The ASUS ROG Ally has certainly made a name for itself as one of the stellar gaming handhelds out there. However, it does come with a caveat that might deter potential buyers.
The main issue with the ROG Ally is its battery life—it leaves something to be desired. This is largely due to its 40Wh battery and the demands of its sizable display.
Enter JSAUX, which has recently unveiled an upgrade kit specifically aimed at extending the battery life of the ROG Ally. This new Battery & Thermal Upgrade Kit for the ROG Ally includes a beefier 65Wh battery—over 50% larger than the original 40Wh battery that comes standard with the device.
In addition to the larger battery, the kit also includes a redesigned backplate and an aluminum heat shield, features JSAUX claims will improve thermal management.
To make installation a breeze, JSAUX provides all the necessary tools within the kit, including a screwdriver, pry bar, flush cutter, anti-static gloves, and some extra screws.
Turn your attention to the ASUS ROG Ally’s battery life. In our review, spearheaded by our Gaming and News Editor Rebecca Spear, the device scored an impressive 4.5 out of 5. Praised for its powerful performance, comfortable design, and high-quality display, it largely impressed. However, battery life was one of the few criticisms highlighted.
Rebecca Spear pointed out, “The Ally is a pretty impressive device overall but let’s be honest—the battery life could be better.”
She further elaborated that for the price point of the device, the battery life didn’t quite stack up. From her experience, the device only managed about an hour and 38 minutes on average. To even get close to three hours, she had to significantly drop down the settings.
Now, while the larger 65Wh battery should mean longer gaming sessions, it’s hard to definitively say just how much more you’ll get without doing some hands-on testing first.
Comparing the ASUS ROG Ally and ASUS ROG Ally X is essential. If you crave an extended battery without the hassle of tinkering, you might want to consider the ROG Ally X. Featuring an 80Wh battery, it’s double the size of the standard ROG Ally’s battery and still bigger than the JSAUX’s 65Wh offering.
Both the ROG Ally X and the original share the same Z1 Extreme processor and 7-inch touchscreen. However, the Ally X steps it up with more memory, storage, upgraded joysticks, back buttons, and an improved D-Pad.
Rebecca Spear provides an in-depth comparison between the ASUS ROG Ally and the ASUS ROG Ally X, delving into specs, thermal imagery, and her hands-on experiences.
The choice between these two comes down to your priorities—do you have the technical skills to swap out a battery, or does a new console more suit your fancy?
For those eager to try replacing the ASUS ROG Ally’s battery, the process is fairly straightforward—though a bit of experience in hardware repair is a bonus. JSAUX has created a straightforward video guide covering all the necessary steps.
Although this isn’t a step-by-step walk-through, it gives you an overview of how intricate the process is.
Before diving in, ensure you have all the required tools and familiarize yourself with the steps by watching the guide or reading the instructions.
A heads-up from JSAUX: Always power down the device and take proper Electrostatic Discharge precautions before starting. Also, remember that tinkering with your ROG Ally might affect the warranty.
To start replacing the battery, you’ll need to unscrew and remove the back plate, followed by detaching the triggers.
Next, you’ll transfer the back button and triggers from the original back plate to the new one.
Part of the process involves correctly placing springs and screws and removing certain cables. So, a bit of patience and double-checking, especially when trimming down plastic parts, is key.
The final steps include adding a heat sink, reattaching cables, securing everything in place with screws, and using an adhesive strip for the new back plate.
