Computex 2024

ROG Ally X now official

Multiple upgrades

Published

June 2, 2024

Rodneil Quiteles

Officially announced a few weeks back, ASUS ROG’s latest gaming handheld — the ROG Ally X — has now been officially unveiled in Taipei, Taiwan on the heels of Computex 2024.

The improvements are exactly what was teased a few weeks back: more storage, a faster RAM, and longer battery life. The Ally X also features two (2) USB Type-C ports, as well as improved joysticks and ergonomics. Cooling has also been improved. Oh and it’s now black.

Storage, RAM, and battery life

The ROG Ally X has a 1TB SSD storage. It’s the largest of any Ally to date. But if that’s not enough for you, the redesigned motherboard featuring an M.2 2280 form factor slot will let you up the storage even more easily.

Other than a massive storage upgrade, there’s also a massive RAM bump. The ROG Ally X has 24GB of DDR5-7500 RAM for more flexibility. This means players can allocate more memory to both the system and the GPU for better performance in the next generation of AAA titles.

The biggest pain point of most gaming handhelds right now is battery life. Especially when playing more modern games. To address that, ROG doubled the battery capacity of the Ally X. It has an 80Wh battery without adding too much weight – only 0.15lbs.

Improved thermals

Another major pain point from the original ROG Ally is the thermals. While it generally worked fine, one big issue is that it fried the some microSD slot as it was positioned directly where the heat exhaust would blast.

While the new thermals don’t directly answer that, it does address how it’ll work with the bigger battery in tow. It features fans that are 23% smaller, but utilize 50% thinner fan blades to improve airflow.

Two new tunnels in the fan housing direct air up and out toward an additional, third exhaust vent on the upper edge of the Ally. This new thermal solution provides 24% more air volume to be pushed through the device. It cools not only the internal components but also the touch screen, which measures up to 6°C cooler for more comfortable long-term usage.

New look, better controls and connectivity

To clearly distinguish it from the original, the ROG Ally X now comes in black. But that’s not the only thing new. It also has slightly deeper handles and a more rounded shape without adding thickness. These were all in the interest of improved ergonomics.

More on ergonomics, the buttons and sticks are arranged a little differently for better handling. The triggers are also now slanted to make them easier to press. The macro buttons on the back are also smaller, to reduce accidental presses.

The joysticks have been replaced with new, more durable modules rated for a 5 million cycle lifespan. It has stiffer springs for a more familiar response curve to longtime controller gamers. The D-Pad has been similarly improved, with more precise 8-direction input for fighting and retro games. ROG isn’t calling it hall effect so it likely isn’t. We will have to confirm this first.

As mentioned earlier, the ROG Ally now has two USB Type-C ports. It completely replaces the XG Mobile Port. One of the USB Type-C ports is Thunderbolt-compatible for wide interoperability with third-party docks and external GPUs.

Price and availability

The ROG Ally X is now available for preorder at Best Buy with an MSRP of US$ 799.99. Pricing and availability in other countries and regions to follow.

ROG Ally X Specs

Operating System	Windows 11
Display	7” FHD (1920×1080) 16:9, 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB, Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™ with Gorilla® Glass DXC coating, touchscreen, 120 Hz refresh rate, 7 ms response time, AMD FreeSync Premium
CPU	AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme Processor (“Zen4” architecture with 4 nm process, 8-core /16-threads, 24MB total cache, up to 5.10 GHz boost)
GPU	AMD Radeon™ Graphics (AMD RDNA™ 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops)
Memory	24 GB LPDDR5 on board (7500 MHz dual channel)
Storage	Up to 1 TB M.2 2280 NVMe™ PCIe® G4x4 Value SSD
Ports	Audio combo jack x 1 Micro SD Card reader (UHS-II, 312MB/s) x 1 1 x USB-C® supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort™ 1.4 with Freesync support, Power Delivery 3.0 (Input: 20V/5A, Output 5V/1.5A)) 1 x USB4® (Thunderbolt™ 4 compliance, DisplayPort™ 1.4 with Freesync support, Power Delivery 3.0 (Input: 20V/5A, output:5V/3A)
Audio	2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology Dolby Atmos® AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res Audio certification Built-in array microphone
Battery	80Wh
Power Supply	USB-C®, 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25 A, 65 W, Input: 100~240V AC 50/ 60 Hz universal
Dimension	11.02″ x 4.37″ x 0.97″ ~ 1.45″
Weight	1.49lbs (678g)

Accessories

Shell’s suite of tools and accessories get you ready for any drive

Published

June 17, 2024

MJ Jucutan

My love for Shell and sustainable energy began six years ago, when they released the Make The Future campaign.

I played their ads on loop, starting to understand their energy initiatives. All while I sang along to “On Top of the World” and “Best Day Of My Life” performed by various artists.

On my last day at COMPUTEX 2024, I stumbled upon TennRich Corporation. The company is an official Shell product licensee, showcasing its power supplies by grilling a BBQ inside the Nangang Exhibition Center.

Hanging around at the seemingly BBQ indoor party, I got to learn that Shell’s products have expanded to power banks, wireless solutions, and on-the-go lifestyle products.

Power Supply Stations with Solar Charging

Shell currently has a lot of portable power supply stations applicable for various situations. For most people, it’s used for camping to supply all the power needs when outdoor.

Each portable power supply has a high power capacity while still weighing only 8.9kg. It’s designed to be portable and easy to store or hide, so it doesn’t take up a lot of space.

Since it has an all-around use, it works as a charger for drones, electric scooters, home and car appliances within 1100W, and even medical equipment.

Some models also have support for solar panel, continuing Shell’s initiative for renewable energy.

For your on-the-go lifestyle

As an energy brand, Shell has various charging cables and wall chargers that suit different sockets.

They also come with car chargers so you can power your devices while in transit.

For those stationed in front of a desk, Shell has a 100W GaN Desktop Charger with multiple ports.

And of course, what’s an energy brand without a power bank?

Ready for any drive

As a trusted brand for most motorists, Shell’s suite of automotive tools are my new favorite devices. This portable air compressor has a small, carry-on design that uses an intelligent electric pump. It automatically stops when full!

It’s particularly helpful as a rescue tool for those using a motorcycle or bike in an island.

When driving a car, Shell also has a portable power jump starter in case of emergency. It supports power for 7L gasoline vehicles and 3L diesel vehicles, and features an SOS light display.

It’s housed inside a travel bag for easy carrying, and you can stash it easily with other emergency tools.

Now, there’s a 4-in-1 portable air compressor and jump starter for those who want it all.

There’s also a car vacuum to keep your vehicles clean!

For more information, visit Shell Portable Power’s website.

Accessories

LOOK: These eye-candy peripherals will make your desk look adorable

Add to cart, stat!

Published

June 17, 2024

MJ Jucutan

While exploring around COMPUTEX 2024, we stumbled upon cute peripherals that come in yummy colors.

Micropack, a Hong Kong-based lifestyle and accessory brand, showcased their wireless keyboard and mouse under their Colorful Series.

Both its Wireless Mouse and Wireless Keyboard use RF 2.4GHz technology, covering up to 10 meters wireless range.

Micropack also has a Lifestyle series where each peripherals are designed and painted in styles and colors that match every type of user.

For instance, the 2.4G Rechargeable Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo KM-269W, which retails for US$ 49.50, matches casual gamers who like their desks aesthetically-pleasing to look at.

The keyboard uses liquid silicone, making its key-caps silent and soft when pressed. Its mouse has precise tracking, which can be customized from 1000 to 4000 CPI.