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The market for portable gaming computers is developing faster than ever before. More manufacturers are presenting increasingly powerful devices, and gamers are beginning to expect not only stronger components but also significant changes in the design of the hardware. According to the latest reports, ASUS is preparing a new version of the popular ROG Ally. However, initial information indicates that the company may mainly focus on replacing the processor. Such a move may prove insufficient in the increasingly competitive handheld segment.
New processor, but not much more
The source of the latest speculation is an entry in the certification database, suggesting the use of the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. This processor is set to be the main novelty in the refreshed version of ROG Ally. The chip itself looks very promising and should provide a noticeable performance increase in games. The problem is that, so far, there have been no reports of other significant changes. There’s no information about a larger battery, a new cooling system, or increased RAM. Details on the storage capacity and additional features that could distinguish the device from the competition are also lacking. It seems that ASUS may adopt a strategy familiar from the laptop market, where new generations often consist of simply swapping out the processor while maintaining an almost identical design. This may not be a major issue for new customers. However, the situation is different for current ROG Ally owners. For them, just upgrading the chip may not be a strong enough incentive to purchase another device, especially as competition begins to offer increasingly noticeable changes between generations of their products.
The screen can decide success or failure
The biggest expectations currently revolve around the display. Since the launch of the first ROG Ally, the handheld market has changed significantly. The Steam Deck OLED has particularly impressed users, showing just how much the screen impacts daily use of the device. More manufacturers are experimenting with larger diagonals, which improve the gaming comfort. Meanwhile, initial information suggests that ASUS may stick with a 7-inch screen. If it is again an LCD panel, some gamers may consider the new version too conservative. The display is the element that the user interacts with throughout their time using the hardware. Even a significant performance boost isn't always as noticeable as better colours, higher contrast, or a larger working area. That's why many fans were hoping for a transition to OLED or at least an increase in size to 8 inches. However, at this moment, there are no indications of such a change. If ASUS indeed limits itself mainly to changing the processor, the new ROG Ally may be perceived more as a "Plus" version than a full-fledged new generation of the device.
Leaks suggest that ASUS is preparing another version of the ROG Ally equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor. While the new chip should provide higher performance, there is currently a lack of information about significant changes in the other components of the device. This may mean that the new model does not generate as much interest as the brand's fans would expect. Much depends on whether ASUS has prepared any surprises that have not appeared in previous leaks.
source: digitaltrends
