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The market for portable gaming computers is evolving faster than ever before. More and more manufacturers are presenting increasingly powerful devices, and gamers are starting 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 primarily 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, which suggests the use of the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. This processor is to be the main new feature in the refreshed version of ROG Ally. The chip itself promises to be very interesting and should deliver a noticeable increase in gaming performance. However, the problem is that so far there has been no information about other significant changes. Nothing is known about a larger battery, a new cooling system, or an increased amount of RAM. Details regarding disk capacity and additional features that could distinguish the device from its competitors are also lacking. Everything indicates that ASUS may adopt a strategy known from the laptop market, where new generations often only involve replacing the processor while maintaining an almost identical design. For new customers, this will not be a major issue. However, the situation is different for current ROG Ally owners. For them, simply replacing the chip may prove to be too small an argument for purchasing another device, especially as the competition begins to offer increasingly noticeable changes between successive generations of their products.
The screen can determine success or failure
The greatest expectations currently revolve around the display. Since the launch of the first ROG Ally, the handheld market has changed significantly. The Steam Deck OLED, in particular, left a strong impression on users, demonstrating how much the screen affects the daily use of the device. More and more manufacturers are also experimenting with larger diagonals, which enhance gaming comfort. Meanwhile, initial information suggests that ASUS may stick with a 7-inch screen. If it once again turns out to be an LCD panel, some gamers may view the new version as too conservative. The display is the element with which users interact throughout their time using the hardware. Even a significant increase in performance is not always as noticeable as better colours, higher contrast, or a larger working area. For this reason, many fans were hoping for a move to OLED or at least an increase in diagonal to 8 inches. However, at this moment, there is no indication 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 fully-fledged new generation of the device.
Leaks suggest that ASUS is preparing another edition of the ROG Ally equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor. Although the new chip should provide higher performance, there is currently no information about significant changes to the other components of the device. This may mean that the new model will not generate as much interest as fans of the brand would hope. Much depends on whether ASUS has prepared any surprises that have not appeared in the leaks so far.
source: digitaltrends
