Retro game corps I have a question, I have a anbernic rg353vs and I don’t have a clue on how to add games to it cause I have been wanting to add a few game to it and I was wondering if you could help
I love how in depth you went on rhetorical ergonomics. One of the things you don’t really think about until you’ve had the device for a bit and something that may be annoying but you can’t fix w/o selling/returning the device
Completely agree -- as a Steam Deck user, I've always been curious about the ROG Ally device(s) but the ergonomics kinda freaked me out. I'm glad that RGC spent some time going into it during the video. 💯
For the most part that seems true, though I've noticed a growing market of cases and skins that could solve some minor ergonomic issues, though of course it may also make some worse. An excellent device won't die on ergonomics if it can be fixed by a case and a stick swap.
Honestly, Russ is the only youtuber I trust when it comes to these reviews and devices because of how he's able to explain his experience and its possible impact to the user. Specifically the ergonomics and how details that explanation was compared to every other channel out there.
i love that you put in so much effort to make such a detailed and informative video. Although it having no real benefit over the original aside from battery and is 100 bucks more completely removes it as a temptation
Especially when valve made a bigger upgrade with oled and also cuts the price significant. 300$ more just because of the bigger battery is not worth it. (Because the original ally has a lot of discounts)
I had a dream awhile back you and I were hanging out and playing games. You were even more chill than you seem in your videos. Love your stuff. Keep doing your stuff. Youdaman.
Some people just had bad day, your concerns are on point, comfort is one of the biggest selling point, its a shame that some people are just doesnt realize how hamd fatigue is a thing
Cool overview. I was on the fence just about getting into these handheld gaming PCs in the first place so I finally gave in and bought the original ROG ally the other day on a pretty good sale at Best buy It is cool that they have already put out a refresh for it though
really waiting for your whole review. I have Switch oled, Company of Heroes 1 was main reason to buy it. It works very fine witch switch and I can play it outside in summer, in shade. It would be fun to use handheld and have all 3 Company of Heroes, few Total War games, Uncharted 4.
I just received my Steam Deck Oled a couple of weeks ago, but I’m also very interested in this device as well. I’ll wait till there’s more reviews near release date before I decide to drop $799. I’m on the fence right now.
great review as always... the best reviews are those done by the real gamers who use the device, most reviewers wont actually give these things the time of day to ever discover the issues you find. My one reservation with this (besides having the ally and deck oled already) is i would love to have seen Asus do something with the low power capability, turning off of cores or something to enable it to hit really low wattage and be usable... the fact the ally has a minimum of 7w means it will almost always be drawing more power than we know certain games really need, some games like cue club 2 i know will run at 90hz no issue at 4w on deck oled and it just extends that battery life, keeps everything cool etc but on ally you got 7w mins and its often much higher total system power. Its all great that the battery is pretty big now but the potential on offer if they could get this thing sipping 4w and running well in indie games would be staggering... it would be a massive massive advantage dwarfing all other handhelds but they just dont seem to be very interested in that... its why the deck is as good as it is, valve just understood the assignment for handhelds.
Yup. Great battery life, great Sega D-pad, rounded ergonomic corners, better performance. It's relatively expensive, but then this is one of the best PC handhelds on the market. Nintendo will have their work cut out for them , the Switch no longer has a handheld monopoly.
I like to play with headphones in public places or next to my girlfriend. So the less noice the better for me. But it depends on the usecase. If you play it by yourselfe in your room, then the noice doesn‘t matter to you.
I'm glad for first time buyers this is probably the best windows handheld and for previous owners of Rog ally, they don't feel robbed off by buying Rog ally original too early.
My only major problem with my rog ally is the battery life. I just bought a 100wh power bank and that solves my problem. Also, it's cheaper than upgrading to ally x 😄
I agree with you i would have just settled with my OG ally z1 extreme 2tb hard drive but my credit card company said that I've had my credit card for 10 months and I have yet to use it even once so they said they were gonna cancel it. So I ordered the ally x, I just can't lose a 5000 dollar credit limit from Mastercard, just couldn't. So thats my excuse to by the ally x
@@ConnorORya You can't go wrong with the ally x. I would also buy it too but my budget is tight atm so I rather wait for the ally 2 instead and hoping by that time, I have enough money to buy it lol. Grats btw and enjoy with your ally x! 😁
I prefer the louder, clickier sound of face buttons and shoulder buttons of the ROG Ally X. On the other hand, I'm the kind of guy who's using a mechanical keyboard for PC gaming and work because I enjoy the sound.
