The Asus ROG Ally X just dropped to a new record low price, but there's a big catch

Asus ROG Ally X on woodgrain desk next to plant
(Image credit: Future)

I've been watching for Asus ROG Ally X deals from the moment it landed on shelves, and Best Buy looks to be the first to discount the powerhouse handheld. Sadly, this isn🐭't a discount everyone will be able to snag this Prime Day as, while the Big-Deal-Days-busting offer knocks $100 off, it's only available to Best Buy Plus customers.

Right now, the Asus ROG Ally X is down from $799.99 for Best Buy Plus subscribers. This is a record low price for the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming handheld contender, and one that places it in the same ballpark as many lower-spec rivals. However, you won't be able to pull a fast one and sign up for a trial like you would with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Prime Day gaming deals, meaning you'll have🎉 to spend $49.99 on a membership. 

Those of you looking for the OG ROG Ally can also currently grab it (was $649.99) without a Best Buy Plus membership. To get 💫it for the price I'm really looking for, you'll once again have to sign up for the store's members program, which will then knock it further to $499.99. Not ideal, but if you know anyone that has signed up, you coul👍d go ask them nicely to swoop in and save the day.

Asus ROG Ally X | $799.99$699.99 with Best Buy Plus
Save $100 -

Asus ROG Ally X |
Save $100 - The souped-up ROG Ally X has received its first discount, but it unfortunately has B෴est Buy Plus membership strings attached. If you already have an account, or know someone who does, you could grab this handheld at its lowest. Otherwise, you'll have to sign up yourself, which will add up to a $50 saving when you account for the $49.99 membership.

Buy it if: 

✅ You want longer battery life
✅ You need more RAM
✅ You're looking to boost fps

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You usually play plugged in anyway
❌ You're aiming to play with low settings

Price Check:  | 

Should you buy the Asus ROG Ally X

Asus ROG Ally X sitting on woodgrain desk running Octopath Traveller

(Image credit: Future)

Membership grumbling aside, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally X is a serious bit of kit that raises the handheld performance bar. It's admittedly not doing anything different on the APU front since both it and the OG 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally use the same Ryzen Z1♓ Extreme chip, but 24GB RAM, up to 2TB SSD s🔜torage, and a much a 80WHr battery could make all the difference to your on the go sessions.

In terms of formfactor, Asus has gone the extra mile to ensure the enhanced specs of the X ൲don't weigh the handheld down. Weighing in at 1.49 pounds (678 grams), it's not much heavier than the 1.34 lbs (607g) original, and it's still super comfortable to hold. The back buttons are slightly harder to use though if you've got smaller hands, so keep that in mind if you're looওking for the perfect portable for your palms.

My real beef with the ROG Ally X vs the vanilla system is the price gap, as even with discounts now applied, you'll be paying $150 more. Again, both handh🍸elds use the same Ryzen Z1E APU, meaning outside of memory-related perform♊ance enhancements, both will hit the same frame rates. When you're playing with reduced settings to suit its 1080p 120Hz display, that RAM bump isn't going to matter as much, and in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, you're looking at a jump from 39fps to 43fps on average.

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Asus ROG Ally X vs ROG Ally benchmarks
Header Cell - Column 0 Asus ROG Ally XAsus ROG Ally
TimeSpy3,5143,292
Fire Strike8,0317,389
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla37fps32fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider43fps 39fps

If you're going to fork out for the ROG Ally X, I'd do so based on potential battery life. Not many handhelds are rocking an 80Wh battery, and despite your runtime still being constricted in newer releases, it's still going to outlast the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Steam Deck OLED and even Windows 11 rivals like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Lenovo legion Go and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Zotac Zone. Is it going to provide you with a practical, travel-w𝄹orth runtime? Probably not, but it's nice to see some progress bei♑ng made within the scene. 

For most players, I'd probably still recommend the first ROG Ally, especially if you can get it for $499. That said, I know a few friends who'd likely want to use the portable as a fully fledged rig, and the X model is better suited for that due to its enhanced specs. Of course, placing battery aside, I'd also be extremely tempted to pick up something like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Ayaneo Flip DS if I had extra funds, and with Best Buy now stocking the boutique handhelds, it might eventually make 🌌its way to the retailer.