ASUS ROG Ally X vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 6
The Verdict
These are fundamentally different devices serving different purposes. The ASUS ROG Ally X is a handheld gaming PC with a 7-inch display, 120Hz refresh rate, and a powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor paired with 24GB RAM. It excels at portable gaming with 3-10 hour battery life depending on load, and its 1TB storage provides ample space. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 is a traditional ultrabook with a 13.5-inch 2256x1504 display, Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, and 16GB RAM in a premium aluminum chassis. It prioritizes productivity and portability for work, offering exceptional battery life up to 17 hours and weighing just 1.34kg. The Ally X demands more desk space or lap support but crushes gaming performance. The Surface Laptop 6 is lighter, thinner at 0.57 inches, includes professional-grade specs with Windows 11 Pro, and excels for productivity tasks. Choose the Ally X if gaming portability matters; choose the Surface Laptop 6 for business travel and everyday computing. The price difference of $500 reflects their distinct markets rather than a direct quality gap.
Who Should Buy
Buy the ASUS ROG Ally X if…
- →Massive 80 Wh battery doubles the Ally's endurance to 3-10 hours
- →24 GB LPDDR5x RAM is generous for gaming and multitasking
- →1 TB SSD is double the original — more room for games
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 if…
- →Intel Core Ultra with NPU for Windows Copilot AI features
- →17-hour rated battery life is excellent for an Intel-based ultrabook
- →3:2 PixelSense touch display is ideal for productivity and documents
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
ASUS ROG Ally X
Pros
- Massive 80 Wh battery doubles the Ally's endurance to 3-10 hours
- 24 GB LPDDR5x RAM is generous for gaming and multitasking
- 1 TB SSD is double the original — more room for games
- Two USB-C ports allow charging while connecting accessories
- Improved ergonomic grips and button layout over original Ally
Cons
- Heavier at 678 g due to the larger battery
- Same Z1 Extreme chip — no generational performance leap
- Removed microSD slot compared to original ROG Ally
- IPS LCD still lacks OLED contrast and HDR capability
- $799 puts it close to full laptop pricing territory
Microsoft Surface Laptop 6
Pros
- Intel Core Ultra with NPU for Windows Copilot AI features
- 17-hour rated battery life is excellent for an Intel-based ultrabook
- 3:2 PixelSense touch display is ideal for productivity and documents
- Removable SSD allows easy data migration and storage upgrades
- Premium fit and finish with an excellent keyboard and trackpad
Cons
- Only one USB-C and one USB-A — very limited port selection
- No Thunderbolt despite using Intel Core Ultra
- 60Hz display feels dated against 120Hz competitors
- No HDMI or SD card reader — dongles required for presentations
- 13.5-inch screen is small for extended multitasking
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS ROG Ally X | Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 678 g | 2.96 lbs (1.34 kg) |
| Material | Plastic chassis with improved ergonomics | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 280.0 x 114.0 x 36.9 mm | 12.13 x 8.79 x 0.57 inches |
| Ports | ||
| USB-C ports | 2 | 1 |
| Microsd | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Memory | ||
| Storage options | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD | — |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 3-10 hours (game dependent) | Up to 17 hours |
| Capacity | 80 Wh | 54 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 7 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | PixelSense IPS touch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB LPDDR5x (7500 MT/s) | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, RDNA 3 (12 CUs) integrated GPU | 16 cores (6P + 8E + 2LPE) |
| Chipset | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8-core / 16-thread, up to 5.1 GHz) | Intel Core Ultra 7 165H |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | — |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | — | 512 GB removable SSD |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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