To me the Ally was always the best Handheld PC by far, glad to see the X further improves on it. I'm sure people will still stand by the Steamdeck as the go to but I think it's better to shell out a little more.
I'd love to see the default suspend/resume functionality tested in different games. I'm hearing that AC SE 1.5 has greatly improved its Extreme Standby Mode and Modern Standby Assistant features (which override some of the jank intrinsic to Windows).
This is a great update on the OG. Like every body and their dog I'd love an OLED screen, but I guess it's still VRR or OLED, so on balance I'm OK with it. With new AMD processors on the way I'll hold off a bit longer (and for handhelds Lunar Lake may even bring something).
@@joogled1839 well excuuuuuse me! Not everyone is some prepubescent edgelord always keeping up with modern day slang! Some of us actually have lives. But to answer your question, both. And ASUS customer support only seems to be pure garbage in the US at the moment, so that's your problem.
@@TartarSauceIsNotDead doesn't make sense because ASUSTeK isn't a US company.. i don't live in the US, but at the risk of bad support, i'm not going to be risking it. and if i DID live in the US, i'd have bestbuy. it's not worth it, and i don't think people should support ASUS in that case.
best part about the ROG Ally X is I've seen Z1 models of the original go for as low as 250 and z1 extreme go as low as 300 on fb marketplace, definitely gonna grab a z1 if I can get one for 200 or less in a few more months
Russ, as the only PC HandHeld CC who actually tests Destiny 2, I'm counting on you to let us know if there'a a big enough jump in performance to be worth the upgrade. Currently I play it on the Ally at 1080p, everything low but textures, which are set to highest. I get around 45fps and really like it.
The Ally X release was the thing that made my pull the trigger on the purchase of the OG Ally. New battery was the main selling point for me, but not to the point of doubling the price that I could purchase a new Z1 for where I live. Had it a few weeks now and not regretting the choice at all.
same. I also like the white system more than black. I am mostly plugged to the wall so I do not care that much about battery even though its nice. the same screen and processor makes the ally z1 extreme at almost half the price here in Canada is really not even a question. I got my ally z1 extreme for 500$ Canadian with 1 tb nvme and glass protector installed and couple of cases too. cant say no to any of that
@@hassans3426 I'd say if they started selling the non-extreme for $300 or less US dollars it would be the perfect cheap in comparison to a lot of the other emulators emulator
This does look nice. It fixed almost every issue with the original Ally. The $800 price point would drive me nuts, just too much. It would be very tempting to upgrade my Steam Deck but, holding back for now. There is a limit on the CPU now, other devices have it, and we have hit a climax right now for performance on these devices, IF You want higher end gaming. Full library of Xbox 360, or PS3, would be nice, for example. Next year, 2025, we will see NEW Devices with a NEW higher end chipset, this is where I would make a jump towards a new device. The higher end devices are mostly the same for performance, it's what I am getting at. After all, a new AAA game, Ally X can play it at 65fps, SteamDeck 40fps, it can still be played....
I love it when you test-play Contra or any other precise platformers that use the D-Pad. I love my current Ally, but that D-Pad screwed me up while playing some of the Hollow Knight colosseums. It recognized wrong commands often, so I had to use a PS5 controller instead
I’m looking forward to the Legion Go 2 and Steam Deck 2. Currently using the Legion Go and it’s way better than the Ally. I owned the Ally for 5 months before upgrading to the Legion Go.
One of these companies should start considering making mini devices on the 5-5.5 inch realm too. Not everybody wants to walk around with 7 inch screens and bulky controllers.
Great review. I'm actually looking at this as a work laptop! I have programs for my work that are very mouse based and very little keyboard involvement. But the portability feels to be the most important thing. Between the joysticks and touch screen it feels like a great device! Not sure / doubtful this is something you could speak to.
I understand that they wanted to keep the vrr screen and no oled. But i don‘t understand why they didn‘t made a bigger screen with less bezels and also 100-200 nits brighter.
My biggest missed opportunity handheld had to be the Odin 2 Mini. This is something that could have been introduced at a price slightly lower than that of the Odin 2 - but the Mini LED screen choice made it MORE expensive than the original. This was a critical error and it should have been cheaper. IMO the price of the ODIN 2 was already too high and drives you to decide the Steam Deck is better. With the Mini actually being more expensive IMO it makes every Odin moot. Odin 2 Mini could have been the sweet spot just below the Steam Deck, with small extra cost associated with the screen size increase. But it’s literally the opposite. A refurbished Steam Deck starts at $280. That’s cheaper than every Odin 2 and that’s a more capable system.
