A Complete Comparison of the ASUS ROG Ally Z1, Z1 Extreme, and X Series – The Best Handheld Gaming PCs on the Market
ASUS ROG Ally is the latest line of handheld PC gaming devices that brings the desktop experience into the palm of your hand. This series consists of three main models: Z1, Z1 Extreme, and X Series. Each offers a different combination of performance, portability, and flexibility, tailored to gamers' needs. This article thoroughly discusses the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of each model so that readers can choose the one that best suits their gaming style.
Design and Build Quality
All three ROG Ally models use a magnesium-aluminum chassis, but there are differences in weight, finishing, and ergonomics.
The standard Z1 comes with a white matte finish and weighs 608 grams. Its ergonomic design is comfortable for long gaming sessions, with responsive buttons and analog sticks. The cooling system is sufficient for medium to heavy gaming, but throttling can occur in AAA games with high settings.
The Z1 Extreme enhances design quality with a black matte chassis and metal accents. Its 630-gram weight feels balanced with better grip. The trigger buttons and D-pad are redesigned for faster response. The cooling system is more advanced with dual-fans, extra heat pipes, and liquid metal, maintaining stable performance during intensive gaming.
The X Series is the pinnacle of ASUS handheld design, weighing 650 grams with a wider grip and high-precision buttons. In addition to ergonomics, the cooling system is more advanced than the Z1 Extreme, ensuring the device stays cool when playing modern AAA games in Turbo or Extreme mode. RGB accents are more flexible and customizable via Armoury Crate.
Display and Audio
The display is an important factor in handheld gaming, and ASUS provides significant upgrades in each model.
The Z1 features a 7-inch Full HD 120Hz display, 500 nits brightness, and 100% sRGB. This display is good enough for handheld gaming, offering sharp visuals and smooth animations. FreeSync Premium ensures smooth gameplay without tearing. Dual-front speakers produce clear audio, suitable for general use.
The Z1 Extreme maintains the 7-inch Full HD screen size, but the refresh rate remains 120Hz with 500 nits brightness. Color reproduction is more precise, DCI-P3 support is increased, and audio is more immersive thanks to Dolby Atmos and Sonic Studio. Gameplay feels more alive, especially in games with high graphical detail.
The X Series takes the display to the highest level: 7-inch Full HD with a 144Hz refresh rate and 600 nits brightness. Color reproduction reaches 95% DCI-P3, visuals are sharper, animations are smoother, and the gaming experience is more immersive. Audio is supported by Dolby Atmos plus Sonic Studio 3, with the best sound depth and spatial effects in this series.
Performance and Hardware
Performance is the main differentiator among the three models.
The standard Z1 uses an AMD Ryzen Z1 with 6 cores and 12 threads, and standard RDNA 3 graphics. eSports games run smoothly up to 120 FPS, while modern AAA games can be played at medium settings. 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD support multitasking and a moderate game library.
The Z1 Extreme uses an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with more powerful RDNA 3 graphics. Modern AAA games can be played at high settings with stable framerates. 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD provide better loading speeds, larger capacity, and a smooth multitasking experience.
The X Series is the pinnacle of performance with the latest AMD Ryzen Z1X processor and more powerful RDNA 3 graphics. The 144Hz screen refresh rate is maximized by the GPU, allowing competitive games to reach 144 FPS and AAA games to run at ultra settings with a stable 60–80 FPS. 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD plus a microSD slot support large libraries with up to an additional 2TB.
All three models run full Windows 11, allowing access to Steam, Epic Games, Xbox Game Pass, emulators, and productivity software. The X Series has the highest flexibility for AAA games, creative software, and cloud gaming.
Battery and Charging
Battery is an important factor in handhelds.
The standard Z1 uses 40Wh, lasting 2–3 hours for heavy gaming, up to 6–7 hours for light use. USB-C PD fast charging charges 50% in 30 minutes.
The Z1 Extreme uses 47Wh, with similar gaming duration but more stable in Performance/Turbo mode. USB-C PD supports fast charging and DisplayPort output for external monitors.
The X Series has a 55Wh battery, providing 3–4 hours for heavy gaming and up to 8 hours for light tasks. USB-C PD is faster, charging 50% in just 25 minutes. The USB-C port supports docking, external monitors, and the ROG XG Mobile eGPU for desktop-class gaming performance.
Software and Interface
Armoury Crate SE is available on all three models, but the X Series has a more advanced version with Extreme Mode control, real-time temperature and power monitoring, game library management, automatic driver updates, and more flexible RGB settings. The intuitive touchscreen interface makes navigation easy, even without a mouse/keyboard.
Gaming Experience
- The Z1 is suitable for casual gamers and light eSports. AAA games run at medium settings, stable FPS, comfortable controls.
- The Z1 Extreme is more suitable for serious gamers who want a true handheld PC gaming experience. AAA games at high settings, competitive eSports at 120+ FPS, reliable cooling system.
- The X Series is ideal for professional gamers and content creators. AAA games at ultra settings, high FPS, 144Hz screen, immersive audio, eGPU and 2TB microSD support. Its portable flexibility + desktop-class performance makes it the most complete.
Connectivity and Expansion
The Z1 and Z1 Extreme support Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C PD, microSD (up to 1TB on Extreme).
The X Series supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C PD with DisplayPort, microSD up to 2TB, and ROG XG Mobile eGPU compatibility. The connectivity flexibility of the X Series is a key advantage for both portable and docked setups.
Overall Comparison
- Z1: entry-level, casual gaming, light eSports, more affordable price.
- Z1 Extreme: mid-tier, serious AAA gaming and eSports, better cooling, larger SSD, high performance.
- X Series: high-end, maximum performance, 144Hz screen, immersive audio, large battery, eGPU support, maximum flexibility.
Conclusion
ASUS ROG Ally offers a portable PC gaming handheld for various needs. The Z1 for casual gamers, the Z1 Extreme for serious gamers, and the X Series for professional gamers and content creators. All models run full Windows 11, allowing access to the entire PC ecosystem, making these handhelds more flexible than traditional consoles.
The X Series is the pinnacle of ASUS innovation, combining performance, portability, high-quality screen, immersive audio, and connectivity flexibility.The Z1 and Z1 Extreme remain relevant for gamers with different needs and budgets.
With the ROG Ally, ASUS sets a new standard for handheld PC gaming, bringing a true desktop gaming experience into the palm of your hand. Gamers can choose a model according to their needs, from casual to professional, without sacrificing quality or flexibility.
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