ROG Ally X20 Gets OLED Screen and Control Upgrades
▼ Summary
– Asus announced a new OLED-equipped ROG Xbox Ally X20 for the holiday season, but is positioning it as a niche collector’s item rather than a new standard.
– The X20’s screen expands to 7.4 inches, matching the Steam Deck OLED, with 1080p HDR, 1400 nits brightness, and an anti-glare coating.
– The display supports Dolby Vision HDR colors and FreeSync Premium Pro, offering a larger color gamut and smoother frame rates.
– The X20 replaces carbon-film potentiometers with magnetic TMR thumbsticks to reduce stick drift and wear, and adds a convertible D-pad.
– Early hands-on reports note quieter face buttons and better-feeling rubberized grips on the translucent black-and-gold shell.
Three years after the Steam Deck OLED solved the original hardware’s biggest weakness with a stunning new display, Asus is finally following suit. The company has announced the ROG Ally X20, an upgraded handheld featuring an OLED screen and refined controls, set for release this holiday season. While the brighter, more vibrant panel is a welcome improvement, there is reason for concern: Asus is marketing this upgrade as a limited collector’s item rather than making it the new standard for its handheld lineup.
The X20’s display grows from the original 7-inch panel to 7.4 inches, matching the Steam Deck OLED and coming close to the Switch 2’s 7.9-inch screen. This 1080p HDR panel jumps from 500 nits of peak brightness on earlier Xbox Ally models to a substantial 1,400 nits. A new anti-glare coating makes outdoor play far more practical. The 120 Hz refresh rate now supports Dolby Vision HDR colors and FreeSync Premium Pro, which smooths frame rates while expanding the color gamut significantly.
Controls receive a meaningful overhaul. The X20 replaces the original’s carbon-film potentiometers with magnetic TMR thumbsticks, a design that resists stick drift and physical degradation over time. The new D-pad features a clever lift-and-twist mechanism, switching between a standard four-direction cross and a more circular eight-direction pad , a nod to the convertible D-pads found on classic Xbox 360 controllers.
Early hands-on reports from press outlets noted additional refinements. The face buttons are quieter and more rounded, and the translucent black-and-gold shell now features better-feeling rubberized grips. These touches suggest Asus paid careful attention to ergonomics and build quality, even if the limited availability of the X20 leaves many gamers wondering when these upgrades will become the baseline.
(Source: Ars Technica)