After the whole ASUS drama regarding the Ally that Gamer's Nexus covered I wouldn't risk buying this as of now. But it does seem like a very cool product overall so I wouldn't say never.
Loud buttons tend to be stiff in my experience and I hate stiff face buttons. SNES or Dual Shock 4 are my favorites. I actually hated the stiff buttons on a Nexigo Gripcon so much that I cracked it open and cut large bits from the membrane to make it softer. This kind of thing is so hard to judge without touching. I would not want to mod buttons on something this expensive though. I've also modded d-pads with tape to get better directional separation. Honestly, I just need everything to feel like a SNES controller.
Oled or lcd screens never really bothered me at all. 120hz on phones for me is a must. My monitors are 120 hz lcd and it doesn't look much worse than the screen on my s23 ultra and tab s9. For gaming on a steam deck, i always use 30 or 60 fps. Not many games can hit 90 fps on it.
@@BallOfWhite LCD to decrease battery drain? OLED is what you use for that purpose. Plus however good an LCD screen is, it can never match the quality of an OLED. not to mention if you are emulating old console games at 4:3 ratio the black side bars are not really black, they just keep emitting light, even if the screen has local dimming zones (which I don't know if this even has), it still makes the overall experience pretty bad. Expensive gadgets like these already need to put a OLED display. This is nothing but cost cutting. LCD can never match OLED edit: considering Steam Deck is way better product with competitive pricing and WITH OLED.
Good day Russ and thank you for all your time an efforts! May we know when should we expect a similar comparison video, but with performance, noise, battery life and similar tests? When you'll be allowed to expose that kind of info? 🤔
Had a session of 6h non stop playing Ghost of Tsushima in my OG ally. Could not do that with my Steam deck or a Lego. Once the Ally x was announced I decided to upgrade the Ram to 32gb 7500mhz as I dont feel the newer is better. Just hope we get a Xgmobile adpater to oculink soon.
I do like the new studio setup but I see what this poster is saying. If you look, your left side is covered in shadows. Maybe center the hair light? Still looks good tho!
@@RetroGameCorpsI guess I see what you mean. My person opinion I like my hair lights to almost make you glow to help separate you from the back ground. But that’s my preference. If you like the lighting as you have it. It’s all good.
I find the Switch battery run time pretty good. Anything less I see as a problem. My Ally runs about 45 minutes. Double that is still not enough. I end up playing on the switch because of it. If the Ally X had 4 hour battery life I might buy one.
The ergonomics was my biggest concern about the ally x. Personally I love how the original Ally feels. I’ve even tried using a grip on it but I found the added weight and rounded edges too uncomfortable especially for Dpad-centric games.
I have the OG Ally and would consider this more if ROG would have allowed performance reviews. This just isn't enough of an upgrade for the price increase.
This almost hit all the boxes if it had an oled screen I'd be definitely getting it still might but honestly I feel like my steam deck oled will still offer more battery life and I love steam os. Windows needs a gaming mode or I hope steam OS gets a wide release.
Hey Russ: great video as usual sir. I wonder if on the review video you'd be able to talk more about the value proposition due to the more expensive price. Also how does it function with up scaling and frame gen tech like AMD RSR and AFMF. Thanks for allcyou do.
I understand why that there’s no OLED bc that would require sacrificing VRR since such a panel this small doesn’t exist yet (the right move).. but man I wish they could’ve reduced the bezels and included a larger screen. Maybe an LCD with VRR in this size doesn’t exist too
it really boils down to personal choice, I have a Steam Deck LCD and I LOVE using it for emulation and pc gaming, emulation is easy with EmuDeck. maybe a little more user friendly than a Windows Handheld. but that is just my opinion.
Maybe adding a Tetris test to the contra/streetfighter tests would be a good idea? I found the ROG Ally very difficult to play Tetris on it. The X doesn't look any better, tbh. Try Tetris DX from the gbc.
Look, I like you. Your videos have been extremely informative and you are the go-to youtuber I go to for device information. With that said, if you're not going to talk about performance I struggle to see the point of this video. Again, I'm a fan and I love your videos, I just can't see the point of this one.
