Newsletter
The launch of the ROG Ally X is officially here and you can buy the new ASUS handheld gaming PC from Best Buy starting today. The ROG Ally X has been available for pre-order for several weeks now but it only just launched officially, which means you can now buy one and likely get it within days if not the same day. Some local Best Buy stores may even have them in stock already, so there is a chance you could simply order it for pickup and run down to get it shortly after.
That of course, will depend on the location, but there are bound to be some that have stock already available in-store. The ROG Ally X is not quite a successor to the original ROG Ally, but rather, a mid-generation refresh that updates a handful of things. It’s still using the same chipset (the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme), as well as the same display. However, ASUS has updated both the RAM and storage capacity. Opening up new possibilities for both upgraded performance and more game storage. Speaking of game storage, ASUS has also moved the microSD card slot that you can use for expandable storage.
The reason for this is that the microSD card slot on the old model was prone to malfunction due to excessive heat from its placement on the motherboard. This should no longer be an issue. ASUS has also made some design adjustments for better ergonomics. Which in turn, leads to more comfort when holding the ROG Ally X for longer gaming sessions.
The ROG Ally X launch is strictly through Best Buy
When it comes to retail partners, ASUS is teaming up with Best Buy again to be the exclusive retailer for the ROG Ally X. You can still buy it directly from ASUS, but you’ll likely have better luck with getting it early from Best Buy. Simply because Best Buy has physical retail locations where you can pick it up. Even if you have it shipped, there’s a good chance it’ll show up sooner than if you bought it through ASUS. That’s also assuming ASUS even has any in stock when you go to buy one, which at current, is not the case.
As for pricing, the ROG Ally X retails for $800 which is higher than the launch price of the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme model, and noticeably higher than Valve’s Steam Deck OLED. But there are tangible benefits to paying this amount if you were already looking at one of the ROG Ally models.
The ROG Ally X is an improvement in all the right places
I’ve been lucky enough to test out the ROG Ally X and so far, it has noticeable improvements over the original model. The biggest part for me, and probably for many others, will be the ergonomics. Having this new model be more comfortable to hold will go a long way to entice consumers.
You can still buy the older ROG Ally. But why would you unless you’re getting it second-hand for hundreds less? Even at its full price, which is $650, the changes ASUS made to the new model are worth at the very least, considering spending the additional $150.