You can typically tell a premium screen just by looking at it. The imagery is more vivid, the screen is sharper, and the darker colours render properly like they should. There’s a reason why OLED is considered one of the best display technology types, because it tends to offer all of this, complete with pixels able to make black simply by turning off.
But OLED’s premium capability does come with a caveat: it’s expensive. That makes it a premium feature, and one that can cost a little bit more. Phones with OLED screens are typically more premium than their LCD counterparts, and the same goes with video game systems and computers.
And when a video game system is a computer, that may be doubly true.
Out of this year’s Gamescom show for all things gaming, however, Asus is showing off just that with the ROG Xbox Ally X20.
A change from last year’s Xbox variant on the Asus ROG Ally X — which basically encased the gaming handheld in an Xbox controller and gave it more Xbox-like software — the device will keep the Xbox-inspired shape, but update a little bit of the hardware.
You won’t see it, but underneath will be a new variant on an AMD processor, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, a minor difference because this model include support for on-device AI using a built-in neural processor unit. Keeping things the same is 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD, while the screen will be a 7.4 inch OLED panel, delivering that little bit more premium to the portable.
The controls have been tweaked a little more, with improvements to both the joystick and directional pad, while the accents on the casing are black and gold because the “20” in the name celebrates 20 years of the Asus Republic of Gamers “ROG” brand.
Like the chip, it’s a minor update and more of an anniversary-focused one, but also one that aims to give gamers into both the PC and console scene something slightly better to work with. Even if some of those changes are indeed slight, joining the other two Xbox ROG Ally models out, with the standard Ally and the one this model borrows from the Ally X.
“We believe in providing options for every type of player,” said Brad Howe, Head of Consumer at Asus Australia.
“The expanded Ally family ensures that whether you’re a casual gamer or an enthusiast who demands the absolute best, there’s an Ally for you,” he said. “The X20 is the hero of that family, a device that proves you don’t have to compromise on performance, even when you’re away from the TV.”
Being a portable, going “away from the TV” is easily possible because it has a screen. But there will also be a more premium edition that comes with a pair of augmented reality glasses (think a headset in a pair of glasses).
Built by Xreal as part of the ROG collaboration, the ROG Xreal R1 Edition 20 are a pair of screen-equipped-glasses themed to match, which will arrive in an even pricier special edition, complete with two special cases and a much higher price tag.
As such, Australians can expect the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 without the glasses for $2499, while the glasses-attached model will cost $4499, compared to the $1799 price of the ROG Xbox Ally X and the $999 price of the ROG Xbox Ally. Those two new models are set to launch in October, with Asus and JB the places you can expect to find them at.