![ARGENTINA vs. PERÚ [1-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 12](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xtI25ENDDSY/mqdefault.jpg)
Please don't take a shot every time I say the word "pinky".
Too late i'm already trashed and it's only noon.
Its actually a very important note because holding weight on your pinky like that can cause nerve and other issues in your hands/nerves
I did this in one take, so I could be wrong but...
"pinky" : 5
"pinkies" : 10
"bottom fingers" : 0.5
TOTAL: 15.5
Retro game corps I have a question, I have a anbernic rg353vs and I don’t have a clue on how to add games to it cause I have been wanting to add a few game to it and I was wondering if you could help
Alredy did taht I mite be drunck
I love how in depth you went on rhetorical ergonomics. One of the things you don’t really think about until you’ve had the device for a bit and something that may be annoying but you can’t fix w/o selling/returning the device
Completely agree -- as a Steam Deck user, I've always been curious about the ROG Ally device(s) but the ergonomics kinda freaked me out. I'm glad that RGC spent some time going into it during the video. 💯
For the most part that seems true, though I've noticed a growing market of cases and skins that could solve some minor ergonomic issues, though of course it may also make some worse. An excellent device won't die on ergonomics if it can be fixed by a case and a stick swap.
The analysis of ergonomics is amazing, as someone who needs a comfortable device I really appreciate the time and thought put into this explanation.
But even so though I hated the ergonomics of the orignal too. It's like holding a flat phone with a tiny groove on it.. Awful
Just used your guide for the odin 2 and it was amazing! Thank you for what you do for the community 🙏
Thanks for your videos❤
Time is flying, I'm grateful we all get to enjoy this hobby together
Very gay, but very true.
Great overview! Thank you for going over the action button loudness.
Honestly, Russ is the only youtuber I trust when it comes to these reviews and devices because of how he's able to explain his experience and its possible impact to the user. Specifically the ergonomics and how details that explanation was compared to every other channel out there.
You mean you don't like ETA Prime saying every product is flawless?
@@CSHummer ETA doesn't do that. He's also not a reviewer and never claimed to be.
@@CSHummer okay, i’m glad it’s not just me who was thinking this lol.
@@mechanicalmonk2020you’re right he’s just a shill, avoid his insights and content, basically a paid advertisement
@@robras2850 Like always, Thanks for Watching LMAO
Thank you SO much for doing a thorough dpad break down and using celeste as a gauge.
Digging the new studio layout and shot format.
i love that you put in so much effort to make such a detailed and informative video. Although it having no real benefit over the original aside from battery and is 100 bucks more completely removes it as a temptation
Especially when valve made a bigger upgrade with oled and also cuts the price significant. 300$ more just because of the bigger battery is not worth it. (Because the original ally has a lot of discounts)
Loving the new setup for real! I am excited for the Ally 2. I started saving towards it now so I can purchase the Ally 2 whenever it comes our
Why not just wait for Ally 99 it will be perfect
@@utilisateurnothing-xd5wj But not even close to the Ally 100
@@morterox2 right. Lets just wait for 100
That intro is the best in the business. Love it Retro!!!
WHOA the motion blur you have on this video is great! I was second guessing if it was 30 or 60 fps without checking my video quality setting.
Considering the Saturn controller was the greatest thing ever, that’s a big pro.
Not as great as the Uranus controller
I had a dream awhile back you and I were hanging out and playing games. You were even more chill than you seem in your videos. Love your stuff. Keep doing your stuff. Youdaman.
Don't you love having awesome dreams?
sus
Some people just had bad day, your concerns are on point, comfort is one of the biggest selling point, its a shame that some people are just doesnt realize how hamd fatigue is a thing
Was playing on my deck yesterday for like 45 min and my pinkies fell asleep. Have yet to have any handheld prevent this. The switch OLED was the worst
Cool overview. I was on the fence just about getting into these handheld gaming PCs in the first place so I finally gave in and bought the original ROG ally the other day on a pretty good sale at Best buy
It is cool that they have already put out a refresh for it though
really waiting for your whole review. I have Switch oled, Company of Heroes 1 was main reason to buy it. It works very fine witch switch and I can play it outside in summer, in shade. It would be fun to use handheld and have all 3 Company of Heroes, few Total War games, Uncharted 4.
Can't wait for the in-depth review.
Manufactures must hire Russ as a consultant to help them with the ergonomics, he really knows what he's talking about!
