the CPU and graphics is the same

[@marklaskey7780]

Great video mate

[@baldlyrudy]

Thanks!

[@yanicmb]

So what about the people that spent 800 dollars on the last unit last year? So they needed one year to réalise that they needed to make the unit have a better battery in the first place?? Lol

[@baldlyrudy]

My guess is that they didn't think people cared that much about battery life, ergonomics, and RAM.

[@yanicmb]

@@baldlyrudy lol sheepish thats rough lol

[@baldlyrudy]

@yanicmb lol. You're funny.

[@JabiPapi]

@@baldlyrudy Who wouldn't care about battery life? It's supposed to be handheld, so I doubt everyone wants their handheld to be plugged constantly. I like your content but this is nonsense, it's all about money for these companies.

[@baldlyrudy]

@JabiPapi I agree! A little context on why I said what I said: the PC space is primarily geared towards getting more frames and more power at the cost of other things, like power. It would make sense that from a marketing and psychographic standpoint that these companies would gear these handhelds to be more powerful at the cost of battery consumption. Frames have been the primary concern for these companies, after all. At the same time, I 100% agree with you. Corporations are after one thing: profit. I just see it from both angles and like to understand all as many sides of an argument as possible.

[@GamerDan89]

I'm gonna get it. First I bought the Ally and it was mind blowing. Then I bought the LeGo for bigger screen. Since then I never touched my Ally again. Sadly. So I really want to get the X but do I need it tho?

[@CandyChannel1966]

I doubt it

[@GamerDan89]

​@@CandyChannel1966why?

[@TNDandTMD]

Waste of money. The only improvements are the battery (barely), the ram, and another usb-c port. The original ally sold for over $700 and now they are on Ebay for under $400. Should say a lot

[@CandyChannel1966]

@@GamerDan89 You answered your own question. If you get it from Best Buy you will have at least 2 weeks or more to decide between the two.

[@oscargomezrivera]

I sold my ally and pre-order the x I just hope all the ally accessories work with the x without issues

[@baldlyrudy]

Most work aside from things that are tied to the shape of the handheld, like the case. The HDMI charger works just fine.

[@TNDandTMD]

Bro you lost a whole lot of momey for nothing

[@NothingHereForYou]

I’ve been using my deck less. As a switch user mainly for handheld the deck is just too chunky and heavy and the high up analog sticks I’m not a fan of. I’m debating this, it looks real nice

[@baldlyrudy]

So far it's a nice experience.

[@udance4ever]

the Ally X weighs more and going to be on par w your SD though.

[@NothingHereForYou]

@@udance4ever at least it would have the lower analog stick

[@udance4ever]

@@NothingHereForYou I totally noticed that the other day - that would be weird for me too!

[@Pocketrotom]

So, I have a question. I don0t really know much about how hardware works, so it might be a silly question. If I buy a USB C Hub with HDMI (say, one from UGreen), I am able to connect the Asus ROG Ally X to a HDMI monitor, or I always need an EGPU? And if I need an EGPU for that, is there any specifications that I need to take in mind, or kinda "anything" goes with them?

[@baldlyrudy]

You can connect the handheld to the monitor using the USB C hub with the HDMI out.

[@Pocketrotom]

@@baldlyrudy Great, amazing. Thank you for the info

[@baldlyrudy]

@@Pocketrotom you're welcome! I hope you enjoy your handheld. 🙌

[@erickauffeld6423]

I just want to see real world battery test please

[@baldlyrudy]

I'm recording numbers, but I can't share anything until July 22nd.

[@SnooZeGamezZz]

What about the pinky being underneath the device? does it cramp or hurt after awhile?

[@baldlyrudy]

Nah. Not for me. It just doesn't have a place to go. 😅

[@SnooZeGamezZz]

@@baldlyrudy so you're able to hold the device sturdy without the use of the pinkies? They aren't helping you prop it up and keep it in place? RetroGameCorps seemed to feel like it was weighing on his pinkies after about 10mins.

[@baldlyrudy]

@SnooZeGamezZz yeah. Seems that way. Like Russ said, it could very well be a personal problem for him. My pinkies don't get numb or tired because I don't put the weight of the device solely on my pinkies. I use the whole grip to support the device, similar to using the grip on the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally. Russ's argument is valid, but what he said is something that I didn't experience. Edit: The longest play session that I had with it was around 3 hours of only Elden Ring. Good times.

[@SnooZeGamezZz]

@@baldlyrudy Thanks for the responses!! I was wondering because when playing with my Logitech G Cloud laying down my pinky does go numb after awhile.

[@baldlyrudy]

@@SnooZeGamezZz no worries! I don't have a Logitech G Cloud to compare. My guess is that the G Cloud is lighter than the Ally X though.

