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ROG Ally X: Accidental Leak Reveals a Handheld Powerhouse

Last Updated: November 1, 2025

The ASUS ROG Ally X handheld gaming console showcasing its improved design and features.

The official launch of the highly anticipated ASUS ROG Ally X was slated for July 22, 2024, but for a handful of lucky customers, the next generation of handheld PC gaming arrived nearly a month early. In a significant retail blunder, Best Buy mistakenly shipped out pre-ordered units in late June, giving the public its first unfiltered, hands-on look at the premium device and confirming months of speculation.

While thousands of eager fans were tracking their pre-orders, several users on Reddit and other social media platforms began posting images and initial impressions of their brand-new ROG Ally X. These posts, which spread rapidly through the gaming community, confirmed that retail units were already in warehouses and that the hype was real. Unlike carefully curated press reviews, these accidental early deliveries provided a raw, unfiltered preview of the machine, from the unboxing experience to the immediate feel in the hands. This leak effectively kicked off the conversation about the device's real-world improvements long before the official review embargo lifted.

A Closer Look at the Enthusiast-Focused Upgrades

The ROG Ally X was never meant to be a true sequel, but rather a significant, enthusiast-focused revision of the 2023 original. ASUS took direct community feedback to heart, redesigning nearly every aspect of the device while retaining the core components that made the first model a success: the powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and the vibrant 7-inch 1080p 120Hz VRR display.

The early unboxings and subsequent professional reviews confirmed the comprehensive list of enhancements:

  • Massive Battery Boost: The single most crucial upgrade was the new 80Wh battery, a 100% increase over the original's 40Wh capacity. This directly addressed the primary weakness of the first Ally, dramatically extending playtimes away from a charger.
  • Redesigned Ergonomics: The new all-black chassis is slightly thicker and heavier, but features deeper, more rounded grips that provide a significant improvement in comfort for long gaming sessions.
  • Enhanced Memory and Storage: The device now comes standard with 24GB of faster LPDDR5X-7500 RAM, up from 16GB. This provides more headroom for modern games and multitasking. Furthermore, ASUS replaced the proprietary M.2 2230 SSD slot with a standard M.2 2280 slot, making future storage upgrades vastly simpler and more affordable for users.
  • Improved Controls and I/O: The joysticks were upgraded to more durable modules with a 5-million-cycle lifespan, and the D-pad was refined for better precision in fighting games and retro titles. The proprietary XG Mobile port was removed in favor of a second USB-C port, one of which is Thunderbolt 4 compatible.
  • Superior Cooling: To handle the larger battery and maintain performance, ASUS redesigned the thermal system. The new fans are smaller but more efficient, moving more air with less noise and adding a third exhaust vent to better dissipate heat.

The Verdict from the Wild: Real-World Performance

Once the Ally X was officially in the hands of the public and reviewers, a clear consensus emerged. The user reports from the early leak proved accurate: the revised ergonomics were an immediate and tangible improvement, making the device feel more substantial and comfortable.

The 80Wh battery was the game-changer everyone had hoped for, delivering real-world gameplay sessions that could last two to three times longer than the original model under similar loads. While the Z1 Extreme APU performed identically to its predecessor, the 24GB of faster RAM provided a noticeable performance uplift in certain VRAM-heavy titles, allowing for higher texture settings and smoother overall gameplay. The refined controls and improved Armoury Crate SE software experience polished off what many now consider to be the definitive version of the ROG Ally.

The Modern Handheld Battlefield

Priced at a premium $799, the ROG Ally X entered a fiercely competitive market. Valve's Steam Deck OLED remains a dominant force, praised for its seamless SteamOS software experience and excellent value. The Ally X, however, carved out its niche as the ultimate Windows-based handheld for enthusiasts who demand more power, a higher-resolution screen, and the flexibility of the Windows 11 operating system.

Compared to other Windows competitors like the Lenovo Legion Go and MSI Claw, the Ally X's balanced design, superior battery life, and thoughtful quality-of-life improvements have made it a top-tier choice. It successfully delivered on its promise: to be the machine the original ROG Ally should have been. The accidental early shipments may have spoiled ASUS's launch-day surprise, but they also generated a wave of organic excitement, proving that the company had listened to its community and built a handheld that truly met the demands of dedicated PC gamers.