I just received my Steam Deck Oled a couple of weeks ago, but I’m also very interested in this device as well.
I’ll wait till there’s more reviews near release date before I decide to drop $799. I’m on the fence right now.
Same here I am debating selling my SD Oled.
It's new open box but now with Ally X I may sell it and get this instead.
great review as always... the best reviews are those done by the real gamers who use the device, most reviewers wont actually give these things the time of day to ever discover the issues you find.
My one reservation with this (besides having the ally and deck oled already) is i would love to have seen Asus do something with the low power capability, turning off of cores or something to enable it to hit really low wattage and be usable... the fact the ally has a minimum of 7w means it will almost always be drawing more power than we know certain games really need, some games like cue club 2 i know will run at 90hz no issue at 4w on deck oled and it just extends that battery life, keeps everything cool etc but on ally you got 7w mins and its often much higher total system power. Its all great that the battery is pretty big now but the potential on offer if they could get this thing sipping 4w and running well in indie games would be staggering... it would be a massive massive advantage dwarfing all other handhelds but they just dont seem to be very interested in that... its why the deck is as good as it is, valve just understood the assignment for handhelds.
The King of in-depth handheld gaming & retro device content!
Great review, as usual. It would have been useful if you had mentioned about ergonomics of the pinky.
Seems like a decent upgrade. I don't even think one of the "downgrades" is actually a bad thing either (I like clicky shoulder buttons).
Yup. Great battery life, great Sega D-pad, rounded ergonomic corners, better performance. It's relatively expensive, but then this is one of the best PC handhelds on the market. Nintendo will have their work cut out for them , the Switch no longer has a handheld monopoly.
absolutely. I love clicky buttons, my fave
Clicky buttons and button noise seem like things that hardly anybody cares about other than reviewers.
Yeah Im sure that tens of millions of parents are just rushing out to buy their kids 700 dollar handhelds. @sophieedel6324
I like to play with headphones in public places or next to my girlfriend. So the less noice the better for me. But it depends on the usecase. If you play it by yourselfe in your room, then the noice doesn‘t matter to you.
Between you and like 4 other RUclipsrs I trust like I have the Odin 2 and ally X otw because of you guys 👍🏾
I'm glad for first time buyers this is probably the best windows handheld and for previous owners of Rog ally, they don't feel robbed off by buying Rog ally original too early.
Well the "downgrades" you pointed is basically "what I don't like", is more like a user experience than a downgrade
My only major problem with my rog ally is the battery life. I just bought a 100wh power bank and that solves my problem. Also, it's cheaper than upgrading to ally x 😄
I agree with you i would have just settled with my OG ally z1 extreme 2tb hard drive but my credit card company said that I've had my credit card for 10 months and I have yet to use it even once so they said they were gonna cancel it. So I ordered the ally x, I just can't lose a 5000 dollar credit limit from Mastercard, just couldn't. So thats my excuse to by the ally x
@@ConnorORya You can't go wrong with the ally x. I would also buy it too but my budget is tight atm so I rather wait for the ally 2 instead and hoping by that time, I have enough money to buy it lol. Grats btw and enjoy with your ally x! 😁
I just leave mine plugged in all the time, and it doesn’t bother me.
@@Armando_Aranda Same. But I forgot to mention, it's about when using it outside or traveling 😅
@@jervz13696 Use a power bank and leave plugged in if you want to when you’re away from home.
Broooo, the clicky-ness of the triggers is a BIG PLUS!! That's how you know it's still good!
I prefer the louder, clickier sound of face buttons and shoulder buttons of the ROG Ally X. On the other hand, I'm the kind of guy who's using a mechanical keyboard for PC gaming and work because I enjoy the sound.
Literally the only thing I care about is battery life.
AGREED, i get less than 2 hours with like just one game at a time, no matter what i play, 18w, brightness at 30% and 720p
Agree with this aswell. Along with the turbo mode I won't have to worry as much when enabling it.
It’s going to be just as poor as everyone handheld pc. Meaning an hour to two at the very best.
Great video, I think I like the “clickiness” of the new shoulder buttons 😂 got mine preordered so we shall see but I can’t wait!
Can't wait to get my pre-order as well, cheers
To me the Ally was always the best Handheld PC by far, glad to see the X further improves on it. I'm sure people will still stand by the Steamdeck as the go to but I think it's better to shell out a little more.
