Buying a New One is Stupid - JSAUX ROG Ally Battery & Thermal Upgrade Kit

Quick Overview

The JSAUX Battery & Thermal Upgrade Kit for the original ROG Ally significantly extends battery life from 40Wh to 65Wh and includes a new backplate for improved cooling and M.2 2280 SSD compatibility, all for $79.99. While the upgraded Ally becomes heavier and the included SSD heatsink prevents using a 2280 SSD with the provided adapter, it offers a cost-effective way to gain most of the ROG Ally X's benefits without buying a new device, despite the Ally X retaining a slight performance edge due to faster memory and quieter fans.

Key Points: The JSAUX Battery & Thermal Upgrade Kit costs $79.99, offering a significant saving compared to the $250 price difference for the ROG Ally X. The kit upgrades the original ROG Ally's 40Wh battery to a 65Wh battery, substantially increasing gaming time. The upgraded ROG Ally becomes heavier, weighing 750g compared to the original 617g and the Ally X's 686g. The included SSD heatsink in the JSAUX kit is incompatible with the common 2280 SSD adapter, preventing a storage upgrade with that specific part. The ROG Ally X maintains a slight performance edge due to faster memory, but the upgraded original Ally shows significant battery life improvements across all power profiles. The Ally X features quieter fans and slightly better ergonomics due to its thicker design, which is a byproduct of its larger battery. The JSAUX kit provides a cost-effective solution to gain most of the Ally X's benefits without buying a new device or dealing with reselling the old one.

Context: The ASUS ROG Ally is a popular handheld gaming PC, but its original model had limitations, particularly in battery life and SSD compatibility. ASUS later released the ROG Ally X, which addressed these issues with a larger battery, M.2 2280 SSD support, and improved ergonomics. This video explores whether a third-party upgrade kit from JSAUX can bring the original ROG Ally closer to the Ally X's capabilities without the need to purchase a whole new, more expensive device.