[@horticultural261]

did they fix the sd card reader

[@Sagenarf6227]

I’m pretty sure the 2024 fixed it already but I’m not 100% sure

[@amai8094]

@@Sagenarf6227 is this real? im honestly wanna try but wouldn't really sacrifice a good sd card

[@ZaberfangX]

Time will tell as problems of the first ally not every have the problem but most do.

[@shartantv]

@@horticultural261 yes, it was fixed in ally x

[@cyberslasho8]

Just thought you should know there is an AI KZbin channel that stole basically this whole script and video, and posted it with just an AI voiceover. Just lettin ya know

[@baldlyrudy]

Interesting. What's the channel?

[@cyberslasho8]

@@baldlyrudy TechnoTrend Zone

[@baldlyrudy]

@cyberslasho8 thanks!

[@baldlyrudy]

Got I resolved. Thank you for letting me know.

[@cyberslasho8]

@@baldlyrudy 👍

[@TNDandTMD]

If you already have a pc, just get the steam deck. The ally's battery only lasts like 50 minutes and the ally x's will only last an hour and 40 minutes.. still horrible

[@dimensionfive1780]

can you do the smartphone camera 1/4000 or 1/8000 shutter speed test over the ally X screen. If the screen truely works the same as the original ally, it shouldn't use pwm dimming and thus not cause eyestrain issues.... unlike steamdeck ips or oled, etc.

[@Cedjez]

I also prefer curves

[@baldlyrudy]

👊

[@fuzzymuppet1990]

I've been contiplating between this and the steamdeck . MY main use case will be using sunshine/moonlight streaming from my main pc. So SD oled would be a good option since u can run it on super low tdp, and u can play on the oled screen. The ally is faster natively and i would have more freedom to do other things in a native Windows environment.. hmm decisions decisions

[@baldlyrudy]

The low TDP of the Steam Deck is unparalleled. If that's your main use case, then get the OLED model with the largest battery and you'll be set.

[@TNDandTMD]

Definitely get the steam deck oled instead. I'm selling my ally because of the battery being so awful even on low tdp

[@davidmason8497]

I no sure if original it no very good and the button it so loud what about SD card slot it still burn?

[@juan150]

Nicely done, thanks for the review, very useful 😊

[@baldlyrudy]

Thank you! I'll get back with more numbers after the embargo.

[@joshuawalker7038]

Looking at this as a OLED Deck owner, just curious about the battery. How’s the haptics or vibration? That’s the weakest part of the Deck

[@Samelala]

Even worse on the ally (own both).

[@joshuawalker7038]

@@Samelala thank you

[@TNDandTMD]

The Ally's is HORRIBLE

[@mattman6886]

I don’t have a SD OLED but I have the og SD and an Ally, and the Ally has MUCH MUCH MUCH better haptics than the Deck.

[@venancioder9288]

I heard the warranty is ass the only good handheld with great warranty is legion go but i really wanted the all x but help me out legion go or ally x

[@baldlyrudy]

On paper, the Ally X is better. Personally, I've always preferred these Ally over the Legion Go. It was a better totally package for what I wanted. The Ally X looks better so far. Need to test more.

[@TNDandTMD]

If you have a main pc already just get a steam deck. The battery on the allies is atrocious

[@KeiDash-zs6df]

Does micro sd card problem fixed on ally x?

[@theking1000]

To be honest I had the ally z1 extreme for almost a year and no issues on sd. I have emulators and top tier games like Elden ring, destiny 2 etc. No issues! Just keep in mind it's not a pc. Just a handheld..

[@udance4ever]

@@theking1000 i assume you mean it won't perform like a large desktop PC? it's technically a "handheld PC" which is why I got it :) sooo glad to hear some success stories w the SD slot - i assume you are using regular ole micro SDs?

[@thomascarpenter8177]

so your saying you are a curves man? :)

[@baldlyrudy]

Oh yeah. :)

[@thomascarpenter8177]

@@baldlyrudy Found your channel researching the ROG Ally x, I'm looking at getting one and setting it up with a JSAUX 12-IN-1 RGB dock as a gamming system and replacing my very old desktop at home, anyway good review and channel

[@eduardomaldonado5793]

Damn I’m so early

[@baldlyrudy]

Welcome! Lol

[@johnlopez5855]

Pre order mine 🎉

[@hazzehummuz6688]

@@johnlopez5855 You are the problem of society. To much money to little brain. Never preorder anything! Especially when Asus pi**ed on their customers with the sd fryer and didnt compensate people. I hate this generation....

[@TNDandTMD]

I wouldn't do that if I were you

[@contramaster24]

The review could have been much more better if you used "much more" less often ngl gets on my nerves

[@baldlyrudy]

But it wouldn't be "much more".