I'd love to see the default suspend/resume functionality tested in different games. I'm hearing that AC SE 1.5 has greatly improved its Extreme Standby Mode and Modern Standby Assistant features (which override some of the jank intrinsic to Windows).
Just add two little grip hexagons where the pinky goes. Super cheap on Amazon. Usually marketed for mice.
interesting, are these the adhesive grips?
Yes, they stick on. I have them on my legion go
This is a great update on the OG. Like every body and their dog I'd love an OLED screen, but I guess it's still VRR or OLED, so on balance I'm OK with it. With new AMD processors on the way I'll hold off a bit longer (and for handhelds Lunar Lake may even bring something).
I'm just glad you're reviewing handhelds that won't be obvious e-waste in a couple of months.
in the eyes of asus, everything is e waste and needs to be repaired for $499.99
@@joogled1839 then get insurance, scrub.
@@TartarSauceIsNotDead you mean warranty? asus guarantees it, and yet they still charge people. also, who says 'scrub' anymore? what is it, 2012?
@@joogled1839 well excuuuuuse me! Not everyone is some prepubescent edgelord always keeping up with modern day slang! Some of us actually have lives.
But to answer your question, both. And ASUS customer support only seems to be pure garbage in the US at the moment, so that's your problem.
@@TartarSauceIsNotDead doesn't make sense because ASUSTeK isn't a US company.. i don't live in the US, but at the risk of bad support, i'm not going to be risking it. and if i DID live in the US, i'd have bestbuy. it's not worth it, and i don't think people should support ASUS in that case.
best part about the ROG Ally X is I've seen Z1 models of the original go for as low as 250 and z1 extreme go as low as 300 on fb marketplace, definitely gonna grab a z1 if I can get one for 200 or less in a few more months
Love the new look and setup, R!
Russ, as the only PC HandHeld CC who actually tests Destiny 2, I'm counting on you to let us know if there'a a big enough jump in performance to be worth the upgrade. Currently I play it on the Ally at 1080p, everything low but textures, which are set to highest. I get around 45fps and really like it.
The Ally X release was the thing that made my pull the trigger on the purchase of the OG Ally. New battery was the main selling point for me, but not to the point of doubling the price that I could purchase a new Z1 for where I live. Had it a few weeks now and not regretting the choice at all.
same. I also like the white system more than black. I am mostly plugged to the wall so I do not care that much about battery even though its nice. the same screen and processor makes the ally z1 extreme at almost half the price here in Canada is really not even a question. I got my ally z1 extreme for 500$ Canadian with 1 tb nvme and glass protector installed and couple of cases too. cant say no to any of that
Z1 or z1 extreme?
@@ToGrimmToWin Extreme. Forgot the other one was still a Z1 in the name.
@@ToGrimmToWin in my case it was the extreme. the regular Z1 should be thrown in the garbage
@@hassans3426 I'd say if they started selling the non-extreme for $300 or less US dollars it would be the perfect cheap in comparison to a lot of the other emulators emulator
This is just the beginning in the world of handhelds Which supports games of this generation... I can't wait to see what will happen in 6 years 😆😆
The beginning was like 3 years ago
The Gameboy I had when I was a kid says handhelds are not new
I mean the beginning of the world of handheld games for the current generation of games... You can now play "red dead" and "elden ring" everywhere 😉
maybe we should ask Joe
No need to hold your breath for that long. Strix series would pump up the graphics performance by much within a year. Fingers crossed
Price is a lot but we are getting really good upgrades with battery and power. It's not for everyone, but I am getting it!
This does look nice. It fixed almost every issue with the original Ally. The $800 price point would drive me nuts, just too much. It would be very tempting to upgrade my Steam Deck but, holding back for now.
There is a limit on the CPU now, other devices have it, and we have hit a climax right now for performance on these devices, IF You want higher end gaming. Full library of Xbox 360, or PS3, would be nice, for example. Next year, 2025, we will see NEW Devices with a NEW higher end chipset, this is where I would make a jump towards a new device. The higher end devices are mostly the same for performance, it's what I am getting at.
After all, a new AAA game, Ally X can play it at 65fps, SteamDeck 40fps, it can still be played....
I love it when you test-play Contra or any other precise platformers that use the D-Pad. I love my current Ally, but that D-Pad screwed me up while playing some of the Hollow Knight colosseums. It recognized wrong commands often, so I had to use a PS5 controller instead
I can’t wait to have one
besides the battery, it's not worth a upgrade, as it really doesn't offer any other kind of performance boost.
