ASUS’ ROG Xbox Ally X is surprisingly repairable – iFixit claims

ASUS’ ROG appears to be repairable and upgradable, if spare/replacement parts become available

iFixit has released a fresh “repair review” for ASUS’ ROG Xbox Ally X handheld (see our review here), letting users know how easy or challenging repairs for the device are. Thankfully, it looks like the device will be relatively easy to repair and upgrade. That’s great news for users who want larger SSDs, or want to replace the handheld’s joysticks when they wear.

With the device using the same kind of screws throughout, the ROG Xbox Ally X can be disassembled with relative ease—no unnecessary tool-switching required. Furthermore, none of the device’s parts are glued in place, which makes part replacement and upgrading much easier.

Since the ROG Xbox Ally X uses a standard M.2 2280 SSD, users can easily upgrade their device to give it extra storage. Users could install 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB M.2 SSDs if they wish. However, it is worth noting that Windows installations are “glacial”, as using the device’s “ASUS Cloud Recovery” feature to reinstall Windows can be an incredibly slow process. Don’t expect SSD upgrades to be quick.

iFixit has given the ROG Xbox Ally a provisional repairability rating of 7/10. That’s great for a new product. Joysticks, speakers and many other parts are easy to remove. Furthermore, the system’s battery can be removed and replaced. This is good news for gamers who want to use their ROG Xbox Ally X long-term. However, it remains to be seen how readily available replacement parts will be.

Note that the joysticks on the ROG Xbox Ally X will be prone to stick drift. That said, these parts are replaceable. Furthermore, it is possible that Hall-effect versions of these joysticks could be released in the future.

You can join the discussion on the repairability of ASUS’ ROG Xbox Ally X handheld on the OC3D Forums.