My god it looks SO much better in black.
Clicky buttons is an advantage for me. I love the sound of clicky buttons. So, 6 pros and 1 con.
7:30 it's the same as holding a giant phone. You end up putting your pinky at the bottom to hold it properly, causing pain overtime.
I’m looking forward to the Legion Go 2 and Steam Deck 2. Currently using the Legion Go and it’s way better than the Ally. I owned the Ally for 5 months before upgrading to the Legion Go.
One of these companies should start considering making mini devices on the 5-5.5 inch realm too.
Not everybody wants to walk around with 7 inch screens and bulky controllers.
Great review. I'm actually looking at this as a work laptop! I have programs for my work that are very mouse based and very little keyboard involvement. But the portability feels to be the most important thing. Between the joysticks and touch screen it feels like a great device! Not sure / doubtful this is something you could speak to.
I have no issue with the original other than battery. Really hope they drop the upgrade (for a decent price)
New lighting set up? looks good!
I hadn't even finished the rg cube video yet, you're more consistent than your viewers!!😂
Alright I'm sold, I'll be upgrading. The downgrades are upgrades for me
I like the idea that grip training and forearm development might become a new part of the nerd routine just to play large luxury handhelds.
Right on time I was waiting for your review!! Thanks!
Nice upgrade ASUS keep it up 👏🏻
I understand that they wanted to keep the vrr screen and no oled. But i don‘t understand why they didn‘t made a bigger screen with less bezels and also 100-200 nits brighter.
+2 years later, the Deck is still the gold standard in ergonomics.
The steam deck doesn't even come close the rog ally.
My biggest missed opportunity handheld had to be the Odin 2 Mini. This is something that could have been introduced at a price slightly lower than that of the Odin 2 - but the Mini LED screen choice made it MORE expensive than the original. This was a critical error and it should have been cheaper. IMO the price of the ODIN 2 was already too high and drives you to decide the Steam Deck is better.
With the Mini actually being more expensive IMO it makes every Odin moot. Odin 2 Mini could have been the sweet spot just below the Steam Deck, with small extra cost associated with the screen size increase. But it’s literally the opposite. A refurbished Steam Deck starts at $280. That’s cheaper than every Odin 2 and that’s a more capable system.
After the whole ASUS drama regarding the Ally that Gamer's Nexus covered I wouldn't risk buying this as of now. But it does seem like a very cool product overall so I wouldn't say never.
Loud buttons tend to be stiff in my experience and I hate stiff face buttons. SNES or Dual Shock 4 are my favorites. I actually hated the stiff buttons on a Nexigo Gripcon so much that I cracked it open and cut large bits from the membrane to make it softer. This kind of thing is so hard to judge without touching. I would not want to mod buttons on something this expensive though. I've also modded d-pads with tape to get better directional separation. Honestly, I just need everything to feel like a SNES controller.
I’m at work but I can’t wait to watch this when I get off🗣️
Can you look at the Ayaneo 2s 8840U? Would love to see a review from you before I buy it
Wish it had an OLED screen.
The LCD used in this is top of the class LCD out there And also i think they put LCD to decrease battery drain & increase batterlife per charge.
@@BallOfWhite
And also for the price. If it was OLED, the price would have jumped to $1000 💀
Oled or lcd screens never really bothered me at all. 120hz on phones for me is a must. My monitors are 120 hz lcd and it doesn't look much worse than the screen on my s23 ultra and tab s9. For gaming on a steam deck, i always use 30 or 60 fps. Not many games can hit 90 fps on it.
@@BallOfWhite LCD to decrease battery drain?
OLED is what you use for that purpose.
Plus however good an LCD screen is, it can never match the quality of an OLED.
not to mention if you are emulating old console games at 4:3 ratio the black side bars are not really black, they just keep emitting light, even if the screen has local dimming zones (which I don't know if this even has), it still makes the overall experience pretty bad.
Expensive gadgets like these already need to put a OLED display.
This is nothing but cost cutting.
LCD can never match OLED
edit: considering Steam Deck is way better product with competitive pricing and WITH OLED.
Vrr is superior
Good day Russ and thank you for all your time an efforts! May we know when should we expect a similar comparison video, but with performance, noise, battery life and similar tests? When you'll be allowed to expose that kind of info? 🤔
Had a session of 6h non stop playing Ghost of Tsushima in my OG ally. Could not do that with my Steam deck or a Lego. Once the Ally x was announced I decided to upgrade the Ram to 32gb 7500mhz as I dont feel the newer is better. Just hope we get a Xgmobile adpater to oculink soon.
Why couldn't you do that with your Steam Deck?
Love the studio
Great comprehensive review! 🙏🏻
One thing we're forgetting is the Ally upon release had the same trigger problem, I think it'll go quieter over time with use
that's the review we were waiting for
When doing the button sound comparison, you should use your thumb to press the button to give a more "realistic" test. Instead of the index fingers.
My fellow Destiny gamer!!
Nice studio my guy. Love the set up. Just a suggestion, maybe a hair light? It’s your channel tho. You do you.
Hmm, I am using a hair light. Maybe I need to reposition it?
I do like the new studio setup but I see what this poster is saying. If you look, your left side is covered in shadows. Maybe center the hair light? Still looks good tho!
@@RetroGameCorpsI guess I see what you mean. My person opinion I like my hair lights to almost make you glow to help separate you from the back ground. But that’s my preference. If you like the lighting as you have it. It’s all good.
Thanks you showing Destiny 2. I use my Ally mostly for D2 and I have been using my Ally more since TFS. Btw how are you liking the TFS Russ?
Destiny 2: Electric Boogaloo
I don't know why people prefer the cross style D-Pads, as I think the rocking style is far superior (when well made!!!!).
The emulation guys think that because the old consoles had the cross style. It fits better with the old ass games they play.
@@VeegovonDOOM I was mostly a Sega kid, so I grew up with the Sega style D-pad! The cross is for the Nintendo fans.
I love my Legion Go, the screen is fantastic and immersive!
I find the Switch battery run time pretty good. Anything less I see as a problem. My Ally runs about 45 minutes. Double that is still not enough. I end up playing on the switch because of it. If the Ally X had 4 hour battery life I might buy one.
The Ally X seems like a solid step up but I’m curious what Lenovo is cooking up for the next Legion Go
The ergonomics was my biggest concern about the ally x. Personally I love how the original Ally feels. I’ve even tried using a grip on it but I found the added weight and rounded edges too uncomfortable especially for Dpad-centric games.
Hey Russ, do you know when the embargo will lift? I can't wait for your in depth review on this!🙌🏼🔥
Pinkie issue is real. I also experience that in my Odin 2.
You really care about your pinky fingers. 😂 Awesome video!
I have the OG Ally and would consider this more if ROG would have allowed performance reviews. This just isn't enough of an upgrade for the price increase.
This will go great with my Oled steam deck
This almost hit all the boxes if it had an oled screen I'd be definitely getting it still might but honestly I feel like my steam deck oled will still offer more battery life and I love steam os. Windows needs a gaming mode or I hope steam OS gets a wide release.
Hey Russ: great video as usual sir. I wonder if on the review video you'd be able to talk more about the value proposition due to the more expensive price. Also how does it function with up scaling and frame gen tech like AMD RSR and AFMF. Thanks for allcyou do.
20 minutes of this video was a pinky compilation
Great video. Wanted the X but I can't use my XG Mobile with it
I understand why that there’s no OLED bc that would require sacrificing VRR since such a panel this small doesn’t exist yet (the right move).. but man I wish they could’ve reduced the bezels and included a larger screen. Maybe an LCD with VRR in this size doesn’t exist too
steam Deck oled is better? i want the steam deck oled for emulation as well
it really boils down to personal choice, I have a Steam Deck LCD and I LOVE using it for emulation and pc gaming, emulation is easy with EmuDeck. maybe a little more user friendly than a Windows Handheld. but that is just my opinion.
If the DPad is similar to a saturn's, then it must be pretty amazing!
Speaking of the "Steam Deck-sized elephant in the room", the LCD is on sale right now, too.
Same pinky problem for me with the original Ally
Maybe adding a Tetris test to the contra/streetfighter tests would be a good idea? I found the ROG Ally very difficult to play Tetris on it. The X doesn't look any better, tbh.
Try Tetris DX from the gbc.
love the new set russ
Look, I like you. Your videos have been extremely informative and you are the go-to youtuber I go to for device information.
With that said, if you're not going to talk about performance I struggle to see the point of this video.
Again, I'm a fan and I love your videos, I just can't see the point of this one.
Thanks for the feedback -- as soon as the performance metrics embargo is lifted I will do a deep dive into performance.